Inspecting The Rear Suspension; Wheels; Tyres - APRILIA QUASAR 125 2003 Workshop Manual

PERIODIC MAINTENANCE
QUASAR 125-180

2.16 INSPECTING THE REAR SUSPENSION

Read carefully 1.3 (GENERAL SAFETY RULES).
Check the rear suspension every six months.
Check that the shock absorber is not leaking oil, or scratched or grooved.
Check the fastening of all the components and the functionality of the rear
suspension joints, see 6.3.1 (REMOVING THE REAR SHOCK ABSORBER).

2.17 WHEELS

Read carefully 1.3 (GENERAL SAFETY RULES).
- Check the wheels for dents and distortions. If necessary replace them.
- Check the eccentricity of the wheels.
- Check the condition of the wheels and bearings.
- Check the balance of the wheels.
- Turn the wheel slowly several times and observe the point at which it stops.
- If the wheel is not statically balanced it will always stop at the same point. Fit
a balancing weight at the lightest (highest) point.

2.17.1 TYRES

This vehicle is fitted with tubeless tyres.
Check the tyre inflation pressures at regular intervals when the tyres are
cold, see 1.7 (TECHNICAL DATA). Checking pressure on hot tyres will
result in inaccurate measurement.
Take care to check tyres pressures before and after a long journey. An
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overinflated tyre will provide a harsh ride, transmitting shock to the
handlebar and reducing riding comfort and stability when cornering.
An underinflated tyre will extend the contact patch to include a larger
portion of the tyre wall (1). This can result in cuts, the tyre moving on the
rim, or coming away from it, thus leading to the rider losing control of
the vehicle.
The tyre may even slip off the rim under hard braking. Lastly, the vehicle
may skid in a bend. Inspect tread surface and check for wear. Badly
worn tyres adversely affect traction and handling. Enquire about correct
wear inspection procedure with your supplier. Visually inspect the
treads and replace if too worn. If the tyres are old, even if they are not
completely worn down, they can harden and lose grip. In this case,
replace the tyres. Always change a worn tyre. A tyre that becomes
punctured in the tread area should be changed when the puncture is
larger than 5 mm (0.2 in). The wheels must be balanced after each tyre
repair. Use only tyres of the size indicated by the Manufacturer, see 1.7
(TECHNICAL DATA). Never use tube tyres on tubeless tyre rims. Always
check that the caps are in place on the valves, or the tyres may deflate
suddenly. Tyre replacement and repair, and wheel servicing and
balancing are delicate operations. They should be carried out using
adequate tools and are best left to experienced mechanics. New tyres
may be coated with an oily film: drive carefully for the first several
kilometres.
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Release 00/2003 - 09