2001 Katana 600...

I usually post on the automotive forums but had a question regarding a bike i just purchased. I have never owned a sportbike before so I was just wondering what the scheduled maintenance on my '01 Katana was? Also, it has an aftermarket D&D exhaust and it looks like its a slip-on. Do the carbs. need to be jetted because of that or is it ok with just the exhaust? Lastly, the bike has 5000 miles on it. I was riding it back home on the interstate and noticed that it felt like there was a slight mis when I got on it around 70 or 80 in top gear. Does this mean I was just gassing it too low in the rpm range or could it need plugs/wires? Since I just got the bike I have no idea what the previous owner did as far as maintenance and noticed the chain hadn't been very well maintained as I had to oil it. Any advice or help with this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Whenever you buy a new bike its a good idea to do a complete maintenance service. Fluids, filters, check pads, plugs, etc, etc. If the bike is running rough or missing, it is possible that the jetting is off.

Replace the chain and both sprockets ALWAYS at the same time. They develop wear patterns and if you only replace 1 sprocket, for example, it will accelerate the wear greatly on the new sprocket, and cause the chain to develop a new wear pattern which will acclerate the wear on the chain, too. Also, you DO NOT need to lube an o-ring chain. They are not designed to be lubed, and you can damage the o-rings by doing so depending on the lube used. All you need to do is buy some chain wax and apply it every once in a while when the chain is hot (after a long ride). Make sure you keep the chain in spec and you're good to go. If you have an owners manual, read through it thoroughly. If you don't have one, I would suggest buying one.

Hope this helps.

It does help, thanks. I planned on changing the oil and filters anyway but didn't necessarily want to change out the plugs unless i needed to. As far as the jetting goes, would a tech be able to tell that by riding it/listening to it? Oh, and the chain lube I have is for o-ring chains and the pads are good. Thanks again.

Well with jets it really depends since certian jets are opened at different times. It would probably be best to let sombody ride it and see what they come up with. It could be as simple as a spark plug so it wouldn't hurt to check em and test them out. Make sure your getting a good strong spark going straight up the arch. I wouldn't think the carbs would be too out of synch but I guess you never know. Yea, and as far as the chain, I usually always check it out before and after I ride. Its best to lube it afterwards if you don't want lube all over your rear fenders and underneath the bike. Its quite an inconvenience to get that stuff off. Anyways, enjoy riding while you can!

I live in south Florida so riding season is at peak time right now :-) I found out some more about the bike. Apparently the valves need adjustment at certain intervals on these Katanas. Is it possible that that could be an issue at 5000 miles? I have an appointment for a tech to check it out next week i just want to do all I can on my own before sending it in and paying hourly for something I can address myself first. Thanks again.