Topic: Annual reminder and random observations.

[Don R]

  Don't forget to check your tires before you zip down the drive and it's a good time to do that nut and bolt check, our bikes don't shake apart much but they are old and we (or someone) have worked on them.
  When lubing the chain it will go on the center stand easier if it's in neutral.  Imagine that!
 For that hard starter, throw a little fresh charge on the battery, sometimes that's all it wants.
 

[PeWe]

Check bolts not a bad idea.

I noticed that the 2 M6 bolts holding the front drive sprocket were almost gone on my K6 some years ago.
1 had left, the other not many turns left.
After that Loctite 222 (purple) which is a weak locker but will not let bolts and nuts to move on their own. Easy to remove with tools.

I use it on front rotors, caliper brackets to fork, rear sprocket nuts, nuts holding exhaust, rear foot pegs, front wheel M8 nuts etc.
Cam sprocket bolts get medium strenght (blue).
All threads cleaned with acetone before Loctite.

[Don R]

 I was riding my gl1000 and went under a railroad overpass, when I was next to the wall I heard a noise so I pulled over. A caliper bracket bolt had left and another was loose. Scary, I tightened the one I had and the bike shop I was going to gave me a substitute bolt. A member here sent me a correct replacement for which I am still grateful.  I've since swapped to double piston calipers from a v65 they all have loctite blue on them. 

[cooldrum]

I ride a K4 and had a similar experience with the front caliper bolt.  In my case I was riding on a major two lane expressway going 45 mph and a caliper bolt backed out just enough to sheer off and bend ten spokes.  The bike came to an abrupt halt!  At first I thought it was the clutch going out, then I looked down and saw all the broken dangling spokes!  They were so wedged that I couldn't even roll the bike forward or backward!  I was able to bend the broken one's in to free up the front wheel and tightened the caliper bolt.  Being 10 miles from home I limped the bike back via side streets just taking my time and keeping an eye on the front wheel.  Repairs were done and everything is good.  Now I use loctite blue on bolts that could loosen up over time.  So yes, during this time for some of us waiting for good riding weather.  It's time to do all the checks on our bikes.  I was lucky, it could have been much worse for me during that moment.   

[Alan F.]

With a frame kit installed I'd imagine it'd be very easy to pop the cam cover to verify torque on everything inside.

[ekpent]

I ride a K4 and had a similar experience with the front caliper bolt.  In my case I was riding on a major two lane expressway going 45 mph and a caliper bolt backed out just enough to sheer off and bend ten spokes.  The bike came to an abrupt halt!  At first I thought it was the clutch going out, then I looked down and saw all the broken dangling spokes!  They were so wedged that I couldn't even roll the bike forward or backward!  I was able to bend the broken one's in to free up the front wheel and tightened the caliper bolt.  Being 10 miles from home I limped the bike back via side streets just taking my time and keeping an eye on the front wheel.  Repairs were done and everything is good.  Now I use loctite blue on bolts that could loosen up over time.  So yes, during this time for some of us waiting for good riding weather.  It's time to do all the checks on our bikes.  I was lucky, it could have been much worse for me during that moment.   

Your story reminds me of a local to me guy who I haven't seen around on the boards here in quite awhile. He had a K6 caliper bolt back out taking some front spokes with it also. Can happen.