07 Grease the moving parts. Grease is totally your bike's friend. The stuff is a mess, but it rules on the more-bang-for-your-buck scale. Nothing as cheap will make a bike feel so good, and surgical gloves defeat the messiness. Every moving part on the chassis needs to be clean and greased to operate properly (and not rust solid). That means to begin with the steering head, linkage points and swingarm pivot. But don't forget the rear brake pedal, control pivots and the kickstarter knuckle. Look in the manual; the kickstart lever comes apart, and it needs grease. To test this theory, ride your buddy's bike (the guy who thinks his bike is greased from the factory), and directly after, ride your bike (the one you just spent time on greasing the bearings). Yours will be a much sweeter ride. The few hours in the garage with your new bike will be a good bonding experience and will help you get to know the ins and outs of your machine. This isn't a one-time operation, though. If you have an older bike or just put a lot of hours on your new one, it's probably time to make a weekend for your beloved machine to clean and grease the pivots and bearings. And one of the secrets about bikes prepped for magazine testing is they are all lubed up.
08 Wash your bike. When was the last time you really gave your steed a good rub and tug (cleaned the chain thoroughly, washed behind and underneath the swingarm and cleaned off all the gunk on the linkage and underside of the motor)? Take off the tank and plastic and wash them. I'm talking about a full-on detailing of your bike. Washing a bike this thoroughly allows you to see what condition it's really in. Look at the frame and subframe for cracks or stress marks. Look at the chain sliders and see if they are past their wear mark. See if all of your engine and suspension seals are in good shape. And make sure that everything is in good working order (i.e., wiring connectors/terminals, cables, battery connections and so on). This sort of wash is great as a pregreasing ritual. Consider it like giving your bike a physical, and you'll have one sweet-looking ride to take out on your next trip.
09 Bleed the air from the fork. Actually do this now and each time you ride. The fork is a somewhat sealed system, and it works best when the air pressure inside matches the pressure outside. If you go up or down in altitude, the pressure will be off. Plus, pressure builds with temperature and while you ride. There's a reason the fork manufacturer put a bleed screw on top. If you're really smart, buy some of the push-button-type bleeders, install them and have better suspension action at the push of a button.
10 Consider spending to save. Some expenditures now can save big bucks in the long term. For example, get some neoprene fork seal protectors like SealSavers or Shox Sox-if you'd rather ride your bike than work on it, use these to save your fork seals. They don't actually wipe junk off the steel fork tube; they keep rocks thrown by the front wheel from hitting and damaging the chrome sealing surface. You can also put an O-ring chain on your bike. If you're just a regular rider buying your own parts, you need an O-ring chain. Even if you're a moto-only rider, an O-ring chain is a sound investment. An O-ring chain will outlast a standard chain-even an expensive one-many times over. The sprockets are most worn by a stretched and worn chain, so sprocket costs will drop as well. If you're a picky, sensitive 125cc two-stroke or 250cc four-stroke rider, you might notice a difference in throttle response. If you think you're that guy, look for one of the new, lighter X-ring type chains that have less drag. Most of us will never feel the difference except in our wallets. Buy tires that suit your riding terrain. Tires aren't just black donuts with bumps; they're designed for specific uses and soil types. Many riders get stuck in a tire rut, buying the same thing every time, winter or summer. Experiment with tires: If you ride all hardpack, try a hard-terrain tire; if you have sand or mud, try a soft-terrain tire. The difference in control and performance can be amazing, and the correct tire may not save cash but for sure will maximize the performance you get from your bike.