Hello everyone.
The X-ADV's standard front mudguard is on the short side, and the bike gets dirtier than you'd expect on wet roads. In this article I've brought together the dirt protection and maintenance such as oil changes that I've done since delivery.
For the X-ADV itself, see also my "delivery review", "1,000 km impressions", "seat height and ground reach test".
The short answer: what was worth doing and what to watch out for
- With dirt protection, start by finding out where it gets dirty. At the rear, only the area in front of the right indicator got dirty, because of the exhaust
- At the front, I fitted a budget fender extender with double-sided tape and sealant (and later added pins)
- At the rear, a Puig splash guard reduced the mud around the rear shock and made washing easier
- At the first oil change, you replace two oil filters, one for the engine and one for the DCT. The oil capacity was 3.4 L
- Before removing the fairing panels, check where the tabs are. I broke a tab on a side panel
Dirt protection
- Where does the X-ADV get dirty on wet roads? Real riding photos showing the spray area and the protection you need
→ Photos of where the bike got dirty after riding on wet roads - Fitting a front fender extender to the X-ADV against mud: securing a budget part properly with sealant
→ Fitting a budget fender extender with double-sided tape and sealant - X-ADV fender extender after modification: a 100 km review, unexpected behaviour on the move and the fix
→ Adding pins, and what I found after 100 km - Protecting the X-ADV from mud and suspension grime: complete DIY fitting of a Puig splash guard
→ How I fitted the Puig splash guard - Puig splash guard on the X-ADV after 400 km: far less mud on the rear shock and less grit damage to the bike
→ The effect of the splash guard after 400 km
Care (coating)
Since delivery, I've wiped the bike down with Zero Finish before dirt has a chance to harden. I checked the packaging to see whether it's safe on matt paint and unpainted plastics.
- Removing bug splatter from a brand-new X-ADV with Zero Finish: points to watch on matt paint and plastic parts
→ Cleaning off bug splatter just after delivery, and using it on matt and plastic parts - Zero Finish on the X-ADV's spoked wheels: why the front is easy and the rear is hard work
→ Applying it to the spoked wheels (easy at the front, hard at the rear)
Oil changes and removing the fairing
- Preparing for the X-ADV's first oil change at 1,000 km: removing the skid plate and right lower fairing
→ How to remove the skid plate and right lower fairing for the first oil change - X-ADV first oil change at 1,000 km with engine and DCT filters: 3.4 L capacity, torque and points to watch (RH21)
→ Changing the oil and the engine and DCT filters (3.4 L capacity) - Removing the X-ADV's rear and centre fairing panels: the hidden points that stop the tabs breaking
→ How to remove the rear and centre panels without breaking the tabs - Broken side fairing tabs on the X-ADV: the cause, where the tabs are, and a DIY reshaping and repair
→ Why I broke a side panel tab, and how I repaired it
Chassis and other items
- Fitting a side stand enlarger to the X-ADV against rust and sinking: touching up the paint and stopping it falling off
→ Fitting the side stand enlarger (touching up the paint and using threadlocker) - Lubricating the X-ADV's parking brake cable: impressed by the attention to detail
→ What I found when I tried to lubricate the parking brake cable - Adjusting the X-ADV's front fork rebound: points to watch with the on-board tools and how to avoid dropping them
→ Adjusting front fork rebound, and how to avoid dropping the on-board tools - Improving the X-ADV's suspension: rear harshness and jolts to the lower back after 1,000 km, and a plan to grease the rear linkage
→ Planning to grease the rear linkage after the rear suspension felt harsh
Summary
With its adventure styling, the X-ADV picks up a lot of mud. I found that working out where it gets dirty before adding protection saves you buying parts you don't need.
The parts I've fitted, such as the screen and carriers, are covered in a separate summary article.