Air valve thingy

What is this?
Why is it on my bike?
Should I expect it to work still and what should it do?
Is it super terrible that one doesn't have a cover?


edit: link to image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/39474355@N03/4427097651/

 

That is to pressurize the front forks. (minimal pressure) you can get the specs from the book, or call the local shop. I would keep them covered, mostly to just keep the crud out.

I have a question about them myself. Has any tried using nitrogen instead of air in the front shocks?

 

Before this thread gets hijacked by all the people that actually know something about motorcycles... what do they do? like, explain it to your 6 year old.

 

After changing the oil in your shocks, you take an air hose and fill it to the recommended pressure. The more air, the stiffer the ride. The specs for my xj750 Seca are .4kg/cmsq, which is about 5 psi. If you want a softer ride, use less pressure, and for a little stiffer ride, you can kick the pressure up a bit. You just don't want to go to high or you will blow the seals.
This is what I have noticed from experience.

I found this article online. That explains what the pressure does to the oil

http://www.cdxetextbook.com/steersusp/s ... hocks.html

 

Those knobs or controls are for setting your fork dampening. They restrict the fork oil therefor increase or decrease dampening. Set them at 1 for less restriction or 4 for maximum restriction. They are not air valves however your bike does have air assist in addition. Do you see that shrader (air) valve on the left fork? That can be filled with air between 5-17psi. Do not use an air compreesor to fill or you could blow your fork seals, hand pump only.

 

I stand corrected... It looks like the 83 Maxim has a little different arrangement then my 82 but I think they work similar. It looks like you have an air vlave on top instead of the side like mine.