Motorcycle maintenance is crucial to make sure you’re safe on the road. Since the invention of motorcycles, it has helped the modern society to move faster and more efficient.
Upkeeping a motorcycle is very important if you totally depend on this mode of transportation to go to work. The importance of motorcycles is totally undeniable.
In this article, we are going to share with you the most popular tips of maintaining your motorcycle.
Engine maintenance
Check for any worn or loose fasteners on the bike. If you see anything that’s worn or not torqued to spec, fix it immediately before it causes a problem. Use a torque wrench when tightening bolts and other fasteners. A loose bolt can lead to an unsecured part, resulting in a crash.
Inspect your brake pads for proper thickness and check the fluid level in the master cylinder reservoir. Brakes are what slow you down, wear them out and you won’t have any brakes left!
Clean your bike regularly to prevent corrosion from forming on sensitive parts like brake rotors, sprockets, etc. It also keeps the bike looking good!
The bike you rode in on is likely a lot different from the one your great-granddad rode back in the day. But one thing hasn’t changed: If you don’t take care of your motorcycle, you’ll be taking care of yourself — or worse, someone else — when it breaks down on a lonely stretch of road.
Cycopro has collected some simple tips to help keep you rolling, and help keep your bike looking good year after year.
Tire maintenance
Check your tire pressure and tread. A half pound low in one tire can lead to a crash.
Pay attention to your chain — lubricate it and make sure it’s adjusted properly. Chain drive bikes benefit from regular cleaning with a commercially available chain lube spray. Inspect the chain and replace it if it has any slack. Lubricate with a quality chain lube spray if it doesn’t have an O-ring or X-ring seal.
Check your tire pressure and tread. A half pound low in one tire can lead to a crash. If the tires are due for replacement, replace them both at the same time, front and rear.
Check your chain tension and lube it properly. Too tight will wear out your sprockets prematurely, too loose means it could come off and tangle up with your rear wheel.
Regularly check all fluid levels, such as engine coolant, brake fluid and clutch fluid
Keep an eye on brake pads and brake disks/rotors for wear
Cleaning your bike
When washing your motorcycle, use only specialized cleaners made for motorcycles and avoid pressure washers. Clean the bike thoroughly after each ride. Remove mud, sand and dirt that could cause corrosion or electrical problems down the road.
With the right knowledge and right tools, you can keep your motorcycle running strong with just a few simple maintenance routines.
Oil leaks
Check for oil leaks. A dirty oil streak on the driveway or garage floor is a sure sign there’s a leak coming from somewhere. Check around all the seals, hoses and drain plugs to see where the oil is coming from. Then make sure the bike is parked on level ground and check the oil level with the dipstick. If it’s too low, you’ll need to find the leak and fix it before adding more oil.
Replace the oil and filter. Oil breaks down over time and use, losing its ability to lubricate and cool components such as bearings, cams and cylinder walls. So at regular intervals — every 3,000 miles or so if you’re a serious rider — you’ll want to drain out old oil and replace it with new, fresh stuff.
Alternatively, you can use friction modifier to help upkeep your motorcycle engine performance in a long run.
The manual that came with your bike will tell you how much oil to add after draining out what’s in there now. Make sure you don’t overfill the engine; that can cause foaming which will reduce performance and lubrication.
Conclusion
With the right tools, following these maintenance tips is simple. And of course, there is more to maintenance and repairs than what we have covered in this article. However, these five tips will help any rider find their way through the maze of motorcycle repairs easily and prevent costly problems down the road.