Show some love to your two-wheeler and boost your savings on upkeep by following our guide to motorcycle maintenance basics. Protect your motorcycle from the wear and tear of everyday use with some simple maintenance tips.
Scheduling regular maintenance for your motorcycle represents one of the best ways to enjoy optimal performance. We recommend performing frequent maintenance checks if you own an old bike or love to go for long rides.
Do you love the thrill of eating up the miles on your bike? Newer motorcycles demonstrate improved durability, which sometimes instills a false sense of security. Even new bikes show early signs of wear. At the very least, you need to replace your oil filter, engine oil, and air filter at intervals as the manufacturer recommends.
Ensure that your bike remains in immaculate condition and functions at peak performance with our motorcycle maintenance basics guide.
TIRE PRESSURE MAINTENANCE
Make sure to check your motorcycle’s tire pressure often. Low tire pressure can lead to flat tires or blowouts when moving at a high speed. High tire pressure affects the way your bike handles. Maintaining the correct tire pressure can mean the difference between a fun ride and an accident.
Refer to the measurements from your motorcycle tire manufacturer for recommended air pressure levels. You can check the tire pressure yourself using a tire pressure gauge.
OIL CHANGE
Many motorcycles need an oil change every two thousand miles or twice a year. Changing your bike’s oil keeps it running at its best. Start by warming it up for over five minutes. Doing so lowers the oil’s viscosity and allows you to drain it more easily.
Keep your bike in an upright position and turn off the engine. Carefully take out any fairing that gets in the way of removing the drain plug. Remove the oil fill and drain plugs to allow the oil to drain.
The next step involves pulling out the oil filter. Cover the engine and exhaust with aluminum foil to prevent drippage. After draining the oil, insert the new oil filter. Reinstall any removed parts and use a funnel to refill the oil. Check your owner’s manual for the correct amount of motorcycle oil.
Put the oil cap back on, then recycle any used oil at a municipal facility or nearby bike shop.
AIR FILTER REPLACEMENT
The air filter in motorcycles prevents debris from entering your engine. Dirty or clogged air filters interfere with the bike’s performance. Replacing an air filter may sound like one of the easiest maintenance tasks, but it can take a lot of time.
Some motorcycles require you to remove the gas tank or other essential components to access the air filter. After you reach the air box, pull out the filter and replace it with a fresh one. Reinstall the parts you removed.
CHAIN SLACK
If you own a chain-driven motorcycle, you may notice the chain sagging after some time. Push your motorcycle’s chain in the direction of the swing arm to check for slack. Make sure the chain’s sag remains at or below 40 mm. The chain sag needs to remain lower than 50 mm for dirt bikes.
Loosen the bike’s axle nut and adjust the feature bolts to lengthen or shorten the slack according to requirement. Look in the owner’s manual for correct chain slack measurements.
COOLANT CHANGE
Coolant protects your motorcycle’s engine from corrosion, freezing, and overheating. It tends to deteriorate after 20 to 24 months, so you should change your coolant every couple of years.
Locate the drain bolt. Before you remove it, put a drain pan below the engine to prevent spillage. Take off the radiator cap to ensure proper draining. Put the drain bolt back in place once the coolant stops dripping from the radiator.
Refill coolant to the correct level using a funnel. Replace the radiator and any other removed parts. Turn on the engine and wait a few minutes. Then, cut the engine and allow it to cool. Check the coolant level and make adjustments as required.
BRAKE PADS
Brake pads are one of the most frequently replaced motorcycle parts. We recommend checking your brake pads before a long ride or whenever you take your bike for routine servicing. Look inside the brake calipers and replace your brake pads if they reach 2 mm or less.
OIL FILTER
Remember to replace your bike’s oil filter whenever you refill the engine oil. Change the oil filter every 2,500 to 3,000 miles. Read the owner’s manual for the correct interval between oil filter changes for your make and model.
SPARK PLUGS
You should check your spark plugs for electrode erosion or carbon deposit buildup. If you notice erosion or buildup, you’ll need to change them. Replace your motorcycle’s spark plugs every 8,000 to 10,000 miles.