A Beginner’s Guide to Motorcycle Maintenance

After spending hours on the road, your bike is going to need some TLC. To keep your motorcycle in tip-top condition, you’ll want to perform regular maintenance and upkeep. There are some things that can be performed on your own, but there are also more complex issues, you’ll want a professional to take care of.

Chains, Shafts, Belts

Your bike’s chains, shafts, and belts distribute the engine’s power to all the right places. Over time, you’ll want to make sure they’re all well lubricated so they’ll last and keep your motorcycle in good shape.

Take a look at your bike. Is your engine connected to the rear wheel with a chain? This means it’s chain driven and you’ll want to lubricate this chain regularly with a spray lubricant. Is your bike belt-driven? You’ll want to regularly inspect your belts for frays and tears. Either way, you should check the slack of your belts and chains to make sure they aren’t too tight or too loose.

Brakes

Your motorcycle should have two reservoirs for brake fluid, one for each wheel. Make sure both have the correct amount of fluid and fill them if they are low. You’ll also want to check your brake pads. Over time, these should wear evenly and you should replace them with plenty of material to spare. Don’t wait until they’ve nearly worn thin. This is very dangerous. Also, if your brakes are squeaking, grinding, pulsating, or doing anything out of the ordinary, take your bike to a shop for inspection.

Fuel

For efficiency, you’ll want to make sure your fuel filter is working properly and there are no clogs. Replace your fuel filter if you notice your bike sputtering or having a hard time starting. If you don’t intend to ride your motorcycle often, consider switching to a higher octane fuel to protect your bike from sludgy and corrosive ethanol-heavy fuel. If you’re storing your bike for a long period of time, look into fuel stabilizers.

Oil

Check your oil regularly (never go more than 2,000 miles without changing it). To do this, remove the dipstick, clean it off, reinsert it into the bike, and then note the oil level. If your oil is in good condition, but a little low, feel free to simply top it off. If your oil looks dark or sludgy, replace the oil and oil filter. If you see metallic shavings or powder, this is a sign some of your engine parts are grinding together and releasing material.

This may seem like quite a bit of regular maintenance, but we want to make sure your motorcycle runs efficiently and safely. If you need help with your motorcycle, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at Nielsen Enterprises in Lake Villa, IL. We welcome all those in Chicago, IL, and Milwaukee, WI.