Top 5 Motorcycle Maintenance Tips - Webuyyurbike
Top Tips On Caring For Your Bike, Giving It The TLC It Deserves And Also Maintaining The Value Of The Bike
It can be difficult to keep track of every part of motorcycle maintenance. That’s why experts at Webuyanybike have compiled a guide on how to give your motorcycle the care it deserves. You can expect to receive know-how on motorcycle maintenance in a digestible fashion. Included in this brief article are tips on oil and coolant changing – tyre, spark plug, and brake pad maintenance. You’ll never need to look anywhere else for motorcycle advice with our quintessential maintenance checklist that you can return to for years to come.
Basic Motorcycle Maintenance
1. Checking Your Oil
No matter what bike you ride it is important to check the engine oil regularly. This is essential if you want your motorcycle engine to run at peak performance reliably. Luckily checking your motorcycle’s oil is a simple and easy process.
Firstly, if your engine is hot, leave it to cool for around 20 minutes. Before you begin the oil change allow your engine to run for a couple of minutes to get it warmed up then switch it off. Additionally, you need to the oil drain from the top to the bottom of the sump, this process should not take long. Don’t forget to remove your oil filter.
Some bikes have an inspection window and some bikes use a dipstick.
For bikes with sight glass, make sure the bike is level, then look at the glass screen on the bottom of the engine. It is important to make sure that the oil is somewhere in the middle of the minimum and maximum indicators on the window.
For engines with a dipstick, you will need to properly slide the stick into the engine if you want a precise oil level reading. Proceed to wipe and place the sick into the engine until you reach the threads of the filler plugs. Similarly to bikes with sight glass, you will need to make sure the plug is level with the bike to get a precise reading.
2. Coolant Change
Changing your coolant is something that is commonly forgotten when conducting motorcycle maintenance even though it takes a couple of minutes to complete. Replacing your coolant can avoid damage to your motorcycle and the corrosion of its engine.
To begin replacing your motorcycle’s coolant make sure that its engine is cold. Identify the drain plug on your motorcycle which is usually found around the water pump. Once located remove the plug to drain the coolant. Once drained, replace the plug and start making a new batch of coolant. To do this mix 50/50 of antifreeze and deionized water. Fill the coolant expansion tank to the appropriate level using the high and low-level marks as indicators.
3. Tyre Pressure
It’s important to give your motorcycle tyres a regular check, they are the only part of your bike that makes contact with the road. You should be checking your tyre’s pressure every week as incorrect tyre pressure can cause them to be down faster.
Checking a tyre’s pressure is really easy, simply remove the cap on your wheels valve stem and insert an air pressure gauge. As a reference for the correct pressure, your wheel needs to look at the information outlined on the inside of the tyre. To correct the PSI grab an air compressor. If you accidentally over-inflate simply remove some air through the valve stem cap then replace it when you are finished.
Over-inflated tyres can significantly reduce the size of the contact patch that is touching the road. This negatively impacts your motorcycle’s grip making it dangerous to ride. Especially in wintery conditions. Using your eyes to measure tyre pressure isn’t enough. Be sure to use a high-quality pressure gauge to monitor the pressure in your tyres.
Rear wheel tyres that lack inflation will cause your motorcycle to have braking issues. As the tyre wall becomes less firm it is unable to cope with the forces that are inflicted upon it when on the road. As a result, this could lead to an accident on the road putting you and other drivers in danger.
While we are on tyres you should check its tread depth. To monitor tread depth check the indicator on the inside of the tyre. If the indicator meets the rubber you will probably need to get your tyre replaced.
4. Spark Plugs
Changing your motorcycle’s spark plug is not something that needs to be done regularly, but is certainly something that should be considered. A worn spark plug not only wastes fuel but also strains your entire motorcycle’s ignition system. This happens because a faulty spark plug requires a higher voltage. A spark plug in need of replacement can reduce your bike’s engine efficiency by damaging its fuel economy and increasing emissions from the exhaust.
5. Brake Pads
Brake pads are easily the most important safety feature of your motorcycle. That’s why you need to take the necessary steps to ensure they remain in peak performance. Brake pad replacement may sound daunting at first but this isn’t the case. Brake pad replacement may sound daunting at first but this isn’t the case. Consult the owner’s manual for information on how to change the oil on your brake pad, typically you will want to replace your motorcycle oil every year or so.
A motorcycle’s brake pad plays an essential role in its performance. A piston applies pressure to the brake pads with standard disc brakes. This process results in friction, which then generates heat energy.
Eventually, brake pads can begin to wear and become too thin, negatively impacting the capabilities of your motorcycle for future uses. Stopping will be less smooth, which can increase your accident risk. Also, air can build up in the brake fluid lines, which can impact the system even further. If your brake pads are too thin, you can damage your discs and rotors, creating even more damage. Eventually, they can even impair the stopping ability of your bike.
Be on the lookout for anything that sounds irregular with brakes and be sure to get them checked every time your motorcycle needs servicing. While riding, listen for grinding, squealing or screeching sounds coming from the wheel area. Make sure the brake pads are thick enough – they should be at least 1/8 of an inch thick. In the event that they have worn down past this point, you will want to replace them.
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