Your motorbike, just like your body, needs to be cared for. Just as we keep our blood pressure, blood sugar in check, we need to keep the overall health of our bike in check too. Parts of the bike are similar to the organs in our body. The longer they function, the further they depreciate. With years, your bike will depreciate too, to turn down this process, there are essential things to do after buying a bike. So here is our set of suggestions on how you can make your bike last longer.
Getting used to bike maintenance: Know that each part of your bike needs separate maintenance.
Watch The Engine Oil
While engine oil is not exactly a part of your bike, it is what keeps your bike engine well functioning and operating smoothly. Over time, by-product from combustion gets collected into the engine oil. This by-product can make the engine oil darker in color and give it a lumpy texture due to the dirt particles that start floating in the oil. These dirt particles can then clutter up into the inside parts of the engine as your bike runs and result in ill operation or even damage your bike engine.
Watch The Tyre Pressure
Tyres are an important part of any bike. To make your tyres sustain a longer, healthier life, you have to keep a close eye on your tyre pressure. The ideal pressure for motorbike tyres lie between 20 psi to 32 psi, depending on your tyre size and tyre type. Do your research on the ideal tyre pressure for your bike and learn to keep it constant.
Watch The Clutch
It is important to monitor how you use your clutch. You need your clutch while changing gears and as you press brakes, you press the clutch along with it to prevent the bike from shutting off suddenly. This tells us that the clutch acts as a device that allows engine power to be applied gradually as a vehicle is staring out and to interrupt the power to avoid gear crunching while shifting the gears. Clutch allows the power to transform from engine to the transmission and drive wheels. So if you have a habit of half-pressing your clutch, it can make the friction damage parts of your bike. So make sure you’re not half-pressing your clutch when you shift gears or even while you ride, you don’t unknowingly fidget with the clutch out of habit. Use it only when you need it and use it right.
Watch The Filter
The air filter acts as a strainer that keeps the unwanted particles in the air from entering the engine of your bike, letting only the pure and clean air inside, which results in smooth operating of the engine. You need to clean your air filters after each 10,000 to 12,000 kilometers. Depending on the quality of the air filter, it can either be reused after cleaning or it will need to be replaced.
Watch The Transmission System
The motorbike transmission delivers power to the rear wheel through a structure of parts like clutch, the gearset and the drive system. The chain of a bike needs to be cleaned, oiled and checked from time to time so rule out any mishaps on the road.
Watch That Dirt: Dirt can clog up into important parts of your bike
Be it mud, or dry dirt, it’s still harmful when it gets into the system of a bike. It can result in the rusting of important parts of your bike and lead to failure of the parts of your bike in the long run. So clean your bike carefully and thoroughly on a regular basis.
Watch That Battery
Dry batteries are relatively low maintenance but they still need to be cared for. Keep your battery charged even when it’s not being used for longer periods of time. Make sure it doesn’t get discharged over being unused.
Watch The Brake Liners & Brakes
Brake liners are crucial, when they start making a squeaking noise as you press the brakes, they need to be replaced. Brake liners may get damaged with water, mud and dust over time. They need to be cleaned and replaced from time to time. Similarly, the brakes need to be tightened as they start to loosen up.
Watch The Engine
The engine of a bike, like the human heart, is a complex organ. It needs to be cleaned, oiled and maintained carefully in order to keep your bike healthy. Make sure you clean out your carburetor, keep your spark plugs clean. Clean it after each 750 to 1500 km depending on whether you’re riding a two-stroke bike or a four-stroke bike. Also clean out the carburetor float chamber. When it’s cold outside, you may need to use the choke to start your bike. Make sure you keep all of these in check.
Watch The Lubrication
Lubrication is very important when it comes to riding. Always keep parts of your motorbike such as suspension, linkages, swingram, steering-head bearings, wheel bearings, brakes, transmission system, etc lubricated and oiled. You can use grease and oil or a combination of those to do so.
Also read: Things to Know Before Riding a Superbike
Tips on how to ride your motorbike to keep it healthy.
Ride With Love Not Aggression.
Treat your bike like a temple. Give out only love and care not aggression and don’t rush it into a dangerous speed.
- Avoid pressing brakes suddenly.
- Avoid over speeding to avoid overheating and prevent the engine from getting damaged.
- Keep the motorbike below the speed limit to both, keep yourself and your bike safe.
Keep it out of rain and harsh sunshine
Don’t let your motorbike have the impact of heavy rains and harsh heat from the sun to keep it safe from heat damage and rust.
Things To Keep In Mind
- Ride your bike regularly to keep it alive and active.
- Wax the tank of your bike at least once a year to keep it safe from weather changes and damage.
- Keep your bike insured – always. Keep it safe from both accidental damage and theft.
- Use fuel cleaner to clean your fuel tank at least once every year to get rid of any residue that is left inside the fuel tank.
- Don’t get too handsy with your bike. Don’t try to make any alterations or changes to your bike that you don’t have the skills to do. Always hire a professional while getting things done to your motorbike to avoid any mistakes you may make, while working on your own.
Apart from this, always remember that you are the only one who knows your motorbike the best. So make sure you don’t let too many people ride it. You can entrust your bike with some close ones, but make sure you’re the one taking care of it for the most part. Understanding your motorbike is the key.
We hope you loved this article, let us know what you think about these tips and how you take care of your bike if you have any other methods to do so!
