If you’ve upgraded your bicycle to a big swingin’ motorcycle, then let us be your dad for a moment and teach you some simple tips for motorcycle care that will ensure your bike has a long and healthy lifespan.
Cleaning Your Ride
Keeping your pride and joy clean is one of the most obvious simple tips for motorcycle care—but also one of the most important. Taking the time to wash your motorcycle by hand and give it a fresh coat of car wax will keep it looking fresh and glossy, while protecting the exterior from the wear and tear of enduring the environment. Besides, the appearance of your bike reflects on the owner. Take care of your baby.
Replacing the Air Filter
The air filter is vital for safeguarding your engine from dust, dirt, and debris getting inside and clogging up the engine’s airways. Air filters are cheap to replace, but it may take a bit of time to remove other parts in the way to get to the filter. Just make a note of which way your filter is facing when you take it off so that you replace it the right side up. The filter should be replaced roughly between every 10,000-15,000 miles to avoid engine performance issues.
Maintaining the Tires
The importance of tires should be self-explanatory, so it shouldn’t be a surprise when we say you should be keeping tabs on your tires regularly. Make sure you are frequently looking for damages in the tires, checking the tire pressure, and refilling the tires as necessary and in accordance with your owner’s manual. You should also account for the weather, as the cold will make the air in your tires condense, while heat will cause the air to expand.
Change the Oil
Oil is the lifeblood of your engine. After several thousand miles, or after a specific number of miles as indicated in your owner’s manual, you will need to change the oil of your bike so that it continues to run smoothly and avoid damaging the engine. If you need help draining the old oil, run your bike for about five minutes in order to decrease the viscosity of the oil, making it more liquid and easier to pour out.