How to do your motorcycle maintenance by yourself?

Correct, constantcare of the technique is a guarantee of its continued proper functioning. Not all motorcycle owners think that to care of their bike is necessary from the first days after purchase. Some people do not know how to take care of a motorcycle and use/maintain it correctly and make it does not fail at the most inopportune moment. Read this article to avoid underwater rocks on the way to proper bike caring!

General motorcycle maintenance rules

First of all, after acquiring your motorbike (no matter new or used), be sure to study the instruction and familiarize yourself with the requirements that the manufacturer left for customers. Immediately check the operation of all systems, regardless of whether you have a new bike or used one. If the first symptoms of a malfunction are identified, correct them immediately. It will be cheaper than repair. Timely repairs of small faults - savings on overhaul.

Proper operation of the bike includes: 

1. External care. 
2. Check lubrication and oil. 
3. Refueling. 
4. Regulation of individual elements. 
5. Service that is divided into: 

• Daily. 
• The first technical. 
• Periodic technical. 

Daily maintenance must be done before each departure. To do this, check: 

1. Fuel level in the system. 
2. Tire pressure. 
3. Brakes. 
4. Lighting.

Note! Periodic maintenance is carried out several times a season or at a certain mileage - depends on the particular motorcycle model.

External motorcycle care

To keep the perfect appearance of the motorcycle for a long time, follow next simple rules: 

• Wash the motorcycle immediately after the trip. After the rain, be sure to clean it of adherent dirt, since dried mud, even in an ideal dry garage, condenses moisture and leads to corrosion of iron. 
• When cleaning the bike, do not scrape dirt or wipe it with a dry cloth, as you can damage the paintwork. You should first soak formed clots of dirt, and then remove it with a soft rag. 
• Pay special attention to the motorcycle wiring when cleaning.
• Dry dust, settled on the bike, you should first soak, and then rinse with a sponge with an auto shampoo or water jet.
• From time to time, wipe the units with a brush dipped in kerosene to remove the oil deposit. After cleaning, wipe the motorcycle parts and parts with a dry rag.
• You should clean blotch chrome parts with a tool designed to clean chrome plumbing or use soda. After cleaning, rinse the parts with water and rub with a soft fabric.
• To protect the chrome coating from moisture, use technical petrolatum - it will help to carry out proper care of the motorcycle and prevent metal corrosion and the external defects appearance.

Note! From time to time, use auto cosmetics, a silicone spray for rubber parts and a polishing paste.

Caring for the engine

In order to properly care for the motorcycle, it is very important to constantly monitor the status of the main working element of the system - the engine. Servicing the engine involves the selection of gasoline and oil in accordance with the requirements of the manufacturer.

Choose the brand

The choice of oil recommended by the manufacturer will allow you to delay the engine repair. The motorcycle performance also depends on the oil.

Note! Of all the tested oils, the most acceptable in the price / quality ratio is SF 15W50 or 20W50 mineral oil. Mineral oil of this type provides excellent engine performance in the temperature regime from -5 to +40 C, and what is very important, it does not burn.

Correct timing

Observe the timing of oil change. It is recommended to change the filter during the oil change once a season or every 5-6 thousand km during motorcycle maintenance. When changing the oil, it is necessary to flush the crankcase with a special flushing oil, filling it to the bottom mark of the measuring rod.

Note! Check the oil level every thousand kilometers. Check with a special oil dipstick.

Oil change

To correctly change the oil, proceed as follows:

Place the motorcycle on a perfectly flat surface so that there is no distortion.

Start the engine for a couple of minutes.

Stop the engine.

Wait 1-2 minutes and check.

Note! The oil level must be between the maximum and minimum value on the dipstick. Lack/overabundance of oil lead to the engine malfunction. If the oil level is insufficient, add it in several steps - this will be the proper motorcycle care.

Motorcycle carburetor caring

To increase the life of a carburetor, flush it every 4 thousand km. For a daily care, make sure that there are streaks of liquids on the carburetor. If a malfunction is found, replace the gaskets and tighten the fasteners. 

The washing procedure is as follows:

1. Unscrew the plug.
2. Pull out the fuel filter.
3. Rinse the fuel filter in clean kerosene or replace if necessary.
4. Blow out the flushing holes of the nozzles with compressed air.

Note! To clean channels, do not use metal objects in the form of steel wire, as they can change the hole structure. Then all your actions for caring for a motorcycle will be spent in vain.

Motorcycle brake system maintenance

When the bike is used for a long time, dirt, dust, and oil residues accumulate on the brake system. All this constitutes a threat to the driver safety. Therefore, once a year, the brake system must be thoroughly cleaned during your motorcycle maintenance. In addition, do not forget to maintain a constant level of brake fluid in the system. The level must be checked in the expansion tank window.

Note! Brake fluid change should done be once a season.

Possible problems

Motorcycle brake system must be checked immediately after buying the bike and before the start of the operating season. The main element of the brake system is a disk. The most common problem is the wear of the brake disc.

Note! The maximum acceptable wear is 3 mm.

All of this sounds too complicated for you? Then maybe you should from time to time give your motorbike for regular maintenance to the professional mechanics, for example, here.

Everything sounds okay and useful? Then read our next article - chain, wires maintenance and much more are waiting!