Motorcycle Maintenance Tasks You Can Do Yourself

Owning a motorcycle is a significant responsibility. In order to take the best possible care of your bike, you need to maintain it. For more serious repairs, you should visit a professional mechanic, but you can also take care of your bike on your own. Here are motorcycle maintenance tasks you can do yourself:

After a few thousand miles, your motorcycle will need an oil change. Oil helps keep your engine lubricated so each moving part can function with great ease. Without fresh and clean oil, your motorcycle's engine will struggle to run efficiently, which could lead to more serious problems down the road. Check your owner's manual to see how often the manufacturer recommends you receive an oil change. When it comes time to change the oil, start by riding your bike for a few minutes to warm everything up. Then, turn the engine off and stand your bike upright. You want to remove the drain plug and oil fill plug and allow the oil to escape into a drain pan. Then, take out the oil filter. Once all of the oil is drained, you can put the remaining parts back and use a funnel to add in new, fresh motorcycle oil. Finish things off by replacing the oil fill cap and recycling your used oil at a bike shop or municipal facility.

Extend the lifespan of your motorcycle's tires by maintaining the pressure and tread. To check your tire pressure, remove the cap of the valve stem and press an air pressure gauge onto the valve system. If your gauge shows your tire pressure is too high, keep the cap off for a short period of time to lower the amount of air in the tire. If the tire pressure is showing to be too low, use an air compressor to get the level up.

Depending on the age of your bike, you either have an O-ring chain or an old-style unsealed chain. For those with newer bikes, the O-ring chain is a breeze to clean. Old-style unsealed chains are a little more difficult to clean, but it is possible to do on your own. To clean your chain, elevate the rear wheel of your bike and put the transmission in neutral. The chain will move easier this way. Then, with a bristle brush, gently scrub the grit and grime off the chain. Next, lubricate the chain with a specially formulated lube and let sit for five minutes. Wipe off the excess with a paper towel and you have a clean chain.

These simple motorcycle maintenance tips can help you care for your bike. If you're in the market for a new bike, visit our showroom at Hap's Cycle Sales at 2530 17th Street in Sarasota.