Do It Yourself Motorcycle Maintenance

If you own a motorbike there are some things that you absolutely should know about do it yourself maintenance. Motorcycles like cars require maintenance to keep them purring. A lot of novice motorcycle owners don't take maintenance into consideration when they should.

There are certain things that have to be done to your motorbike every 100 miles or so, or after it has been stored for awhile. Learning to do it yourself will save you a bagful of money. Besides part of owning a motorcycle is getting your hands dirty.

Gears, Chains and Lube

If you have a chain driven motorbike than you need to check that chain regularly and slap some grease (chain lube) on it to keep it humming. Chains stretch and wear, it is far better to maintain your chain from the start than risk the potential of blowing out your chain riding down the road.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, this holds true when it comes to your motorcycle. When you are looking over your chain for any wear or stretch you should also be taking a peek at your gears to make sure your teeth are not worn down.

Lube up your chain regularly every 300-400 miles with a good chain lube. If your chain does need replacement, unless you have a chain press, chain breaker and a chain riveter or equally efficient tools you might want to consider bringing it to a shop until you get a better feel of things.

Your chain is really important and sometimes having an expert step in is the best option for replacement.

Air Filters

Every motorcycle has an air filter. The air filter on your motorcycle is far more important than it is on your car. Think smaller engine, more exposed when you think about the air filters protection to your motorcycle.

Air filters should be checked regularly so debris can be removed. You will be very surprised by what you find in your motorcycle air filter. You can clean it regularly to prolong the life of the filter, but if it is paper plan on changing it at least once every two months more frequently if you are a heavy rider.

Pulling the air filter out and slipping a new one in is relatively easy, and does not require any specialized knowledge. A clogged air filter will really screw up your ride. Keep up on you air filter and extend the life of your motor.

Engine Oil

Yes you need to change the engine oil in your motorcycle! You also need to check it periodically to see if you are losing any oil due to burn off. Engine oil has to be changed around every 2000-3000 miles depending on how you ride. If you ride heavy and often in a lot of stop and go traffic than you need to change your oil at the low end of the spectrum.

Use a good quality engine oil according to the manufacturers recommendation. It is important that you use the exact weight of oil that is recommended. Motorcycle engines are smaller than car engines but are much more precise.

If you own a Motorcycle than you need to be able to do certain things yourself not only to save money but to protect your motorbike and keep it running smoothly.

Paul Smeeton is the founder of www.bitzforbikes.co.uk. We can supply all your Motorcycle Spares and Accessories for your Motorcycle.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paul_Smeeton

Tough Love: Best tips on Motorcycle Maintenance

If it’s your first time to own a motorcycle, you should be aware that motorcycles are slightly more troublesome to take care of than cars. While cars can survive a long time of neglect, the same thing can’t be said for motorcycles. Worse, just one instance of neglect can immediately cause peril to your life.

Inspect Your Motorcycle Regularly
Make up a checklist of the important things you should inspect regarding your motorcycle’s safety and performance. Send it to the service center as well every time you cover 5,000 kilometers. Regular visits may cost you a small amount of money but this amount is certainly nothing considering that it’s equivalent to the price of your life!

How Oily is Oily?
Make it a habit to check your motorcycle’s oil level when you’ve stopped for gas. While checking the oil, make sure that no foreign material will accidentally fall into your motorcycle’s oil storage compartment. Avoid subjecting your motorcycle to constant exposure to extremely hot or cold weather as this can affect your oil’s quality.

Batteries are a Motorcycle’s Best Friend
Do you know that one of the most common causes for motorcycles to cease operating or malfunction is due to battery problems? As such, you need to take excellent care of your battery at all times. Firstly, never remove or replace them if the engine is still running. Don’t change batteries by yourself if you don’t have any experience.

Adding Fuel to the Fire
An absence of care and precaution can easily add fuel to the fire and lead you to experiencing an unfortunate accident. To avoid fuel troubles, start by learning the various locations and uses of your motorcycle’s fuses. When changing fuses, always subject it to testing to ensure that it’s in good working condition. Damaged fuses put you at the risk of having your motorcycle’s blow up while you’re on the driver seat.

Clean Up Your Act
Believe it or not the mere act of cleaning can significantly reduce future maintenance costs and the chances of having an accident while you’re riding your motorcycle. If you don’t like the idea of regular cleaning, just think of it as killing two birds with one stone: cleaning will let you enjoy a safer and cooler ride on your bike!

Your Motorcycle’s First Aid Kit
Always have a properly equipped toolbox strapped to your motorcycle. Even the world’s slowest and safest driver can still be an unfortunate victim of an accident so having a toolbox will just be your way of preparing for any eventuality!