Regular motorcycle maintenance costs around $1,000 a year…at least. Properly looking after your ride will help you to keep those costs down, your motorcycle running smoothly, and a long and happy life on the bike.
There are a couple of motorcycle maintenance essentials that every seasoned rider knows. But there are also common motorcycle maintenance mistakes that a lot of riders are guilty of.
Check out these top 7 maintenance mistakes and how to avoid them.
1. Washing Your Bike When The Engine Or Pipes Are Hot
Keeping your motorcycle clean is important, but hot metal and cold water just don’t go together. You need to allow the expanded metal to cool down naturally rather than exposing it to extreme temperature changes when you wash it. This may damage the metal parts and finish.
You risk cracking the engine block or damaging pipes if you wash them while still how. Avoiding this mistake is simple. It doesn’t take long for your engine and pipes to cool down after a ride. So, wait a couple of minutes (at least 10 to be safe) before spraying your motorbike down with cold water.
2. Using a Pressure Washer to Clean the Chain
There are a couple of essential motorcycle cleaning tools, such as a hose, a clean cloth, and brushes. You don’t need a pressure washer and in most cases should avoid using one completely.
This is especially true when it comes to washing your chain. The high-pressure stream can ruin your chain by pushing water, grime, and dirt into the spaces between the rubber rings between the metal links. This is not good and will reduce the health and quality of your chain.
Simply use a hose and a cloth to clean your chain and avoid the pressure washer altogether.
3. Not Checking Tires Regularly
An important part of regular motorcycle maintenance is checking your tires for wear and tear and to ensure that they’re at the correct pressure. Incorrect tire pressure or severely worn tires will affect your motorcycle’s handling.
Low tire pressure will also cause your motorcycle’s tires to wear quicker than usual, decreasing their lifespan.
Check your motorcycle pressure for the ideal pressure and use a reliable gauge to measure pressure. Replace your tires before they reach a 1mm tread and you’ll be good to go!
4. Using Different Mechanics
When you become a seasoned rider you’ll likely do a lot of maintenance yourself and even small repairs. However, throughout your life with your motorcycle, you’ll need to take it to a mechanic for bigger repairs, replacing parts, and motorcycle repair service.
You need to choose a reliable mechanic that will be your partner in maintaining your bike. Taking your bike to a new mechanic every time it needs work means that the mechanic won’t have records of your bike or understand the history of work that has been done.
Only change mechanics if your current one doesn’t do a good job or you feel as if you need someone better. But when you find a specialist who you trust, stick with them.
5. Doing Difficult DIY Jobs
While on the subject of mechanics and repair jobs, a common motorcycle maintenance mistake is being overconfident in your DIY skills. Yes, changing the spark plug is easy enough, but for anything more complex than that, you should take your bike to the mechanic.
A botched DIY job may end up seriously damaging your motorcycle and costing you a lot of money, too. YouTube tutorials may seem like a better idea when you’re trying to save a few dollars, but in the end, you’ll regret not taking your bike to the experts.
It’s okay to admit that your knowledge is limited rather than put your bike at risk. Be the ‘all the gear, no idea’ rider rather than the over-confident DIY-er. Speaking of gear, check out American Legend Rider for everything you need.
6. Buying Cheap Parts
When you take your motorcycle to the mechanic you’ll have to pay a set price for labor. However, if they’re replacing parts you’ll have the option of which parts to use and it’s always tempting to keep costs down with the most budget options.
Think about the classic adage when the temptation hits you: ‘buy cheap, buy twice.’
Not all motorcycle parts are made equal and if it’s an important part for the functioning of the bike then it’s worthwhile to shell out for reputable brands. Ultimately, it will be more durable and long-lasting and won’t risk affecting other parts of your motorcycle.
7. Not Changing Oil Regularly
This is one of the first things you’ll learn about how to maintain motorcycles – change the oil regularly! This is an important part of preventing motorcycle damage and it’s so easy to do that you don’t have any excuse, whether you’re a newbie or an aficionado.
Changing the oil removes debris and prevents corrosion as well as protects the engine from combustion by-products and contaminants.
The frequency of which you should change the oil depends on the type of oil you use. It also depends on how often you ride your motorcycle. So, take all of these things into account and make sure you keep your bike healthy with regular oil changes.
Are You Making Any of These Motorcycle Maintenance Mistakes?
Are you guilty of making any of these common motorcycle maintenance mistakes? Fear not! Now that you’re armed with this guide you can avoid these mistakes and make sure your ride is always maintained to the best standards. And, when in doubt, seek out the advice and assistance of a trusted mechanic.
Did you find this post interesting? Our site is full of informative and helpful tips and tricks — keep exploring for more articles!
