Many riders think that there is nothing more to do than washing and changing the engine oil periodically. Like people, if you want to retain the youth of the motorcycle and have a smooth riding experience without having any trouble you have to take care of every part of your motorcycle very well. Here are some steps that will help you to properly take care of your motorcycle to expand its lifespan.
1. Take care of the engine
A few things fall under engine maintenance such as Putting the right engine oil, changing the oil on time, air and oil filter replacement, and taking care of coolant and spark plug. Change your engine oil and put the right engine oil according to your motorcycle user manual. The ideal time of the oil replacement is between every 3000- 5000 miles. Between oil changing periods, be sure about oil condition and level. Check visually the air and oil filter condition. A clean air filter allows to intake of clean air to the combustion chamber and maintains the right air and fuel mixture. The recommended time to change an air filter is every 10,000 miles or more earlier depending on your riding zone. The oil filter strains any kind of existing dirt or debris from the oil and passes clean oil to the engine for smooth operation. Whenever you are changing your engine oil, the ideal choice would be to change the oil filter along with the engine oil. There are no exact days or miles to change a spark plug. The lifespan of each spark plug varies according to your motorcycle. On average most spark plugs last between 15,000 to 20,000 miles. Check the spark plug after every 5,000 miles and replace it if needed. Coolant maintains the engine temperature. The ideal time for coolant change is every two years if you are driving your motorcycle regularly. Check coolant level and quality once every six months.
2. Pay attention to your riding habits
The lifespan of a motorcycle significantly depends on the motorcycle riding style. Before going out for a ride after starting the engine, leave it for 2-4 minutes to warm up. It also allows proper oil circulation to the engine before running the motorcycle. Avoid sudden and aggressive acceleration and braking. When you shift gears do it carefully and appropriately and also maintain the optimal RPM range.
3. Take care of the braking system
Check your motorcycle brake after every few weeks to ensure more safety. Lubricant will brake moving parts, and check well for worn-out brake pads and brake fluid level. A worn-out brake pad will get you a very bad braking experience as well as can damage the brake rotors or the entire assembly. Make sure that the brake fluid is in the correct amount and good condition.
4. Take care of tires
Always maintain the right tire pressure. Under-inflated or over-inflated tires will affect your riding experience and also reduce the tire lifespan. Check closely that the tires are properly aligned with the wheels. An unaligned tire may get cracked under excessive pressure. While parking, do not expose the tires to the sun for a long time. Try to park your motorcycle in a shaded area and avoid carrying excessive weight to keep the tires in good condition.
5. Always keep clean
How frequently your motorcycle should be cleaned depends on your riding environment. If you are riding on the highway, wash your motorcycle at least once a week. If you are off-roading you need to clean your motorcycle more frequently to clean the dirt and mud stuck on the motorcycle. If you are riding your motorcycle in a coastal area, for the salty air you need to take special care of your motorcycle. You have to wash, wax, and lubricate the moving parts of your motorcycle almost every day while you are riding in coastal areas or offroading. If possible, avoid pressure washing for all the time. For excessive water pressure water can enter electronic components which may lead to malfunction or your motorcycle painting and wires may get damaged.
6. Take care of the chain and other moving parts
After every wash don’t forget to lubricate your motorcycle chain and other moving parts. This lubrication process will help you to prevent rust and smooth riding experience. To maintain your motorcycle chain condition, always keep it in the right tension. If a motorcycle chain is too loose and too tight it can lead to wear out the chain and chain sprocket.
7. Protect your motorcycle paint
To protect your motorcycle body paint avoid rough rubbing while cleaning or washing. Do not park your motorcycle where it is exposed to direct sunlight and rainwater. Sunlight and rainwater damage and make your motorcycle paint fade. Always park your motorcycle in a shaded area and cover it with a good quality motorcycle cover. You can also coat your motorcycle paint with ceramic or Teflon coating. It will also make your motorcycle paint last longer, protect the paint from the sun and rain as well as increase the shine.
8. Take care of battery and electrical components
By our own mistake, we waste the normal lifespan of our motorcycle battery and we do not even realize it. Most of the time even after turning off the motorcycle engine we leave the headlights or indicators on and because of this, the health of the battery gets destroyed. Battery damages when you leave the motorcycle for a long long period without starting and for lack of attention during the storing period. Check your motorcycle battery health at least once a month and charge the battery with an additional battery charger while you are not using your motorcycle for a long time. Check your motorcycle’s other electrical components and wires very well.
By following these above-mentioned steps you can expand your motorcycle lifespan. Do not delay to fix or replace any parts of your motorcycle no matter how small the issue is. Always service your motorcycle on time or according to the user manual. Take care properly of your motorcycle for smooth operation.