Motorcycle Maintenance Tips
While you may think that maintenance is the domain of a service shop alone, the truth is that you can do a lot of upkeep tasks on your motorcycle at home in your garage. You just need to have the right tools on hand as well as the knowledge of what needs to be done. Performing maintenance on your bike at home can help to keep it out of the shop and reduce the amount of money you spend on repairs.
Not sure where to begin? Fun Products Goldsboro is your Greenville, Wilson, and Raleigh, North Carolina motorcycle dealer, so we’ve provided some basic motorcycle maintenance tips below to help you keep your bike tuned up and ready to ride.
Check Your Owner’s Manual
Before you do anything else, you should take a good look at your owner’s manual. This guide contains specific information about how to care for your particular make and model of motorcycle, so it’s your best resource when it comes to maintenance.
Keep the guide somewhere that it’s easily accessible and make notes in it of maintenance performed and repairs done so that you have those records if you opt to sell your bike in the future.
Examine Brakes
The brakes on your bike are vital to keep you safe on the road. Check the brake fluid reservoirs in the front and rear of your bike to make sure that the fluid is at the level indicated. You can easily fill up brake fluid yourself. However, if you’ve gone through all your brake fluid, you probably need to take your bike to a professional mechanic for maintenance.
Inspect the brake pads to make sure they’re wearing evenly and that they’re smooth. If your brake pads are corroded or rough in texture, they need to be replaced. You can tell when your brake pads are worn if your bike grinds or shakes while you apply the brakes as you ride.
Inspect Tires
Your tires need to remain in peak condition so that they can maintain good traction on the road surface. Make sure to use a tire-pressure gauge to check the pressure of your tires often and air them up according to the manufacturer’s recommendations in your owner’s manual. While you’re down there, inspect each tire for wear or embedded objects. Balding treads, cracks in the sidewall and other flaws mean that you need to look into getting your tires repaired or replaced.
Fuel Up
Using the correct fuel in your motorcycle is important as this will keep your engine running smoothly and give you the best mileage. Try to choose high-octane fuels that contain little to no ethanol, as this substance can become corrosive if left in your tank for too long. Always fill up your tank before a long ride.
Check your fuel filter every month or so to make sure it’s still clean enough to purify your fuel. If you start hearing strange sounds or notice that your engine is struggling to start, this could mean it’s time to change the filter.
Change Oil
The oil in your engine needs to be changed just like the oil in a car or truck. Remove the dipstick, wipe it on a soft cloth, reinsert it and remove it again to inspect the color and consistency of your oil. Clear and runny oil can be topped off; sludgy and opaque oil needs changing. Make sure you change your oil filter at the same time you change the oil.
Remember: if your motorcycle could use some professional attention, don’t hesitate to contact the service department here at [DEALERSHIP]. We can schedule you an appointment so that our team of mechanics can take a look at your bike and address any underlying issues so you can get back on the road as soon as possible.
Looking to purchase a new bike instead? Browse our website to take a look at our wide stock of new and used motorcycles for sale at our dealership in Goldsboro, North Carolina. Chat with our staff if you’d like to make use of our financing options for your motorcycle purchase, too. Fun Products Goldsboro proudly serves all our customers coming from Greenville, Wilson, and Raleigh, North Carolina.