Motorcycle care and maintenance

Proper care and maintenance on you motorcycle brings you safe on every rides. Right way in maintaining you motorbike less hassle and less costs. Maintenance is the second thought a rider must take into consideration and not taken for granted from insuring the perfect condition likewise with assurance to the journey. Taking care of the vehicle is next to insurance. Some illustrations below should remember to avoid risk in riding which cause into accident.

Engine/transmission oil level - It is important to ensure that the oil level doesn't drop below the minimum marking. An engine in good condition will use very little oil between oil changes. If your bike has an inspection window, check that the oil level is between the MAX and MIN markings.

Before checking the oil level, support the bike upright on level ground to allow the oil level to stabilize.If your bike has a dipstick, note where the oil comes to in relation to the MAX and MIN markings. If the level is too low, remove the filler cap from the top of the crankcase and top up with the specified oil type. Always use motorcycle engine oil - not oil designed for use in car engines.

Steering and suspension - Check that the steering moves smoothly when the handlebars are turned from side to side. Also check that the front and rear suspension operates smoothly when you sit on the bike.

Coolant - The coolant level should not fall unless the system has developed a leak. Locate the coolant reservoir and check that the coolant level is between the two level marks on the reservoir. If necessary top up with a 50/50 mixture of distilled water and antifreeze.

Tyres - The correct tyre pressure is essential on a bike. Always check tyre pressure with the tyres cold - never after riding because the pressure increases when hot. Give the tyre a quick visual check for any damage or wear of the tread.

Use a tyre pressure gauge to measure the pressure in each tyre, compare this with the specified pressure (usually on a label attached to the chainguard or rear mudguard) and use a pump to increase the pressure if necessary.

Lights and horn - Check that all lights, brake lights and turn signals work. Check that the horn works - you never know when you might need it!

Brakes - Check the brakes regularly. Their application must be firm and they must be fully applied without the lever (front) or pedal (rear) reaching its full travel. They must also free off completely when the lever or pedal is released and allow the wheels to turn freely without drag. Check the fluid level of hydraulic brakes by viewing the level in relation to the lines on the master cylinder reservoir. If it is below the LOWER line, top up the fluid. Use the fluid type marked on the reservoir cap (usually DOT 4) and top up to the level line inside the reservoir.

Drive chain - Most bikes have chain drive to the rear wheel. It is important that the chain is well lubricated and does not have too much freeplay.  If the chain looks dry give it a quick squirt of aerosol chain lube. If the chain looks too slack adjust its tension as soon as possible.

Tips for Infrequent Drivers

Drive as Often as You Can - Parking a car for long periods of time can wreak havoc on accessory belts, engine fluids and more. It's also bad for the battery, which incurs what Tony Molla, a certified technician and spokesman for the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence, calls "parasitic draws"; things like the car alarm, on-board computer and dashboard clock are still using small amounts of battery power.

Over time the battery loses its charge, and the car will need to be jump-started. Starting a car every two or three weeks and driving 15 to 30 minutes in order for the engine to reach a working temperature. 

Check the Tires - Use a tire pressure monitor. A tire may be a little low even if it looks fine.

Over time, the tires on a parked car can deflate. They can also "flat spot," a condition where the section sitting on the ground warps disproportionately.

If you don't have time to drive your car, Molla said simply moving it to a new parking space is an easy way to prevent flat spotting. "Look at one tire," he said. "Note the air valve position, like on a clock. Is it at 9 o'clock? If so, when you back the car up, make sure it's at 3 o'clock or 12 o'clock. As long as it's a quarter-turn, you're fine."

Drive Easy - If your car has been parked for some time, hard acceleration and braking are a recipe for things to go wrong. The engine needs time to circulate all its fluids, and the brake rotors may have accumulated considerable dust since they were last used.

"One should never rev up a cold engine that's been sitting for a while, you should let it idle," Molla said. "Give it a chance to slowly wake up. Don't go slamming on the brakes because, chances are, things won't stop quite as quickly as you're used to."

MacDonald said the length of your drive is equally important. He said starting up and driving just two blocks before turning the car off can do more damage than not driving at all.

"It's a cold start," he said. "Lubrication isn't really functional until fluids and components are at operating temperatures. You usually don't reach that in two blocks; it's more like two miles.

"You want your temperature gauge to come up to normal, and you want it to be there 10 or 15 minutes. Then you've arguably done some good. You have everything covered in oil again."

Change the Oil

Check the owner's manual to find out how often you should change the oil in your car.

Oil changes aren't the only thing to remember. Brake fluid, engine coolant, transmission fluid and other liquids also need regular maintenance. Nielson said service intervals for most fluids are listed in the owner's manual.

When you fill up, consider adding a fuel-injector or fuel-system cleaner that's appropriate for your vehicle, Molla said. Most service stations carry a range of them for less than $5, packaged in pint-sized containers that empty directly into your fuel tank.

If you don't want to spend $100 or more for a quality cover, experts said you should at least consider an inexpensive windshield sun shade. It offers some protection for the dashboard and keeps the interior cooler.

By Kelsey Mays, Cars.com