All motorcycles have certain things that must be maintained properly in order for the bike to function at its best. Fuel levels, tire pressure, oil levels, and other important factors play a role in the longevity and performance of your bike. If you do not get to ride your bike often, or the machine has been stored for the winter and you are just now thinking of riding, then you need to do the following Motorcycle Maintenance Checklist checks prior to heading out on the highway. You need to take care of your bike’s headlight to tire life to ensure the safety and smooth drive.
Fuel
Of course, you know to check the amount of fuel that is in your tank prior to heading out for a long drive. You also need to know that when fuel sits in the tank for long periods of time it becomes stale and will not power your bike efficiently. Stale fuel may even cause problems with the delicate systems. If your bike has been sitting unused then the first thing you need to do is siphon the fuel from the tank and fill the tank.
Change the oil
Generally, you should change the oil and oil filter in your bike every 3700 miles. Old oil becomes thick and does not properly coat the intricate parts of your engine properly. If your bike has been sitting during the winter months then the oil has been aging and getting thick and gummy instead of being a slick lubricant. If your garage keeps your bike during the winter then change the oil and filter before the first spring ride.
Tire Pressure Maintenance
Before you hop on your bike and hit the roads you need to know that the tires on the bike are inflated to the proper pressure. This is especially true if the bike has been in storage. While the bike is sitting the tires can leak air and lose some of their pressure.
Properly inflated tires make the bike safer to ride because tires with too little air may not have the same traction and may not allow your motorcycle to handle the way you expect. Keep a tire pressure gauge in your storage compartment and check your tire pressure before the first spring ride, and every time you fill up with fuel
Tire Life
The pressure in the tires is very important, but the amount of life left in the tire is also important. If a large amount of the tread has been worn off of the tire then the motorcycle may be hard to stop when you need to, and it might skid on the roadway, or worse-case scenario you might blow a tire while traveling down the interstate at 70+ miles per hour.
Check the tire tread by placing a penny in the tread grooves. If you can see the top of Lincoln’s head on that penny then the tire tread is too low and you need new tires.
While you are checking the tread, look to see if you see any bald spots on the tires or a bubble developing on the sidewall of the tire. These are indicators of a tire that has lived its full life and is about to retire.
Brake Fluid
Oil and gas are two important fluids on a motorcycle. Brake fluid is also a crucial fluid on a motorcycle. Check your brake fluid levels and keep the fluid at the maximum level. You can even drain the fluid and refill the reservoir with fresh fluid to be certain that your brakes are going to work when you need them too.
Final Thought
Doing proper Motorcycle Maintenance Checklist checks on all fluids, belts, cables, hoses, and tires will keep your bike running longer.
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