If you have a motorcycle of your own there are some things you should check on a regular basis. Routine maintenance is important for your safety as well as for the safety of others on the road. If you don't have a handbook with specs on your motorcycle, you should try to get one. If that is not possible, you should try to find some information about your motorcycle on the web. There are also workshop manuals available for various models that you can find in auto shops or on the internet. Many of these manuals are available in the form of a CD or DVD.
Keeping up with maintenance on your car is very different from maintaining your motorcycle. You may be able to get by with neglecting some minor things on your car, but with a motorcycle no maintenance aspect is minor. It is unwise to neglect any maintenance detail.
Things you should check daily on your motorcycle
Tires - Make sure both the tires are in good condition.
Tire pressure- It is extremely important to keep tire pressure on or very close to spec.
Oil level - you should always check the oil with the bike on a level ground.
Brakes - check to make sure the brakes are functioning properly.
Lights - All lights should be checked, especially the brake light.
Chain - Check the tension of the chain and make sure it is lubricated well.
Things to check periodically on your motorcycle
Check battery - Make sure all the connections are tight. Also check the electrolyte level on batteries if necessary.
Wheel bearings - Check wheel bearings by grabbing each wheel with it off the ground and see if there is any sideways play.
Swinging arm bearings - Check this with the back wheel off the ground, check for any sideways movement in the swingarm, there should not be any.
Brakes - Check the fluid levels, brake hoses for deterioration, and pads/shoes for thickness.
Cables and levers - These should operate smoothly. You should use a cable oiler to help keep these parts well lubricated.
Nut and bolts - You should go all round the motorcycle with your spanners and check that all nuts, bolts and screws are tight.
The suggestions made here are for basic maintenance. Other larger jobs would obviously have to be done by a mechanic. It is a good idea to have a mechanic check for routine maintenance at least once or twice a year just in case you miss something in your routine maintenance.
Keeping up with maintenance on your car is very different from maintaining your motorcycle. You may be able to get by with neglecting some minor things on your car, but with a motorcycle no maintenance aspect is minor. It is unwise to neglect any maintenance detail.
Things you should check daily on your motorcycle
Tires - Make sure both the tires are in good condition.
Tire pressure- It is extremely important to keep tire pressure on or very close to spec.
Oil level - you should always check the oil with the bike on a level ground.
Brakes - check to make sure the brakes are functioning properly.
Lights - All lights should be checked, especially the brake light.
Chain - Check the tension of the chain and make sure it is lubricated well.
Things to check periodically on your motorcycle
Check battery - Make sure all the connections are tight. Also check the electrolyte level on batteries if necessary.
Wheel bearings - Check wheel bearings by grabbing each wheel with it off the ground and see if there is any sideways play.
Swinging arm bearings - Check this with the back wheel off the ground, check for any sideways movement in the swingarm, there should not be any.
Brakes - Check the fluid levels, brake hoses for deterioration, and pads/shoes for thickness.
Cables and levers - These should operate smoothly. You should use a cable oiler to help keep these parts well lubricated.
Nut and bolts - You should go all round the motorcycle with your spanners and check that all nuts, bolts and screws are tight.
The suggestions made here are for basic maintenance. Other larger jobs would obviously have to be done by a mechanic. It is a good idea to have a mechanic check for routine maintenance at least once or twice a year just in case you miss something in your routine maintenance.
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