Welcome to Motorcycles Guide
Motorcycle Dirt Bikes Parts Accessories Article
. For a permanent link to this article, or to bookmark it for further reading, click here.
Motorcycle Maintenance - A Basic Guide
from: By: James HunabanHere we have a few things you should check on your motorcycle on a regular basis. I assume you have a handbook with the specs for your bike, if not, go get one. You may be able to find some data for your particular motorcycle on the net. You can also pick up workshop manuals for various models on eBay in PDF or CD form for little money.
Whereas with a four wheeled vehicle you may get away with being lax with things like tire pressures etc, this is not the case with a motorcycle. You should not risk compromising the safety and stability of your motorcycle, for the sake of a bit of routine maintenance.
Pre-ride check
* Tires - check condition and for foreign objects in the tread.
* Tire pressures - it is vitally important to keep your motorcycles tire pressures either on spec or very close to it.
* Oil level - always check with the bike on level ground.
* Coolant level - only if your bike's liquid cooled, obviously.
* Chain - check the tension and make sure it's well lubed.
* Brakes - check they work and that they feel good.
* Lights - check all your lights, especially the brake light, you
don't want to get rear ended, do you?
* Visual inspection - self explanatory.
* All ok - hit the road.
Periodical checks
* Check battery - see that the connections are tight; I dropped a bike once because of a loose battery connection, strange but true. Also check the electrolyte level on some batteries, a lot of newer batteries are gel filled, sealed for life types, so no need with these.
*Carb balance - if your bike is multi carbed get yourself a Morgan carbtune or similar. It can be a little tricky the first time you balance them, but when you've done it once, the second time will be easy.
*Ignition timing - only necessary on some bikes, most newer models have electronic ignition which does not need touching, normally.
*Valve clearances - unless you're a good home mechanic, take it to a dealer.
*Wheel bearings - grab each wheel with it off the ground and see if there is any sideways play. There should be none or maybe a trace at most.
*Steering head bearings - with the front end off the ground, grab the forks and push and pull. There should be no play.
*Swinging arm bearings - with the back wheel off the ground, check for any sideways movement in the swingarm, there should be none.
*Brakes - check fluid levels, brake hoses for deterioration, and pads/shoes for thickness.
*Cables and levers - should operate smoothly. Get some grease on lever/pedal pivot points, and get some lube down the cables, if you can. A cable oiler is a handy tool.
*Nut and bolts - go all round the motorcycle with your spanners and check that all nuts/ bolts/screws are nice and tight.
Well, that's about it for some basic maintenance, obviously, unless you're a good home mechanic, any bigger jobs will have to go to a dealer. The problem can be finding a good one with skilled mechanics you can trust. I manage to keep my Yamaha Fazer 1000 running sweet just using the steps listed above. It does help that this model only needs the valve clearances checking every 26,000 miles.
About the author: James Hunaban is the owner of www.motorcycling-news.com/ a site full of Motorcycle information.
For more motorcycle articles visit: http://www.motorcycle-articles.com
Motorcycle Dirt Bikes Parts Accessories News
Let It Ride - Inland Empire Weekly
 Inland Empire Weekly | Let It Ride Inland Empire Weekly By Paul Rogers Travel on any Southern California highway on any weekend and you'll almost certainly see dirt bikes. Dirt bikes on trailers; dirt bikes in the back of pickups; dirt bikes strapped to the back of RVs; dirt bikes bouncing around in the ... |
Motorcycles are passion, career for Staunton man - Staunton News Leader
Motorcycles are passion, career for Staunton man Staunton News Leader After high school, he attended Motorcycle Technology School in York, Pa., where he learned the intricacies of motorcycle engines, how to troubleshoot problems and which parts and accessories are required for a specific bike. |
Preview: 2012 Triumph Tiger Explorer - National Post
 National Post | Preview: 2012 Triumph Tiger Explorer National Post The original G/S was little more than a tribute to the company's odd (odd as in no one could quite understand why anyone would try to convert a huge, heavy Boxer twin into a dirt bike) Paris-Dakar racers. Little thought was given to the possible ... Triumph Tiger Explorer 1200 |
Doing it their way - Powersports Business
Doing it their way Powersports Business Founded as an all-brand motorcycle repair shop that also sold Indian dirt bikes, John Sr. and his son opened Newark Motorcycles on Halsey Street in Newark, NJ, in 1974. But the moto-gods hurled curveballs at the duo from the start. |
Wash-15 Offroad Marks Two-Year Anniversary with 30th Retailer, Chapparal ... - ATV Rider Magazine
 ATV Rider Magazine | Wash-15 Offroad Marks Two-Year Anniversary with 30th Retailer, Chapparal ... ATV Rider Magazine Customers flooded the Wash-15 display at the world's largest event for sand enthusiasts to purchase mounts for their ATVs, dirt bikes, side by sides and 4x4s. “The benefits Wash-15 brings to riders are obvious for anyone who has ever ridden with a flag ... |
MIC Honors Congresswoman with Prestigious Chairman's Award - Motorcyclist Magazine (blog)
 Motorcyclist Magazine (blog) | MIC Honors Congresswoman with Prestigious Chairman's Award Motorcyclist Magazine (blog) IRVINE, Calif., April 30, 2012 – To thank California Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack for spearheading the effort to stop the ban on youth ATVs and dirt bikes, the Motorcycle Industry Council presented her today with the Chairman's Award for Outstanding ... |
Preview: 2012 Triumph Tiger Explorer - Montreal Gazette
Preview: 2012 Triumph Tiger Explorer Montreal Gazette The original G/S was little more than a tribute to the company's odd (odd as in no one could quite understand why anyone would try to convert a huge, heavy Boxer twin into a dirt bike) Paris-Dakar racers. Little thought was given to the possible ... |