You Can Do These 5 Motorcycle Maintenance Tasks By Yourself

Here are five simple tasks that any motorcycle owner or rider can complete on their own.

1. Maintain A Clean Chain

2. Replace the coolant.

3. Keep Tire Pressure and Tread Consistent

4. Keep it clean

5. Oil and filter replacement

Over time, many people become a little lazy when it comes to motorcycle maintenance. Periodic maintenance is critical to keeping your bike in good working order. Maintaining your bike on a regular basis allows it to work at its best and guarantees that you can ride it safely and without problems. Many of the fundamental maintenance tasks are simple enough to complete on your own.

1. Maintain A Clean Chain

The majority of chains these days are O-ring chains, which are easier to clean than older unsealed chains. When the chain becomes severely dusty, or when your owner's handbook recommends cleaning it based on the mileage. When you're finished, elevate the back wheel of your bike and shift into neutral to allow for easy chain movement. Use a soft-bristled brush to remove grit and filth from the chain. Rotate the back wheel while applying a specially designed chain lube to lubricate the chain. Allow five minutes for the chain to soak up the lubrication before wiping it away with a paper towel.

2. Replace the coolant.

Coolant keeps your motorcycle's engine from overheating, freezing, or corroding by preventing it from overheating, freezing, or corroding. You should make it a habit to check how old your coolant is and whether it needs to be replaced. When your engine is still warm, don't try to handle coolant. To change the coolant, you must first obtain access to and remove the coolant drain bolt. After that, you can reinstall the drain bolt and refill the coolant in the body.

3. Keep Tire Pressure and Tread Consistent

Locate the valve stem on the inside of the wheel, remove the cap, and place an air pressure gauge against the valve stem to check the pressure. Compare the pressure to the recommended value, which will be printed on the tire's sidewall. Fill the tyre with the correct number of pounds per square inch using an air compressor (PSI).Allow some air to escape if you've overinflated. Replace the valve stem cap after you're finished. To determine how well your tread is holding up, look at the tire's wear indicator—a small rubber knob that rests in the grooves of the tyre. If the knob is at the same level as the rubber on the road, it's time to change the tyre, which is a job best left to a skilled technician.

4. Keep it clean

Washing your bike after each usage is the best way to keep it looking new, unless you commute and don't have time, especially in the winter when the roads are coated in corrosive salt. Cleaning your bike completely on a regular basis also increases your chances of detecting any mechanical issues. Soak the bike in a tub of hot water laced with good-grade bike shampoo. Dishwashing liquid should not be used because it is corrosive. Some bike cleaning solutions propose rinsing the bike with water first before spraying the cleaner on and waiting a few minutes. Then clean the entire bike with a clean sponge or dishcloth and warm water.

5. Oil and filter replacement

Changing the oil and filter on your bike isn't much more complicated than refreshing the coolant system; all you need is the right equipment, good oil, and the proper filter. Before proceeding, consult your workshop manual for a complete explanation of the steps. Consider having someone more experienced oversee the process from start to finish, as with any first attempt. Remove the oil filler cap, set a tray beneath the bike, and remove the sump plug while the engine is still warm. Make sure you're removing the correct bolt; it should be the largest one on the sump, which is normally on the bottom or side.

Remove the filter after the oil has been emptied, either by hand or with a filter removal wrench if you're built like Desperate Dan. Before putting on a new filter, replace the sump plug and tighten it to the correct torque level as indicated in the owner's handbook. Before fitting the rubber filter gasket by hand, smear it with clean oil. With the filter wrench, turn it up half a turn. Replace the oil in the engine according to the manufacturer's recommendations. Start the bike, check for leaks, then turn it off. Before checking the level again, wait five minutes for the oil to drain back into the sump. If necessary, add more oil or remove some with an oil syringe.