How to maintain your motorcycle

Daily Maintenance Points

Regular daily maintenance is a key measure to extend the life of your motorcycle. When it comes to motorcycle maintenance, in addition to special measures for special times, we also need to focus on daily regular maintenance. This part is relatively simple and mainly includes changing the oil every 3,000 kilometers or so, changing the filter at the same time as each oil change, and tightening the chain every 8,000 kilometers. In addition, adjusting and checking parts such as the clutch and brakes are also essential. These routine maintenance measures may seem tedious, but they are vital to extending the overall life of your motorcycle and ensuring safe riding. At the same time, developing good driving habits is an important part of saving money and protecting your bike.

Warming up and idling

Warming up your bike is an important step in ensuring that the oil circulates adequately. Have you ever wondered why you need to keep your motorcycle idling for a while every time you start it? This is actually to ensure that the oil can circulate adequately and smoothly into the various parts that need lubrication. Especially during the new vehicle break-in period of a motorcycle, the engine should be given sufficient idling time, usually 2-5 minutes, before starting either hot or cold, to ensure that the components are properly lubricated.

Oil and Battery Maintenance

Oil selection is critical for motorcycles. Often, the original oil is a good choice because it has been specifically developed for the characteristics of the engine, and while it may not be the best oil on the market, it is the most suitable for the particular manufacturer's engine. It is important to note that the oil cannot be changed at will, as each engine is designed with a different process. Some engines have small part clearances, high compression ratios, and may operate with cylinder head temperatures upwards of 400 degrees, which requires a specific oil to cope with. Therefore, we must be careful when choosing engine oil. In addition, motorcycle engine oil must not be mixed with automobile oil and gear oil because their working environment and load requirements are very different. Meanwhile, the oil replacement interval is also crucial, which depends on the driving environment and conditions of the vehicle. Generally speaking, mineral oils should be changed between 1000km and 2000km, semi-synthetic oils between 2000km and 3000km, while fully synthetic oils can be changed between 3000km and 5000km. Of course, the exact timing of the change also needs to be decided flexibly according to the color and condition of the oil.

Precautions for battery use

When starting your motorcycle, you should not press the start button for more than 5 seconds at a time. Some riders will try several times in a row after failing to start, this practice is not recommended. If the motorcycle fails to start several times in a row, it is recommended to check the fuel supply system, starting system and ignition system, as well as pay attention to the voltage condition of the battery. Battery maintenance requires attention to the state of charging and discharging and environmental conditions. Actions such as frequent starting, short-distance driving, long-time low-speed driving, and installing additional electrical accessories or replacing high-power light bulbs will have a direct impact on the charging and discharging of the battery, resulting in the battery rapidly running out of power and not being able to replenish it. In addition, batteries produce explosive gases during charging and use, so they must be kept away from open flames or high-temperature environments. Attention should also be paid to avoiding problems such as short circuiting of the positive and negative terminals as well as loosening of the positive and negative terminals.

Other Precautions

Muffler Maintenance

Prolonged slamming of the gas pedal in place should be avoided, which not only damages the vehicle but also leads to flooding of the spark plugs. Special precautions should be taken to prevent water ingress into the muffler, especially in winter or wet weather and when washing the car, measures should be taken to prevent the increase of condensation inside the muffler or direct water ingress. Once water is found in the muffler, the engine should be started and warmed up at idle speed for at least 10 minutes in order to discharge the internal water as much as possible. At the same time, avoid driving in low gear with a large load for a long time, which will adversely affect both the engine and the muffler. In addition, when there is oil on the surface of the muffler, its surface color may turn yellow or blue after warming up. If there is a lot of dirt on the surface of the muffler, it should be cleaned in time to ensure that its heat dissipation effect is not affected. When disassembling and assembling the muffler, it is necessary to carefully check whether the muffler gasket is installed properly and fastened reliably to prevent air leakage, so as to ensure the muffling effect and the muffler interface will not be yellowed.

The Need for Riding Gear

Motorcycle fans, riding gear is an indispensable companion. Whether you are a daily rider or a professional competitor, you need a suitable set of equipment to ensure your safety and comfort. Here you can find a variety of preferred riding gear options that will allow you to ride with confidence. Choosing the right cycling gear ensures a safe and comfortable ride, whether it's for everyday use or for competitions.