How does it feel to ride a motorcycle? Does it give you an exhilarating feeling because you can certainly feel the win as you ride at faster speeds? Riding a motorcycle is an enjoyable way to get from one place to another. People have different reasons when it comes to buying motorcycles. You might have recently bought it to avoid public transport due to the virus but it is not a surprise if you fall in love with using it.
In order to enjoy more years of using your motorcycle, you need to know at least the basics of maintaining it. You need to know how to properly take care of it like towing it in the right way. There are maintenance procedures that are simple and easy to do even for beginners. Let us guide you through them today.
In order to keep your engine efficient, it needs the air filter to keep the debris out. The air filter can be clogged or dirty when it is not regularly replaced. If that happens, you’ll see a degradation in the motorcycle’s performance.
Changing the air filter is an easy task but it can be time consuming. That’s because not all air filters are easily accessible. There are some that could only be changed if you remove other parts like the gas tank or other parts.
Changing the coolant is another motorcycle maintenance procedure that you can do. This will help prevent your engine from overheating or being corroded. In order to do this, you may need to remove some of the motorcycle parts first. Then, you’d have to drain it completely. To do that, place a pan under the drain bolt then remove it. You can now remove the radiator cap.
Before replacing the coolant, put back the drain bolt and use a funnel to refill the coolant through the radiator cap. Then, place the radiator cap on and put back any other parts that you removed to get access to the coolant.
Start your engine and allow it to run for a few minutes to warm up. After a few minutes when the engine is cool, check the coolant level through the radiator cap.
Like cars, the pressure of your motorcycle tires should also be within the manufacturer’s tire pressure suggestion. Check it and make sure that it is optimal. An air compressor that you can find at any gas station will help you correct it.
Apart from the tire pressure, you should also check to see if the treads are not yet worn out. There is usually an indicator located in the tires. This should not be of the same level with the rubber or else you’d be due for a tire replacement.
Another important component of the engine that you need to regularly change is the oil. Different manufacturers will have different suggestions on how many miles to cover before changing the oil.
If your motorcycle is due for a change, you should first ride your motorcycle for about 5 minutes to warm up the engine and lower the viscosity of the liquid. That will make it much easier to drain.
After 5 minutes or so, switch the engine off and make sure that the bike is in an upright position. Remove both the drain plug and oil fill plug to let the oil drain into the pan. When changing the oil, you should also change the oil filter at the same time. This is a messy process so it is best to lay in some protection against the drips.
After the oil is drained, you can now replace it with a new one and replace all the removed parts. A funnel is one great tool when it comes to replacing the fluids in your motorcycle. It lessens the mess and makes sure that the fluids aren’t wasted. The used oil can be recycled if you bring it to the bike shop or at a municipal facility.
Most motorcycles now have o-ring chains. These are much easier to clean as compared to the old styles. The chain should be cleaned regularly whether due to the presence of dirt buildup or if you’ve covered a particular number of miles.
When cleaning the chain, you should lift the rear wheel and make sure that transmission is in neutral. This will make the chain easier to move. A bristle brush would be gentle enough and tough enough to get rid of the grime. Afterwards, don’t forget to lubricate the chain with a lubricant that’s specifically formulated for motorcycle chains.
We know you love to take care of your motorcycle by maintaining it but in case you need to transport it, ensure it’s safety by calling Nimble Towing Service. The excellent motorcycle towing service will make sure your motorcycle doesn’t get damaged during transport…
