Finally, after buying ‘that’ special motorcycle that you always wanted, the goal may seem achieved — but is it? No. Buying the dream motorcycle is just half the goal, maintaining the motorcycle throughout its lifetime is when the goal is achieved.
So if you’ve just bought your dream motorcycle, pay attention, because this is what owning a motorcycle comes down to — maintenance!
Prevent or fix?
Many would ride a motorcycle, and if anything wears out or breaks, they fix it. While this may seem straightforward, it actually isn’t. This is when the cost of ownership and ‘the bike is expensive to own’ perspective comes. Instead, a better way to go about it is preventive maintenance. Cleaning and lubing the chain, for example, regularly, makes them last longer. Preventive maintenance is always better than fixing something after it happens.Â
The truth about cleaners and lubes
One of the most common maintenance parts is the chain, which needs regular cleaning and lubrication. Depending on the chain and the type of lubrication used, they need to be lubed at set intervals and cleaned and lubed at certain intervals. However, this may change depending on the use of the motorcycle.
Good quality cleaners and lubes can be expensive, then comes an array of wet weather and dry condition lubes, ceramic lubes, wax lubes, and a host of other choices. It’s the same for cleaners. So what’s the choice? Use diesel or kerosine to clean the chain and gearbox oil, 90-grade oil, to lube it. This combination works wonders. Just stay away from petrol, as it will damage the rubber O-rings in the chain.
Fluids!
A healthy way towards preventive maintenance is to check fluid levels regularly and top them up if needed. Coolant, engine oil, and brake fluid. If levels are low in and around the scheduled service interval, change them as per your manual, if not, just a top-up would do in between service intervals.
Pay attention to rubbers
Modern bikes have a lot of plumbing and hoses can be made of rubber. India is hot and these tend to crack, leak, and eventually cause a failure. Inspect them regularly and if you spot a cracked hose, change it, as they are much cheaper than fixing larger damages that will eventually occur. One good way is to invest in silicone sprays that help rubber hoses last longer.
Nip the buds as early as possible
Sometimes, issues may occur and we tend to save it for later. As soon as you spot an issue, deal with it immediately, as small things ignored can lead to bigger damages down the road. So, catch these issues early and fix them. One way to spot them early is by regularly paying attention to your motorcycle and inspecting it visually at regular intervals or after long rides.
Finally, get quality parts
Be it crash protection, windscreens, levers, rear sets, hoses, tyres, brake pads, and whatever you choose, opt for high-quality stuff. Cheap stuff may look like the easy way, but they don’t do what they’re intended to do. Almost every motorcycle out there, from entry-level motorcycles to litre-class flagships, has accessories from well-known brands.
