Helpful Hints

< Back

How to Avoid a Breakdown While on Your Motorbike

If you have ever broken down while riding a motorbike, then you know just how cold or wet you can get while sitting there waiting for help. No matter how fast the recovery vehicle comes to rescue you, you are still better off avoiding the breakdown in the first place.

Taking care of the routine maintenance of your motorbike is the best way to prevent a breakdown. Not only will you reduce the signs of wear to your bike, but also, you will ensure a safer ride.

Keep an eye on your tyre tread to avoid unnecessary spills on the road. Replace them as needed. Remember that the more you ride your bike, the more quickly the tread on your tyres will wear down. Plus, you should keep a watch that your tyres are properly inflated. Under-inflated tyres are prone to blowouts.

Check your oil on a regular basis, maintaining the proper level. Allowing your oil to get too low can lead to expensive repairs that might even take your bike off the road for a while. In fact, changing your oil and oil filter frequently assists in keeping your bike in terrific riding condition. Always refer to the manual for your specific motorbike as to the proper procedure for checking the oil level.

Keeping an eye on your fuel tank is also a good idea. Not only does this mean maintaining sufficient fuel for your journey, but it also means that you should treat your tank regularly.

Plus, it is extremely important that you use the proper fuel in your tank at all times. Saving a little money here and there as you skimp on the quality of your fuel is bound to do more harm than good.

Check your battery on a regular basis. Make sure that the electrolyte level is maintained properly by adding distilled water when necessary. Additionally, if your bike is ever involved in a minor spill or is simply knocked over, check to make sure that none of the battery acid has spilled out. If it has, clean it up properly to prevent permanent damage.

Also, it is important to check your chain, sprocket, and pinion to make sure that they are properly lubricated. Commercial chain sprays should be used at least once a month.

Additionally, you should give your bike the once over after every long journey and once a week otherwise. Spot checks like this will locate potential problem areas before they develop into expensive repairs. In particular, check for signs of rust and damage or weakening of any of the parts to the bike.

Always carry a spare set of fuses for your bike. Many bikes have these situated right next to the ones that are already in place. However, it is important to remember to replace these in the event that you do need to use them.

Purchase and attach both rear and front mudguards to protect the functioning of your bike. This is especially important if you tend to travel in muddy areas. Consider purchasing and installing a yoke protector to prevent unnecessary scratches from your keys.

Lots of other protective devices are available for your bike including tank protectors to prevent scratches to your tank, engine protector guards to protect the engine in the event that your bike is tipped over, and crash bungs to protect other areas.

Keeping your bike clean is part of this scenario as well. Although most bike riders love their machine and keep it clean for that reason alone, it is important to keep your bike clean for safety reasons as well. In addition to promoting the proper functioning of the bike, keeping it clean allows you to see the bike up close so that you can spot any potential danger areas immediately.

Looking After Basic Motorbike Maintenance

Anyone who already owns one of these two-wheeled darlings probably knows what they need to do for the basic upkeep of their ride. However, for new owners and as a brush up for current owners of motorbikes, a few of the most important basics are presented here.

Check your lights before and after a road trip if possible, but do check them at least once a week. Faulty lights can easily lead to a traffic accident. Check the tread on your tyres to ensure that they are not bald. Replace them when necessary. Your tyres should have a minimum of 1 to 2 mm of tread left to get you through a single season. More than 2 mm is terrific and will last for a bit yet. Less than 1 mm and you should be heading to a shop to replace the tyres.

Check for dry rot on your tyres as well. Dry rot or cracking usually occurs with old tyres. It can also occur with bikes that have not been stored in a covered location. Signs of light cracking might not need an immediate replacement, but they will need to be replaced at some point in the bike’s near future. Dry rot is especially important to check for if you purchase a used bike from someone that you don’t know.

If your bike won’t start, you can check the electrolyte level in the battery. It should be somewhere between the existing lines located on the battery for this purpose. If it is low, you can add distilled or de-ionised water to fill it to the proper level.

Schedule the time to perform basic maintenance on your motorbike for a safer, smoother ride and less costly repairs. Plus, maintaining a roadworthy bike is essential to acquiring the motorbike insurance cover that you need.

Chains should be thoroughly cleaned after long, dirty road trips. Simply allow the dirt to dry and then brush it away.

Membership in particular motoring organisations often provides ready access to service facilities that can provide your motorbike with a thorough check up as far as basic motoring functions. Maintain the basic needs of your motorbike and it will continue to be the sweetest ride that you know.

< Back