Your motorcycle is an investment, and that means you want to take proper care of it to ensure that investment retains its value. Regularly maintaining your motorcycle is an important and vital part of ensuring that your investment does in fact retain its value. If you want your motorbike to last you a long time and stay in good shape it is necessary that you follow the correct and proper motorbike care advice. Regularly maintaining and servicing your bike actually will end up saving you money, time, and effort in the long run, as well as help to ensure you are riding safely out there on the long and busy Texas roads.
The first place that you should turn to for learning about how to properly care for your bike is the manual. The manual is custom to your bike so knowing and utilizing it is your best option. Aside from making your motorcycle’s manual its best friend, you can follow these additional tips as for keeping your bike in tip top shape…
Get to know your bike and its inner workings
Get to know your bike and how it works. Having the knowledge of how your bike functions will help you when it comes to taking care of it as well as understanding repairs and motorcycle maintenance in McKinney. Motorcycles are decently complicated machines and having a comprehensive understanding of how the parts work together to make it run will only benefit you.
Leave your bike in the hands of a specialist
Even if you have gathered a ton of information and knowledge about your bike, it is always best to leave it in the hands of a specialist when it comes to service and repairs. While you may understand how things work, a specialist works on bikes as a profession, and that experience makes all the difference in the world. Self-repair and maintenance often lead to causing bigger issues and costing more money in the end. When it comes to taking care of your machine, it is best to take it in for its motorcycle service in McKinney.
Regularly check the oil
You should have your oil checked about every 3,000 to 6,000 miles depending on the make and model of the machine as well as how you drive it and where. Different environments and long-haul drives can encourage the need for more frequent servicing.
Don’t forget to check your engine
Understand how your engine works, the various parts such as the steering-head bearings, the suspension linkages and wheel bearings, and the swingarm, etc. It is important that these parts stay lubricated. Have your engine checked out and serviced annually to ensure your bike keeps running smoothly and properly.
Keep your brake pads maintained
Keeping your brake pads maintained isn’t just important for the proper care and functioning of your bike, but it is vital for your safety. If your brake pads reach a thickness of 2mm or less, they need to be replaced.
Make sure your tires are in really good shape
You should regularly check the pressure and tread of your tires to ensure they are at their best potential and operating capability. This is not only important for the running of your bike such as mileage, but it is more important for your safety.
Take care of your bike’s chain
The chain on your bike plays an important role in its workings. Make sure that the slack is correct, or you could experience other issues. When you are finished with a ride and the chain is still warm it is a good idea to add lube to the chain for it to be absorbed. Whenever you take your bike in for an oil change, that is how often you should be cleaning your chain properly.
Keep an eye on your spark plugs
When you take your bike in for a full service, they will make sure your spark plugs are in good working order. You can check beforehand on your spark plugs to see if they are dirty or corroded and need to be replaced.
Clean or replace your air filter
This will also be completed when you take your bike in for a full service, but you yourself can engage in cleaning the air filter here and there to make sure it doesn’t allow dirt to make its way into the engine. This is especially important if you often find yourself riding on dusty roads.
Take good care of the battery
You should check on your battery every month to ensure that the terminals are clean. This will help prevent corrosion and premature replacement. Also check for leaks and make sure to keep the battery charged as leaving your bike to stand too long can shorten the battery life.
When it comes to caring for your bike, the bottom line is knowing you can take it somewhere that you can trust. Here at Nortex Lube & Tune, we will be that trusted shop for you and your motorcycle. If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment, contact us today.