How often do you maintain the motorcycle? – bikerbuys.com

• Tires: condition and pressure, fundamental
• Oil: lubricates, cleans and cools the engine
• Chain: avoid possible breakdowns or accidents
• Filters: more important than they seem
• Brake equipment: guarantee of safety
• Suspensions: watch out for oil leaks!
• Refrigerant: in summer and winter, essential
• Battery: don’t run out of power!

If we take care of the motorcycle maintenance, we will circulate safer. But do you know when it is advisable to do a full tune-up? And what components require a specific periodic review? Keep reading.

Although we ourselves can take care of daily visual inspections or small maintenance tasks of the motorcycle if we are handymen, it is best that we entrust the tuning to the professionals of an after-sales service or a trusted workshop. Especially in these four cases:

Before the winter season. With the arrival of winter, some bikers decide to hibernate their motorcycle until the good weather returns. But many others are encouraged to continue driving or traveling on two wheels. To combat the cold, rain and even snow, our motorcycle must be in perfect condition.

Before summer. And the same thing happens in the summer season… Just as we change our long-sleeved clothes for short-sleeved ones when the hottest months arrive, our motorcycle needs a tune-up in summer to cope with the high temperatures.

Before a motorcycle  trip. At any time of the year, motorcycle maintenance is essential if we are going to make a long journey. By the way, don’t forget to include Travel Assistance coverage in your motorcycle insurance.

Before passing  the ITV. In pre-ITV maintenance they will correct the defects that our motorcycle may have. In this way, we will not have problems in passing the Technical Inspection of Vehicles (ITV). Remember: passing the ITV will give us peace of mind knowing that our motorcycle is safe.

In addition, from the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) they observe that, depending on the components, the manufacturers mark their own maintenance intervals for the motorcycle. If you don’t know the reference guidelines, take note!

Tires: condition and pressure, fundamental

Whether we drive more or less safely will depend on the condition of the tires. When maintaining the motorcycle, check that the depth of the tread grooves is not less than 1.6 mm. Likewise, the presence of cuts, cracks or deformations on the tires can be a clear indication that the tires are not in good condition.

: The condition of the tires should be checked at least once a month.  And more, thoroughly every 5,000 kilometers.

: Likewise, it is very important to check the inflation pressure – always cold – every month and before a trip, following the manufacturer’s instructions.

Oil: lubricates, cleans and cools the engine

The oil plays an essential role in the health of the heart of a motorcycle. Once the engine starts, it lubricates its main components, thus preventing them from wearing out due to friction. And it also helps to discharge the heat produced by both the drive itself and the clutch.

: It is advisable to check the condition and level of the oil once every 30 days. And change it when they have traveled between 7,000 and 12,000 kilometers.

Chain: avoid possible breakdowns or accidents

Continuing with the maintenance of the motorcycle, the models with a chain require cleaning, greasing and tensioning with specific products and tools. It should be borne in mind that poor greasing or incorrect tensioning increases the risk of breakdown and can lead to an accident. Trust professionals and  don’t play it.

: Lubricating the chain every 500 kilometers, checking the tension every 1,000 km and tensioning it every 2,000 km will save us more than a headache.

Filters: more important than they seem

The function of the oil filter is very important. If it is clogged, it can reduce lubricant flow and cause engine failure. As for the air filter, it is responsible for preventing suspended particles from reaching the propellant and damaging it. And if it clogs it can negatively influence the performance of the latter.

: The oil filter must be replaced alternately (once every other time) when changing the lubricant.

: Manufacturers determine the life of air filters. Regarding its maintenance and replacement (every 30,000 kilometers, approximately), we recommend that you delegate these operations to a trusted center.

Brake equipment: guarantee of safety

Along with tires and suspensions, brakes are part of the active safety equipment . In the maintenance of the motorcycle, an expert mechanic will be in charge of making a complete revision of hoses, calipers, pistons, levers, lever, pads or shoes, discs or drums and fluid.

: With regard to the pads, you should periodically observe how the part that is in contact with the disc is located. If the groove or grooves are badly worn or not visible, they will need to be replaced. In general, the pads are replaced every 15,000 to 20,000 kilometers.

: On the other hand, the brake discs show the minimum thickness (MIN.TH) together with a number that reveals the recommended minimum – for example, MIN.TH. 3 mm–. A professional will determine when a brake disc needs to be replaced.

: And brake fluid will be changed based on specification: DOT 5.1, once a year, and DOT 4, once every two years (maximum).

Suspensions: watch out for oil leaks!

Since we have referred to the suspensions, they represent one of the most common motorcycle defects in ITV inspections. All, the losses of oil in the front suspension. Until the motorcycle is taken to the workshop for inspection and adjustment, a visual inspection will help us to know if there is an oil leak in the front fork or the rear shock absorber.

: The fork oil must be replaced every two years. And the rear shock absorbers every 70,000 km.

Refrigerant: in summer and winter, essential

As its name suggests, the function of the coolant – a liquid based on a chemical compound called ethylene glycol – is to protect the engine in extreme temperatures.

: In the maintenance of the motorcycle, it is advisable to check the condition and level of the coolant before entering both summer and winter. And periodically  every two months.

Battery: don’t run out of power!

Especially if the vehicle remains stationary for a long time, consider removing the battery, checking the electrolyte level (if it is a model with maintenance), cleaning the terminals and, if necessary, recharging it, if possible, with a smart charger.

: It is recommended to change the motorcycle battery every two to three years.

Finally, when it comes to motorcycle maintenance, we cannot forget about the headlights. Check the operation of all lights regularly to enjoy a good field of vision and to make sure that you are visible to other road users. You already know see and be seen. Good curves.