How To Maintain Your Motorcycle Without Spending a Fortune

By Gino Borlado

Motorcycle maintenance is not something you can get away with skimping on, no matter what your budget is. That's why I'm going to lay out some of the basic things you need to know about maintaining your motorcycle correctly, so you can avoid spending a fortune on repairs.

That said, maintaining your motorcycle is expected. It's a part of your investment to ensure that your bike operates at its highest level throughout its lifetime. 

Motorcycle Maintenance 101

So, what is motorcycle maintenance?

Motorcycle maintenance takes care of your motorcycle so it runs at peak performance for as long as possible.

In other words, it includes regular service and routine maintenance. It also includes keeping records so you can find problems quickly when they arise. And, of course, it means having a good relationship with your dealer, as they'll be able to diagnose any issues promptly.

The key word here is regular. As a general rule, you should be inspecting your bike every month or two.

Motorcycle maintenance has three main categories: preventive care, routine maintenance, and major repair. The first two categories are done regularly, and the latter is slightly more frequent than the former. Let's look at each of those and see what we're up against.

Preventive Care:

Preventive maintenance includes regularly scheduled maintenance and should not be neglected.  These planned maintenance includes activities like replacing your tires, adjusting your suspension, or getting your air filter replaced. Observing proper care saves you money over the long term, helps your bike run better, and keeps your rides safe and comfortable. 

Routine Maintenance:

Although less regular, routine maintenance is not less important.

This category includes things like:

• Cleaning and lubing your engine bearings
• Cleaning and lubing your transmission and clutch components
• Keeping your chains and sprockets clean and lubed
• Keeping your spark plugs clean
•  Checking your oil level and filters, etc. 

These tasks should be performed every few months but may occur more frequently depending on how many miles your ride has racked up. If you take your bike in to get any of these tasks done, don't be surprised if you end up spending more time than expected. 

Major Repair:

The third and final category is what we call "major repair." As you can imagine, this category gets pretty expensive. However, it's also the most critical. Your bike's engine can fail due to various issues, including worn valve seats, cracked pistons, seized valves, leaking head gaskets, etc. It's best to do all your significant repairs yourself if you are savvy, but if you are not, then hire the services of a mechanic. 

A good mechanic should be able to diagnose your bike and give you a reasonable estimate on what parts would need to be replaced. Remember that some minor items like brakes, tires, chains, shocks, and suspension might not be covered under warranty and will need to be replaced in addition to what's covered, usually out of your pocket. 

Understand How Your Motorcycle Works

Understanding how your motorcycle works and the parts that make up the whole is critical to reducing maintenance and repair costs and your safety while on the road. Not bikes are the same; being knowledgeable about your bike will help you understand what needs to be done to keep your bike running safely, and it will help you know when it's time for preventive maintenance or when it's time to have your major repairs performed. 

Get the most out of your motorcycle's warranty

Your motorcycle's warranty can save you much money if you use it wisely. If you have a relatively new bike, you may be eligible for an extended warranty, which provides even greater peace of mind and protection. 

Make sure your maintenance records are complete and accurate. It will help you determine when you need to get your bike's service performed. 

Ultimately, the best way to get the most out of your warranty is to read and understand the manual and follow its maintenance schedule. Don't just "wing" it. More importantly, don't ignore the warnings in the manual. That's how most accidents happen. Just because it's listed as "normal wear and tear" doesn't mean riding with those parts when worn out is safe. 

If you're unsure about something, it's best to consult your dealer or your chosen mechanic, and they are always happy to offer guidance or answer questions you may have. As they say, you don't know what you don't know until you ask. 

Get The Right Maintenance Plan

Maintenance plans are crucial to keep the cost of maintenance low and the chances of doing a major repair even lower. Failure to follow your maintenance schedule is a recipe for disaster. 

Different motorcycle models require different maintenance procedures, so it pays to check your motorcycle's maintenance history, which will help you identify any recurring problems. 

Also, the miles you ride and your riding habit will affect the maintenance plan's length. 

 A good program includes scheduled maintenance checks, oil changes, and inspections. Depending on the condition of your bike, these will generally be performed at regular intervals of 1,000-10,000 miles (or 1,500-15,000 km) or more.

Talk to your dealer or your mechanic for detailed information on the proper maintenance plan for your bike. 

Find a reputable shop/mechanic.

Good mechanics are rare, especially when you are new to owning a bike. Make sure you find a shop or mechanic you trust who is friendly enough to offer advice since you might not know anything about bikes. 

Always go to a shop that has good reviews, is conveniently located, and is friendly to its customers. When you find a great mechanic, make sure they're willing to recommend other shops or have all the tools and necessary experience to ensure that the bikes are maintained or repaired.

Watch out for hidden costs

Most shops charge for parts replacement and labour. Always determine what the shop charges before the work is done. 

Make sure you don't have any surprises after the job is finished. Ask the mechanic if he charges extra for the warranty. If not, make sure to get all the details in writing.

If the bill seems too high, ask them why it is so much higher than you expected. You might be able to negotiate a lower price if you have proof of work performed on your bike.

Shop around. Don't be afraid to ask friends, family, or neighbours for recommendations. They might be able to save you some money.

Have the Right Tools

Knowledgeable or not, having the right tools when you own a vehicle makes perfect sense. The best time to invest in the right tools is before you need them. This way, you'll get the most for your money, and you can avoid going back to the store for something you already own. One of the best ways to ensure you have all the necessary tools is to keep an eye on your motorcycle's manual or consult a friend or a friendly mechanic. 

There are two different types of tools: 

1. Basic Tools - used to care for common maintenance issues such as changing the air filter, oil, etc. These tools usually include a set of wrenches, screwdrivers, and a few others. 

2. Maintenance and diagnostic tools are more specialized and designed for professionals. They can help diagnose problems and perform other tasks, such as installing new hoses or cleaning spark plugs. They include things like engine analyzers and air/fuel ratio meters. 

When to deal with motorcycle issues

If your bike has a simple issue that can be solved with the tools you already own, you can probably fix it yourself. The key is whether the problem will require the right tools or take more than a weekend to repair.

The longer it takes to deal with a problem, the more likely you will find that your situation requires professional assistance.

Conclusion

Remember, following the preventive and routine maintenance schedule can mitigate a significant repair. It may sound tedious, but this will ensure that your motorcycle states safe and reliable for years to come. So get out there and start working on those minor and major repairs before they become big problems.