Basic DIY Service for Your Motorcycle

Motorcycles are powerful machines, and like every vehicle, they rely on a series of complicated parts in order to safely get you from point a to point b. When these parts get old, worn out, or damaged, you start running into problems. Even a great bike with broken components won’t perform like the beast it once was, and if you neglect to fix some of the most important parts of a motorcycle, you’ll put yourself at risk for a serious accident. At RideNow Austin, we hope to help you keep an eye out for your ride so that you’ll know how to make small fixes yourself, and when to bring it into our service department for repairs. And while you’re here, if you’re in the market for another bike, we’ve got Honda, Suzuki, Kawasaki, and Yamaha models for sale at our dealership in Austin, Texas.

Chain-Drive System

With a powerful engine, your motorcycle needs a high-quality system to drive that torque from compression to pavement, and that’s achieved with either a chain-drive or belt-drive. As for chains, they can rust, get corroded, or get too greasy, so you’ll need to apply a spray lubricant on a regular basis. This will break away any harmful particles, which can make that chain connecting to your rear tire last much longer. On the other hand, if you have a belt-driven system, you don’t need to lubricate it, but you’ll still want to keep an eye out for any damage, such as tearing or fraying. Finally, some bikes employ a driveline system. If your motorcycle has one of these, you don’t have to worry about anything. These systems are complicated but last a long time, so just make sure that you have a technician look at it every once in awhile.

Checking on the Brakes

Each wheel on your bike is connected to a brake component, which relies on a braking reservoir. This means that there’ll be two reservoirs on your motorcycle, whether it be a Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, or Yamaha. When the fluid starts running out, your brakes won’t be able to apply as much pressure to the tires, which will prevent you from stopping effectively. To avoid any issues then, check the fluid regularly, and top it off as needed.

Tire Tread and Pressure

People who drive cars are lucky, in some ways. You’ve seen plenty of people stranded on the side of the road, jacking up their car to put a spare tire in the place of one that just blew out. While this doesn’t exactly sound like a fortunate situation, it’s much better than what happens if you let a motorcycle tire blow out. Remember, since you only have two wheels, one blown out tire leaves you with much less control, and most times, this will result in an accident. Because of this difference, you’ll need to be much more diligent about examining the tire pressure and quality when you ride a motorcycle. You should get a tire pressure gauge, and check the pressure, as well as the tread and sidewall, before every single ride.

Fluids

Finally, you’ll want to keep an eye on your oil if you want your engine to last longer than a year or so. The oil lubricates the internal components, preventing them from grinding together and causing serious damage, so be sure to use the dipstick and check both the level and quality of your oil. Also, if you notice that you’re losing fluid too quickly, this could be a sign of a bigger problem, like a leak. In this case, bring it into the shop before riding again, as you don’t want to risk doing any extra damage.

Obviously, it’s very important to keep on top of your basic motorcycle upkeep. Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha, and Kawasaki bikes are all powerful vehicles, but if you don’t take care of them, they’ll fall apart very quickly. Use the advice from this guide to get the most out of your ride, and when you need more involved service, stop by RideNow Austin near New Braunfels, Round Rock, and San Marcos, TX!