Winter Motorcycle Life

Okay, it’s pretty much the middle of winter, which means some motorcyclists will have their bikes tucked up in the garage awaiting the return of warmer weather. So, rather than just forget about your bike for 4-6 months of the year, why not utilise that time in refreshing everything that makes it run perfectly!

 

 

First of all, I know some things are just a pain in the ass to deal with when it comes to two wheels, but trust me – you’ll definitely feel the difference in your bikes performance with the right mindset. The bike will ‘feel’ better with the correct tire pressures, chain tension, and so on… The list goes on and on! There are a bunch of things you can check yourself that your bike will thank you for. By and large though, it’s not that complicated to tackle yourself with the right know-how and some good tools! While I’m not saying everyone out there should start tearing their bike apart (at least get a workshop manual first!) – simple bike maintenance takes only a little time out of your day.

 

 

The single biggest tool you can get is, as I’ve already mentioned, a workshop manual for your specific bike. It should have intervals for servicing, what needs to be done at each service, and how to go about it. Also, it will have information about tire pressures (also located on most bike’s swing-arms), minimum brake pad thicknesses, how to read your coolant and oil levels, how to adjust your chain, even the factory recommended fork oil capacity. Really, I’m only covering the basics of what can be found in your manual. My bike’s manual is 472 pages long! There are PDF versions online for free download, use your Google and you should be in luck.

 

 

My partner bought me an ‘all in one’ toolkit for my birthday, it has sockets, wrenches, allen keys, and an assortment of other bits and pieces, and was more than enough to get me started on looking after my machine. Of course, then the bug really bit me and I had to delve further… But that’s a story for another day! (If you’ve read this far, keep your eyes on this space next week, you might see what I’ve been working on!) Most Japanese and European bikes will be ‘metric’, or have bolts measured in millimeters, while most American bikes (read, Harley Davidson) are generally Imperial (inches). The manual you just found and downloaded will tell you what your bike is if you’re unsure!

 

 

Personally, I like to check my tire pressures fairly often – even as little as 4psi difference from my preferred pressure can make a noticeable handling change. I like to use a rear-stand to hold the bike upright, which also makes it easier to clean and lubricate the chain as the wheel is free to spin unencumbered. Some bikes even have a center stand for this purpose, congrats if you’re lucky enough to be one of these people! I’m also pretty fastidious about keeping my bike clean, even when it’s not being used, to spot anything that needs attention easier.

 

 

If you are planning on keeping your bike stored for the winter months, it is advisable to get yourself a battery maintainer, which plugs the bike battery into a wall socket and keeps it topped up for when you want to ride again. There are a bunch of different brand maintainers on the market, and they’ll prevent you having to purchase a new battery come summer time!

 

 

And finally, the last point I’d like to mention is to check your lights. I’m amazed at how many bikers I see pretty much on a daily basis riding with no headlight, or no taillight, purely because they either haven’t flicked the switch on their handlebar or have a blown bulb. Not only is it the law, it’s also a pretty good idea to have your lights on when you’re riding. Visibility is a pretty big factor in not getting tangled with other road users. Check your light bulbs, guys!

 

 

The cool thing about the motorcycle fraternity is, there are literally heaps of people out there that have been around the block a few times and know the basics of motorcycle maintenance. Some of the nicest people I know, I met through bikes. Don’t be shy, ask away! Feel free to let me know if there are any points of interest that I can explore more for you, we love your input!

 

 

Stay tuned for an exciting article next week!

 

– Scott

 

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