Basic Maintenance and Upkeep for Your Motorcycle
Riding a motorcycle is a privilege that only a few can enjoy. Every aspect of the riding experience requires responsibility and awareness, and the maintenance portion is no exception. As a motorcycle owner, you want your bike to last as long as possible, and the only way to do that is through regular inspections and quick fixes. At Interstate Cycles, we want to help you through this process, so we've put together a few suggested tasks that you might be able to perform on your own. If you need any additional assistance, you can always bring your bike into our service department, where we also will do more involved repairs and parts replacements. We're in Lake City, FL, and we serve the areas of Gainesville, Tallahassee, Alachua, Valdosta, Jacksonville, and Sanderson, Florida.
Inspecting your Tires
Tires are pretty simple components, but that doesn't mean that they don't require some careful attention. After all, if you have a blowout while riding on the highway, you could be risking a serious accident at faster speeds. You can thankfully avoid such hazards by simply taking a look at your tires before every ride. We recommend buying a tire pressure gauge, which are pretty cheap, and checking the tire pressure. If it ever runs low, get to a gas station right away and fill them to the manufacturer's recommended level. Also look at the tread and sidewall to inspect for damage. When the tread markers start wearing down below 20% of the original length, that means you'll need to bring it in for a new tire. You should also give the sidewall a once over. If you notice bulges or punctures, you shouldn't ride on them, because such signs of damage are a blowout waiting to happen.
Filters
All motorcycle rely on several filters to keep them running clean and efficiently. You'll find a fuel filter below the fuel tank, and this component keeps rust and abrasive particles out of your fuel injectors. Similarly, the air filter makes sure that only clean air is allowed to enter the combustion process. When the air filter gets dirty, it won't block the dirty air anymore, which can quickly contaminate your engine. You should replace this every other oil change, or more frequently if you notice it getting extremely dirty. Last of all, the oil filter, which is near the oil pan, keeps your oil clean. You should replace this part every time you change the oil. The fuel filter can be changed less frequently - about every two years - but it's still important to look at it or have a professional inspect it at our service department on a regular basis.
Ignition
Spark plugs provide the spark that creates combustion inside your engine. When they start wearing down, they might not ignite the air-fuel mixture properly, which can create gaps in your engine and other serious issues down the road. This means that you'll need to look at them every couple months. To do so, disconnect the battery, unplug the cable wire from each spark plug, and then unscrew the plug. Look at each plug to check for damage, corrosion, or fluid. Most of the time, you can wipe them clean, but if there's more serious damage, you should replace them all right away.
Checking the Fluids
The last important aspect that you need to take care of is your motorcycle's fluid. Coolant is pretty simple, as you only need to make sure it's filled up to the marker. Oil, on the other hand, requires a little more frequent care. Use the dipstick to look at your oil level and quality before every ride, and when it starts running low, top it off. After 3000 miles or so, you should also bring your motorcycle in for an oil change, and we'd be happy to check it for leaks and any other issues that could affect your engine.
All of these tips and tricks are simple enough for just about anyone to perform. Inspecting the tires and checking your oil are vital aspects of motorcycle ownership, and if you need extra help, our experts can perform spark plug inspections/replacements, filter changes, and any other mechanical care that you need for your bike. When you're ready to schedule an appointment, come on into Interstate Cycles in Lake City, FL. We're available for riders from Gainesville, Tallahassee, Alachua, Valdosta, Jacksonville, and Sanderson, Florida.