How to care for a motorcycle?

Correct, constant maintenance of the equipment is a guarantee of its long service life. Not all motorcycle owners think about how to care for their bike is necessary from the first days of purchase. Some people do not know how to take care of a motorcycle and use it correctly so that it does not fail at the most inopportune moment.

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General rules

First of all, after purchasing the equipment, be sure to study the instruction and familiarize yourself with the requirements that the manufacturer makes to consumables.

Immediately check the performance of all systems, regardless of whether you have a new bike or used. If the first symptoms of a malfunction are identified, correct it immediately. It will be cheaper than repair. Timely repairs of small faults - savings on overhaul.

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Motorcycle maintenance

Proper operation of the bike includes:

1. External care.
2. Check lubrication and oil.
3. Refueling.
4. Regulation of individual elements.
5. Service that is divided into:
   • Daily.
   • The first technical.
   • Periodical technical.

Daily maintenance must be carried out before each departure. For this, check:

1. Fuel level in the system.
2. Tire pressure.
3. Brakes.
4. Lighting.

Note! Periodic maintenance is carried out several times a season or at a certain mileage - depends on the particular model of the motorcycle.

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Outdoor care of the motorcycle

To maintain the perfect appearance of the motorcycle for a long time, observe the following rules:

• Wash the motorcycle immediately after the trip. After the rain, be sure to clean it of adherent dirt, since dried mud, even in an ideal dry garage, condenses moisture and leads to corrosion of iron.
• When cleaning the bike, do not scrape off dirt or wipe it with a dry cloth, as you can damage the paintwork. Formed clots of dirt first soak, and then remove with a soft rag.
• Pay special attention to the wiring of the motorcycle when cleaning.
• Dry dust, settling on a bike first soak, and then rinse with a sponge with an auto shampoo or water jet.
• Clean the units from time to time with a brush dipped in kerosene to remove oil deposits. After cleaning, wipe the motorcycle parts and parts with a dry rag.
• Clean chrome-plated parts with cleaning agents for chrome plumbing or use soda. After cleaning, rinse the parts with water and rub with a soft cloth.
• To protect the chrome coating from moisture, use technical petroleum jelly - it will help to carry out proper care of the motorcycle and prevent corrosion of the metal and the appearance of external defects.

Note! From time to time, use auto cosmetics, a silicone spray for rubber parts and a polishing paste.

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Caring for the engine

To properly care for a motorcycle, it is very important to constantly monitor the status of the main working element of the system - the engine. Servicing the engine involves the selection of gasoline and oil in accordance with the requirements of the manufacturer.

Choosing the brand

Choosing the oil recommended by the manufacturer will allow you to delay the repair of your engine. The performance of the motorcycle also depends on the oil.

Note! Of all the tested oils, the most acceptable in the price / quality ratio is API SF 15W50 or 20W50 mineral oil. Mineral oil of this type provides excellent performance of the engine in the temperature regime from -5 to +40 C, and what is very important, it does not burn.

Correct timing

Follow the oil change intervals carefully. It is recommended to change the filter during the oil change once a season or every 5-6 thousand km. When changing the oil, it is necessary to flush the crankcase with a special flushing oil, filling it to the bottom mark of the measuring rod.

Note! Check the oil level every thousand kilometers. Check with a special oil dipstick.

Change the oil

To correctly change the oil, proceed as follows:

1. Place the motorcycle on a perfectly flat surface so that there is no distortion.
2. Start the engine for a couple of minutes.
3. Stop the engine.
4. Wait for 1-2 minutes and check.

Note! The oil level must be between the maximum and minimum value on the dipstick. Lack of, like an overabundance of oil, lead to a malfunction of the engine. If the oil level is insufficient, add it in several stages - this will be the proper care of the motorcycle.

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Caring for the carburetor of the motorcycle

To increase the life of the carburetor, rinse it every 4 thousand km. With daily care, make sure that there are streaks of liquids on the carburetor. If a malfunction is found, replace the gaskets and tighten the fasteners.

Flush procedure as follows:

1. Remove the plug.
2. Pull out the fuel filter.
3. Wash the fuel filter in clean kerosene or replace if necessary.
4. Blow out the flushing holes of the nozzles with compressed air.

Note! To clean channels, do not use metal objects in the form of steel wire, as they can change the structure of the hole. Then all your actions for caring for a motorcycle will be spent in vain.

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Care for the brake system

When the bike is used for a long time, dirt, dust, and oil residues accumulate on the brake system. All this constitutes a threat to the safety of the driver. Therefore, once a year, the brake system must be thoroughly cleaned. In addition, do not forget to maintain a constant level of brake fluid in the system. The level must be checked in the expansion tank window.

Note! Change the brake fluid should be once a season.

Device and possible problems

The brake system must be checked immediately after buying the bike and before the start of the operating season. The main element of the brake system is a disk. The most common problem is the wear of the brake disc.

Note! The maximum wear is 3 mm.

Measure the wear level with a caliper( measured by the center of the disc):

1. Ideally, the disc should be smooth and not contain longitudinal waves.
2. Otherwise - the brake pads will very quickly erase.

Changing pads

The pads themselves are related to consumables. Make sure that the minimum thickness of the friction layer of the pads is not less than 0.8 mm, otherwise - the metal base of the pads will begin to wear off.

The process of replacing the shoe is quite simple:

1. Unscrew the bolt from the side.
2. Lift up the caliper.

Note! Do not replace the left with the right.

We care for hoses

In addition to the brake disc, the brake system includes a hose. It is necessary to carefully monitor its condition so that it is not stretched and worn.

Note! Check the status of the brake hose by pressing the brakes: if the pedal goes deep - the hose needs to be replaced.

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Motorcycle chain care

One of the important parts of a motorcycle is the chain, as it is the link between the engine and the wheel.

Tensioning

Regularly follow the tension of the chain. Improper stretching reduces the power of the bike that is transmitted to the wheel, and also leads to rapid wear of the rear sprocket.

Note! Correct adjustment assumes the weight of the chain in a calm state of 15-25 mm. Check the bottom of the chain in the center. In the event that you can lift the chain more than 25 mm - tighten it.

Choose the lubricant

Use a lubricant - both universal and designed for a specific circuit model. Motorcycles use such types of chains: Z-, O-, X-ring.

To ensure that the lubricant successfully covers all elements, it must be sufficiently liquid and, at the same time, must withstand heavy loads. Make sure that the grease contains water repellent elements. With proper care, the chain serves approximately 2 years. When replacing it, you must replace the asterisk.

Note! If your motorcycle has a cardan drive, and not a chain drive, then every 8-10 thousand km check all anthers, joints and do not forget to change the oil in the reducer.

Chain cleaning

Periodically it is recommended to clean the chain with a special spray, and after cleaning use lubricant. Special means can be purchased at bicycle and motorcycle stores. Carry out the procedure for lubrication every 500-600 km.

Note! If the circuit is heavily soiled and there is no spray for cleaning at hand, you can wash it with a soft brush with soap, but not in any way with gasoline, as this can damage the oil seals.

For the lubrication procedure, proceed as follows:

1. The rear wheel is to be hung out using the central step.
2. Apply grease to the inner surface of the chain.
3. When rotating the wheel, the lubricant should spread evenly over the entire surface.
4. After the end of the lubrication process, allow the motorcycle to stand for 10-20 minutes.

Note! We recommend lubricating the hot chain for greater efficiency.

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Harness maintenance

From the qualitative operation of the wiring depends whether the motorcycle will go or not, so it is very important to monitor the condition of this system. Maintenance of the bike's electrical equipment includes the following:

1. If there is a battery, periodically check the electrolyte level in the cells and determine its density.
2. The battery in the bike should always be in a charged state.
3. Wires periodically inspect and if there are breakages and damage, replace them.
4. The spark plug must also be checked periodically: if a crack is found, replace it.
5. Before each departure check the lights and dimensions.
6. Check the contacts for oxidation. If a problem is found, immediately remove it, as this may cause the motorcycle to not start.
7. Periodically replace the candles, according to the technological map.

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Damper and Front Fork Service

Shock absorbers can not be repaired, so if you need to replace the shock absorber, then buy a new shock absorber. Replacement of the shock absorber is made in the following cases:

1. If you hear a knocking on the move and characteristic squeaks.
2. If fluid has leaked from the shock absorber.
3. If there is a loss of vibration damping properties.

Note! To care for the motorcycle was correct, the front shock absorbers check every 5 thousand kilometers, as they are very sensitive to dust. Replace the rear in the event that the liquid has leaked. Also, when replacing the shock absorber, replace the hinges.

Replacing the shock absorber

Replace the shock absorber as follows:

1. Place the motorcycle on the central footrest.
2. Unscrew the upper mounting bolt.
3. Unscrew the lower mounting bolt.
4. Remove the shock absorber.

Note! Install the shock absorber in the reverse order.

Shock absorbers for the front fork as well as the rear shock absorbers must be completely disassembled when replacing the oil:

1. After disassembly, flush the parts, remove dirt and chips.
2. Check the condition of the rubber cuffs.
3. While assembling the shock absorbers, fill them with fresh grease.

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Control cables

Control cables also need maintenance, timely cleaning and lubrication. So that they do not crack, fill a few drops of engine oil into the cable sheath every 2 thousand km. From time to time, remove the cables from the motorcycle and flush them with kerosene.

Note! After cleaning, pour transmission oil into the shell( 5 ml of oil for every 2 thousand km).

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Motorcycle rubber care

Periodically check the condition of your bike tires, as well as the residual tread profile. If there are longitudinal cracks, it means that the wheels are worn out and it's dangerous to drive on such rubber. In this case, you need to urgently buy new tires.

Note! Always take your motorcycle tire repair kit or sealant on the road with you.

Pressure

Monitor the tire pressure daily with a pressure gauge:

1. Insufficient air pressure in the tire tires results in increased wear of the relief pattern along the edges of the tire tread. The movement of the motorcycle with the tires down, even a short distance, destroys the frame, in which repair of the tire becomes impossible.
2. Increased air pressure leads to increased wear, especially the middle part of the relief pattern of the tread.

Caring for tires

To ensure long-term safety of tires, observe the following recommendations:

• Touch the motorcycle from its place and accelerate it smoothly, without slipping the wheels.
• Do not hamper sharply.
• Do not allow the movement of wheels when braking.
• Correctly select the speed of movement, depending on the condition of the road, if possible, go around obstacles: stones, stumps, potholes.
• In off-road conditions and on broken sections of roads, slow down the speed.
• Do not drive close to the edges of the sidewalk.
• Do not overheat the tires when the ambient temperature is high.
• During the stop on the way, carefully inspect the tires and identify possible damage, and also remove foreign sharp objects that cut into the protector.

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Bike care at the end of the season

Before putting the motorcycle on for a few months in the garage for storage, make sure that the machine and all its parts are well lubricated.

Note! Each metal, rubber object does not tolerate frost: it can crack or rust.

So that the bike retains all its functions at the same level at the beginning of the season, prepare it for the winter:

1. Wash the motorcycle and clean it properly.
2. Remove the battery.

Note! Store the battery in a warm room and recharge 3-4 times during the winter.

1. Partially release air from the tires.
2. Oil filter and oil change.
3. Fill the tank with gasoline to avoid corrosion of the metal.
4. Add the fuel stabilizer to the system and make sure that it breaks through all parts.
5. Close the necessary fuel cock.
6. Pack the muffler in such a way that moisture does not get inside( tighten the exhaust hole with an oiled rag or rag).
7. Place the motorcycle in a suspended state.

Note! The motorcycle is afraid not of low temperature, but of sharp changes, so the optimal temperature for storage is 10-15 C.

Remember: how you will look after, take care of your "iron" friend, and it will serve you throughout its useful life. It does not matter how old your bike is, but what kind of owner he is and what care he surrounds him.