Caring for your motorcycle means keeping up with important cleaning and repair tasks. Before tackling the work, there are a few do’s and don’ts that will ensure your cycle is handled properly and won’t suffer damage at your hands. Here are a few motorcycle maintenance tips to remember.

Do:

Check tire tread bars.

When motorcycle tire treads are too low, you’re at risk for blowouts and other dangers. It’s difficult to visually check tire treads for wear, which is why motorcycles have wear bars inside treads for riders to utilize. Bars are barely visible on new tires, but as mileage adds up, lines appear, letting you know your tires are wearing down. Some manufacturers have arrows on the tires to help you find wear bars more easily.   

Dry a wet bike with an electric leaf blower.

Wiping down your motorcycle with a towel takes too long and may scratch up painted surfaces if the material is too rough. Dry a soaked cycle with an electric motorcycle blower. Even the tiniest of crevices will be completely dried in no time at all.

Check oil on a level bike.

A critical motorcycle maintenance step is checking oil levels. For a precise reading, make sure the bike is on level ground and not leaning on the kickstand, on some models the manufacturer recommends leaning on the kickstand to properly check. Set up a rear stand for lighter bikes or front wheel chock for bigger rides. You can also grab a buddy and have one person straddle the bike in the riding position while the other reads the oil level.

Don’t:

Use WD-40.

Avoid using WD-40 and any other non-automotive lubes on bike chains since these cannot grease chains sufficiently. Choose lubrication manufactured for automotive use instead. These heavy-duty lubricants have a better makeup and consistency for the high speeds your motorcycle will maintain.

Clean with household soaps.

Never clean your motorcycle with dish or hand soap since these varieties will eat through coatings and wax necessary for your motorcycle. Select automotive soaps for motorcycle maintenance so bike elements including paint, metal, and any plastic components are safely cleansed. After washing, apply protective wax to painted areas to protect your bike from UV rays.

Powerwash your cycle.

The high-powered stream of water may eliminate tough grime, but it will unfortunately damage the more delicate parts such as the bearings and the battery. Instead, wash your motorcycle with a bucket filled with soapy water and a gentle rag. For nasty spots or bug remnants, never scrape. Saturate tough grime to soften it before rinsing.

Serving Fulton County, GA, G&G Cycles of Roswell is the motorcycle repair shop riders choose when they need repairs, accessories, and parts. Their quick turnaround time and quality customer care gives their clients peace of mind that their rides are in good hands and will be back on the road in no time. When it comes to motorcycle maintenance, their professional team services both Harley Davidson® and metric cycles like Hondas. Contact these motorcycle mechanics at (678) 680-8483 or stop by their website.