Tips on Maintaining Your Bike:

[mickyching]

Hi to all,

 

Here are some tips to keep your bike on maintained. Follow these steps.

 

1. Tyre Air Pressure: Ensure tyre pressures are maintained at manufacturer recommended levels. Different pressures are recommended for single seat and pillion riding, observe them to squeeze out the optimum mileage. Over-inflated tyres do result in better mileage but play havoc with the ride, handling and stability, so don’t get desperate.

 

2. Brakes: Both the brakes should have the right amount of free play. To check that brakes are not binding, put the bike on the main stand and ensure that both the wheels turn freely.

 

3. Chain: The chain should be well lubricated and have the right amount of slack. You can read more about Motorcycle Chain Maintenance.

 

4. Air filter: Keep the air filter clean as dusty conditions in India tend to clog up the filter in no time. Change the air filter at recommended intervals and increase the cleaning frequency in particularly dusty climes. Clutch: Should be properly adjusted and have the right amount of free play. An over tightened clutch will cause it to slip unnoticeably and increase the fuel consumption while also burning it out quickly.

 

5. Engine: Again regular servicing and tune-ups will keep the engine running like clockwork and reduce your petrol bills. Pay special attention to cleaning the carburettor and maintaining valve clearences. Don’t neglect the spark plug, ensure it is clean, the gap is set correctly or replace it if past its prime as it’s the most crucial link in proper combustion. Most modern bikes require the choke to be used on cold starts as they run lean to meet emission norms as well as fuel efficiency requirements.

 

6. Engine Oil: Engine oil should be changed religiously. The oil thickens due to carbon deposits creating drag in the movement of engine internals. Running the bike on dirty oil will not only increase fuel consumption but also reduce the life of the engine.

[dellsmaith]

I have some suggestion to protect a bike in winter season.

 

 

1) Use fenders. These will keep you and your bike clean.

 

 

2) Lube your chain and moving parts once a week. The dampness and the salt can dry out the existing lubrication in the chain, causing the chain and the cogs to wear out much faster. If you keep the chain lubricated, then the chain is much less likely to suddenly break.

 

 

3) If conditions are icy, lowering your seat may help. That way, you can drop your feet down to help maintain balance or to have your feet act as brakes.

 

 

4) Check your brakes. You might get 11 months out of a pair during fair weather, but wear them down in one month of slush. If you let them go too long, they will wear down to expose metal, which will gouge your rim.

 

 

5) If possible, keep the keyholes of your bike locks covered, or keep them pointed away from the direction of down pouring sleet/snow. Having the lock freeze shut is no fun. Lock de-icer used for cars can help unfreeze a frozen keyhole, but this stuff can dry out your lock more rapidly. If you use de-icer, put some lube or oil in the keyhole later.

 

 

6) Knobby mountain-bike tires provide better traction when there's snow accumulation that hasn't been ploughed, but these same knobby tires will slow you down when there's no snow on the street.

[Raider150]

err. the second person who gave the suggestion i think is for europe country ba. singapore where got snow? lol.

 

but one advice from me. clutch in when warming up the bike. easier when u're moving off as the clutch plate is hot le or else some bike tend to stall when u engage gear 1.

[CSV]

what is meant by brakes binding? as in the brake not fully released even though lever is released?