Motorcycle Maintenance

Every warm day is an opportunity to take your motorcycle out for a spin. Whether you use it to get to work, run some errands, or simply take it out for a relaxing ride, you’ll want your motorcycle to be in peak working condition. No need to ruin the perfect day with a mechanical mishap. Not to mention some of these issues can lead to dangerous road hazards, so Cross Country Cycle has provided some maintenance checks you should be looking into each time you leave your house with your bike. You should also make sure you’re getting regular maintenance checks from a professional. When that time comes, schedule an appointment with our service department, proudly serving all of New Jersey and Staten Island and Manhattan, New York.

Chains and Belts

The power that your engine produces needs to reach your wheels somehow. Most bikes are designed to do this in one of two ways: either through chains or through belts. These parts will need to be inspected and taken care of in order to ensure excellent performance from your ride. Lubricate the chains regularly and inspect any belts for tears or frays that require attention. For both setups, you’ll want to make sure the slack on the belts and chains isn’t too loose or too tight.

Brakes

Make sure your brake fluid is topped off in both the front and back brake fluid reservoir. You’ll also want to inspect the brake pads. Make sure they’re wearing evenly and that there’s still plenty of material to work with. Even if everything seems fine, if you notice any unusual squeaking, grinding, or pulsating, consider getting your braking system checked by a professional.

Tires

While you may not be inclined to check everything on this list before every ride, your tires should be an exception to that. Check your tires as often as you can, both to make sure they’re properly inflated and that there’s no excessive wear or damage. Never ride on a compromised tire.

Fuel

Clogged fuel filters are, not surprisingly, incredibly inefficient. This could be the issue if you notice your bike is sputtering or struggles to start. You can even consider switching to a higher octane fuel if you don’t ride that often, as it won’t corrode as quickly.

Oil

Checking your oil is just as important for your motorcycle as it is for your car. Remove the dipstick, clean it off, and then reinsert it into the bike. Top off your oil has needed, but also pay attention to the condition of the oil. If you notice it’s sludgy or a dark brown color, it may be time to replace the oil and oil filter. If you see metallic shavings or powder, take your bike into a mechanic. It’s a sign that parts of your engine may be grinding together.

Battery

As you might with your car, if your motorcycle doesn’t start, you’ll want to check your battery first. It might just need to be recharged, but if it’s old it might just need to be replaced. If you replace or recharge your battery and it still drains quickly, it might me your alternator needs to be looked at.

Also keep in mind that a battery needs special attention if you’re storing your bike for an extended period of time. Hook it up to a trickle charge or at least remove the leads from the posts to avoid draining it when it’s not in use.

A healthy bike makes a happy rider, so make sure you’re diligently taking care of your ride. You’ll want to make these checks fairly regularly, and ask a professional for help when you need it. If you still need a motorcycle to ride through town on, stop by Cross Country Cycle and check out some of the models we have right now, like Ducati and BMW. We welcome riders from all over New Jersey, as well as Staten Island and Manhattan, New York.