DIY Used Motorcycle Maintenance

All used motorcycles need expert care and service once in a while, but there’s a lot you can do for your bike in your own garage. DIY motorcycle maintenance can keep your rides stay smoother and safer as well as increase your bike’s lifespan, We discussed some maintenance tips with you earlier and have some more lined up here to help you care for your used bike.

At Cross Country Cycle in Metuchen and Hasbrouck Heights, NJ, our trained technicians are always ready to whip your used bikes into shape so you can be on your way as soon as possible. But we also know that your motorcycle will need fewer shop visits when you take care of it. Read on to learn how to take care of your bike. If you’re looking for professional used motorcycle service in Newark or New Brunswick, contact our parts and service department for further assistance.

Check Your Manual

Hopefully, when you bought the used motorcycle, you also got the owner’s manual with it. If not, you may find a version of it online. Read through this document as there may be specific recommendations for your model. The information shared here is general and can be applied to most models. Your manual will have important maintenance specifics, recommended products and even a servicing timeline so you can take good care of it.

Brakes

You should check the brake fluids in your used motorcycle in both the rear and front brake reservoirs. A line on the side lets you measure whether or not you’re below the proper levels. If the level is running low, simply remove the cap and fill the fluid back up to the line. If, however, there’s no fluid left at all, that’s a bigger problem which will need professional motorcycle service.

When you inspect the brake pads in your used bike, make sure they’re worn even and smoothly. If they look corroded or rough, you need to replace them. If there’s any shaking or grinding when your brake, this could mean that one of these parts is damaged or worn down,

Chains & Belts

The chains and belts on your used bike should be snug with only a little bit of slack. If you know what you’re doing, you can probably tighten these yourself. However, if you’re not confident about it, just let the professionals at Cross Country Cycle take care of it for you. One of the things you can easily do in your garage is lubricate these parts. Since dirt and grime take a toll on these parts, you should lubricate them regularly.

Windshields

If your used motorcycle came with a windshield or if you got one fixed after buying it, you have to regularly wash off the dirt, debris, bug guts and mud that gets splattered on it when you go out for a ride. Remember not to scrub too hard as that can leave scratch marks on the surface. If the grime is kind of caked on, leave a towel soaked in soapy water in it for a while till the grime softens up enough for you to wash it off.

Lights

You need your lights to see and be seen by other motorists, especially once it starts to get dark. Lights tend to burnout over time so you should check them before you step out. If you’re thinking of replacing the lights on your used motorcycle, look into LED ones as these are brighter and tend to last longer. They cost more upfront, but you recoup these costs as you won’t need to replace them as often.

We hope you’ll find these tips useful when it comes to DIY used bike maintenance! While it’s easy to perform some of these steps and keep your bike in decent shape, you will need expert help from time to time. To increase the longevity of your used motorcycle, let the technicians at Cross Country Cycle in Metuchen and Hasbrouck Heights, NJ perform expert maintenance on it. For all your used motorcycle parts and service needs in Newark or New Brunswick, contact our service department for more information.