Motorcycle Maintenance Tips

Get Your Bike Ready for Fall Riding with 7 DIY Maintenance Tasks

Here’s something I’ve discovered over my career as a motorcycle accident attorney: New Jersey is absolutely beautiful during the autumn when the leaves begin to turn and the air gets a little crisp. It’s sort of a well-kept secret about the state that I wish more people knew.

If you own a motorcycle, you know it’s the perfect time to head out for a road trip to see these colors from the open road.

But remember, as temperatures drop your motorcycle will require a little TLC, so we’ve put together a short list of maintenance items you can take care of yourself before you head out.

7 Motorcycle Maintenance Tasks You Can Do Yourself

1. First and foremost, read your owner’s manual before attempting any repair on your own.
2. While all bikes require maintenance specific to that make and model, most also require simple general maintenance like an oil check and air pressure adjustments that you can perform yourself. These are especially important when there is a significant temperature change, such as between seasons.
    
   It is usually recommended that you change your oil every 3-5,000 miles and that’s something most motorcycle owners should be able to take care of on their own. If you purchase the oil and filter yourself, you should be able to accomplish this for about $25.
3. When you perform your air pressure check, you should also check the tread on your tires. Even if the bike does not have many miles on it, if it is relatively old or has been stored for any length of time, the tires may have dry-rot which could lead to a disastrous blow-out.
4. Before heading out to ride always check the brake lights, the front light and the turn signals.
5. Most experts also advise checking the chain tension, lubrication and the cables at least every two months.
6. Check the air filter and spark plugs at least once a year.
7. Finally, keep it clean. You want your bike to look its best, but the very act of detailing your bike may allow you to lose components, parts that need to be replaced, or other problem areas.

As a long-time New Jersey motorcycle attorney, I’ve seen this old saying play out a hundred times: although it may seem inconvenient, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

If you take care of your bike it will take care of you, and taking the time to perform these relatively simple tasks before you head out for your fall ride could save you hundreds of dollars and countless hours of stress by preventing a breakdown, or worse – an accident.

Ride safe!

I am always interested in hearing from my readers and will be happy to address your concerns in my upcoming columns. Call my office at 888-292-5352 anytime.

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