Saving money maintaining your motorbike
While the old adage ‘if it ain't broke, don't fix it' holds, it's the thorough checking that 'it ain't broke' that counts. Many modern bikes have very long service intervals, and are vastly more reliable than machines of the past. But don't let this make you complacent, regular checks are essential to the well being of your bike and yourself.
Easy scheduled maintenance
Doing the simple work yourself not only keeps your bike running well and safely, it saves you money - especially if you choose pattern service parts as an alternative to their hard to get and expensive 'Genuine' counterparts. Often made in same factory as the originals, pattern service parts are generally as good as or better than original equipment.
While these recommendations are applicable to most motorcycles, always check manufacturer's recommendations for correct service intervals for your machine.
Daily checks
Lights, indicators and horn
Speedometer
Tyres and tyre pressures - valve caps that indicate correct pressures are available
Fluid levels - oil and coolant if applicable. Quality synthetic oil should be used for newer performance bikes, semi-synthetic for older bikes. A specific quality motorcycle oil like 'Rock Oil' should always be used
Chain - if you're doing 100 or more miles per day this should be lubricated and adjusted as necessary
Steering Does it operate freely without notches and uneven feel? Does it interfere with the operation of any cables at full lock?
Kill switch functionality
Side and centre stands - do they return to their correct position for riding?
Brake hoses - can you see any chafing or banjo bolts causing weeping?
Weekly or 200 miles (whichever is sooner)
All the above, plus:
Check oil level - does it require topping-up?
Check tyre pressure - check with an accurate gauge
Check battery - if not maintenance-free, then check electrolyte level and top up with distilled water if necessary. If you have an alarm or immobiliser fitted it may be worth giving it a charge (this is especially true if the bike is not being used regularly). The best solution is getting an intelligent charger, and having it plugged in permanently whilst the bike is garaged for any period of time. A battery left uncharged will have a shorter life
Check control cables - lubricate as necessary
Check brakes - pads and disks should be checked for wear and replaced if necessary; check and top-up fluid. Adjust drum brakes as necessary
Make a full visual inspection - check for loose nuts & bolts and spokes if applicable. Fork seal leaks and any other oil leaks.
Monthly or 1,000 miles (whichever is sooner)
All the above, plus:
Check spark plugs - clean and adjust or replace, anything other than a light/medium brown deposit may indicate problems
Check control cables - adjust free play
Check Idle speed - adjust as necessary
Lubricate control lever pivots
Every 3 months or 2,500 miles (whichever is sooner)
All the above, plus:
Change oil & filter
Change air filter
Check wheel and steering head bearings - grease and replace if necessary
Check exhaust system for leakage
Every 6 months or 5,000 miles
All the above, plus:
Adjust carburettor synchronisation - if applicable
Check overflow pipes - replace any that are blocked or missing
Every 12 months or 10,000 miles
All the above, plus:
Replace spark plugs
Check suspension linkages - for play, replace linkage, bearings, bushes as necessary
Laying up a bike over the winter:
Regularly charge the battery - better still, invest in an intelligent charger
Leave on the main stand - if your bike doesn't have one, kits are available for most bikes. Or invest in at least a rear paddock stand to get the weight of the bike off of the tyres, which should be kept correctly inflated
Consider draining the petrol as this can deteriorate over time and can, in extreme cases, evaporate leaving a nasty deposit which can block the carburettors. At least turn off the fuel tap and run the engine until the float bowls are empty. Fuel stabilisers are available that can help with this
Wax well and lubricate - all parts that generally need lubricating. Make sure the bike is completely dry, then cover with a dust sheet and keep somewhere dry, preferably not in the same room as a tumble drier or other condensation causing machinery. If you have to keep it outside, then invest in a good quality, breathable waterproof cover and cover the exhaust outlets with plastic bags
A quick guide to some common service parts:
Brake pads - Generally for road use brake pads are available in two types: GG and HH, related to the friction coefficient of the braking material. HH offers more stopping power for a given force on the brake lever than the GG. But that doesn't make HH pads better - it's more a matter of balance, taste and riding style.
Some people find HH pads too 'grabby', especially on lightweight machines. Don't fit HH pads to the rear of bike and GG to the front, this will make the overall braking balance too rear biased, which isn't good. However many people find the reverse: HH on the front and GG on the rear very comfortable and effective.
Many newer sports bikes should only use HH pads, so check the manufacturer's specifications. A noticeable downside to using HH pads is that they tend to wear the brake rotor more quickly.
Chains and Sprockets - there's a lot of misleading information given about chains and sprockets (sometimes even by manufacturers promoting their own products), whether X-ring lasts longer than O-ring, or whether one manufacturer is better than another.
It's actually a question of your riding style, how much use your machine gets, your weight, if you lubricate and adjust the chain correctly, the weather and road conditions. Suffice to say, if you pull wheelies, weigh 35 stone, don't oil or adjust your chain and only ride on wet salted roads your chain won't last very long! That said, if you don't do many miles in a year, you may find that an X-ring will last you longer than an O-ring - or if you ride like Barry Sheene, why bother buying an expensive heavy chain that will cause extra drag?
On a modern sports bike fitting a new chain and sprockets could give you 8bhp over the old ones, sometimes more, possibly about the same as an expensive 'go faster' ignition system, and it'll make the bike feel like new.
Engine maintenance is very bike specific so oil pumps, valve clearances, ignition timings etc. are not mentioned here; refer to manufacturers' guides, and if in doubt don't trust the geezer down the pub who used to have moped in the 70s, seek expert advice.
Colin Coles is Technical Manager at World's End Motorcycles. Their motorbike parts shop stocks a massive range of items including Yamaha spares, Kawasaki parts, and parts for Peugeot bikes.