Motorcycle & Scooter Maintenance Tips

Whether you’re a committed all year rider, take your bike out once in a while, or you’re just starting out – you need to regularly check the following very important things. They may seem small, but they could prove to be vital.
So remember to regularly check:

• brakes and brake fluid – make sure you have plenty left on your brake pads and remember, brake fluid runs out and doesn’t re-fill itself. No brake fluid equals no brakes!
• tyres – cracks can appear during winter time, even if you’re not using your bike; also keep a look out for nails, bulges and make sure your tyres are always at the right pressure.
• fork seals – loss of oil in the fork seals will result in poor suspension performance, so check for any leaks.
• oil – regular changes work wonders for your bike and its longevity.
• coolant – this is just as important in the summer as it is in winter so keep it topped up.
• chain and sprockets – winter can cause a chain to seize and be weak in places, so make sure all your links are loose and your sprockets don’t have too much wear in them.
• lights – make sure your bulbs are working and generating light, and make sure your light is positioned correctly. It’s easy to blind oncoming drivers, which can be very dangerous.
• have the bike serviced regularly at your local dealer – it will save you a lot in the long run.

Kit
Don’t forget to check your kit as well. Visors can be scratched affecting vision - sometimes you don’t realise how bad it has become until you fit a new one. Check the straps are all ok too; a helmet is only any good if it stays on your head!
Look over your leathers, gloves and boots – stitching coming undone, zips failing or cracking leather might just be the excuse you need to sort yourself out some new gear.