Bike care and maintenance

While many scooter and bike owners will not want to do engine servicing on their machine there many simple things that can be done to keep it operating well.

• Check the oil level with the bike level – in some cases there is a window in the engine case that shows the oil level, other machines have a dipstick. Top up with the recommended grade of oil if low. Don’t put too much in at once – bikes have small engines and you may only need to add 300 ml or less to bring the oil up to the full level – do not overfill!

 

• Check the chain or belt tension – when you push the lower run of chain upwards it should not move more than around 20 mm-50 mm – check your manual. You can change the chain slack by loosening the rear axle nut and adjusting the tensioners on each side - ensure you keep the marks on each side of the axle lined up equally with the marks on each side of the frame - again, check your owner’s manual.

 

• Lubricate the chain with chain lube if the rollers and sprockets are starting to look shiny. If the bike has a main stand, while turning the wheel with one hand, spray the lube onto the inner surface of the chain. If the bike has no main stand, you will have to lube the chain piecemeal, lubing one section then moving the bike to do the next section. If you have a strong friend, they can tilt the back wheel off the ground using the side stand as a pivot point, then you can turn the rear wheel with one hand while you lube the chain with the other.

 

• If clutch and brake levers are not operating smoothly, you can try applying a small amount of chain lube around the pivot points. However, the best solution is to remove the lever and grease the bearing where the lever fits on the shaft or bolt, and the cable.

 

• If your bike has hydraulic clutch and/or brake systems, check the levels in the fluid reservoirs and top up with fresh brake fluid if necessary. Most bikes reservoirs are translucent so you can see the level without removing the cap. If you need to top them up, be careful when removing the cap as it can have fluid on the underside which can damage paintwork if it drips.

 

• On most disc brakes, you can check the brake pad thickness by looking at the back of the calliper. The pads are the parts right next to the disc – a torch may help you spot the pad material rather than the backing plate. Check your manual for the minimum thickness allowed. If you are having regular servicing done at a bike shop the mechanic should check this. Also check the disc thickness is above the minimum at least annually.

 

• Check all the lights are working, including the headlight high beam. Most bikes now have hard-wired headlights so the light is on whenever the ignition is on. Make sure the brake light is operated by both the hand and foot brakes – you may have to hold your hand over the tail-light to check that the brake light is working if you don’t have anyone helping you.

 

• If your bike is water-cooled, check the level in the catch tank or radiator when the engine is cold and top up with coolant if necessary,

 

• While most new bikes have sealed batteries, check if yours needs topping up. Find out where the battery is and how to check the acid level – in some cases you will have to remove the battery to do this. If below the minimum, top up with distilled water.

 

• If the bike has a centre stand, get a friend to sit on the back seat of the bike to get the front wheel off the ground and swing the handlebars from one extreme to the other. They should swing smoothly – any notchiness shows the bearings need attention. While you have the wheel off the ground, grab the forks at the axle and try and move the forks forwards and backwards – any movement also shows he bearings need attention. If the bike does not have a main stand, you can hold the front brake on hard and rock the bike back and forth to detect movement.

 

• Almost needless to say, but check the tyre pressures at least once a week – scooters and bikes are much more sensitive to tyre pressures than cars, and tyres are critical to your safety. Buy a good tyre pressure gauge and learn how to use it – service station gauges are not always accurate. It is best to check pressures when the tyres are cold. While many scooter and bike owners will not want to do engine servicing on their machine there many simple things that can be done to keep it operating well.

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