Care And Maintenance Tips For Your Dirt Bike This Winter Season

Care And Maintenance Tips For Your Dirt Bike This Winter Season : The winter season can bring out the lazy side in almost everyone. However, before you get ready to relax and enjoy the cold season in the comforts of your home, if you are a dirt bike enthusiast, you should take the precautionary steps to make sure your motorcycle is properly protected and stored this winter.

To make sure that your ride will be ready to go when the snow starts to melt, follow these useful dirt bike care, maintenance, and storage tips:

If your bike has a carburetor, drain the tank, fuel lines, and carburetor bowl. To do this right, keep the gas cap off completely for 24 hours to dry everything out. If you don't, there will be some leftover fuel. This usually turns tacky and just ends up blocking the jets which, of course, can affect the running efficiency or performance of your motorbike.

Remove old oil. Over time, a running engine's oil changes from a clean, gold-colored fluid to dirty, black sludge. In just a few months' time, the contaminants in old oil can corrode into some engine parts and do some serious damage. As such, don't forget to change the oil and filter plug before storing your ride this winter season to avoid a troublesome situation later on.

Consider running the bike for a few minutes every week. By following this tip, you will prevent fuel from "sleeping," and if you rev the bike up several times a week, fuel would course through the jets and this will keep the jets clean throughout the winter.

Look after the bike's tires. If possible, store your bike with the tires off the ground. This is because taking the weight off your wheels is the best way to avoid flat spots or uneven wear. If this is not, possible, fill your tires to the maximum recommended volume, put your ride on its center stand, and rotate the front tire once a week to keep the flat spots away.

Wash, dry, and wax your dirt bike before storing it. In general, the metal on your motorcycle tends to accumulate moisture, which can easily cause rust if your dirt bike is left unattended for a long period of time. Washing, painstakingly drying, and waxing your dirt bike before putting it away for the winter will help prevent corrosion and other damage.

Lastly, if you have a battery-powered bike, make sure to maintain the battery's charge. You can take out the battery, but this can be too much work for you. As such, simply charge the battery every week whenever you start the bike to prevent fuel from sleeping.

To read more useful care and maintenance tips for your dirt bike, click here.

Important Maintenance Tips For Motorcycles

 Important Maintenance Tips For Motorcycles : Proper maintenance of your motorcycle will ensure long lasting partnership with your machine. If you take care of it, you will be certain of a good ride, every time. Motorcycle maintenance does not only mean cleaning your bike. Making it look presentable all the time is great but you have to be concern about its engine as well. It is like taking care of your Harley Davidson motorcycle boots, you do not just polish it, you have to make sure that it is well cared for and maintained.

In order to properly care for your motorcycle, you have to check its, engines, body, tires, and fuel. Here are some tips you need to take note:

1. Use the recommended motorcycle oil for your bike. Some would say that the car oil is enough. However, this can affect the performance of the motorcycle engine. Car oils have certain compositions that can affect the motorcycle engine. As much as possible, use only the oils recommended by your manufacturer. Although this cost more, you will be certain that the product is formulated specifically for your ride.

2. Check your radiator regularly. If you neglect to clean your radiator, you will most likely encounter overheating.

3. Take care of your battery as well. This is very important especially during the cold season. Many riders remove their battery from the bike and store somewhere warmer. It is important that you check it before you use it again. See if there are any leaks or unusual changes on your bike.

4. Check the lights too. Make sure that they are working especially if you are going to ride it at night. The primary cause of motorcycle related accidents is the lack of visibility.

5. Check your tires as well. Replace worn out tires because this no longer have the traction needed for the ride. Check the wheel in general as well. Make sure that the air pressure is enough. Check its spokes too. Your wheels are very important in each of your ride. You might end up in a hospital if you take it for granted.

6. Pay attention to your cables as well. You will be encountering a lot of problems if your cable fails to perform. Test its strength and check for rust.

7. Before you start riding your bike again, double-check the other smaller parts. Tighten the bolts. Apply protective coatings on the leather parts of your motorcycle.

It is also important that you check your other motorcycle gears and accessories. Check your helmet, your boots, jackets, and gloves. Make sure that they are ready for use. See if your Harley Davidson motorcycle boots are ready for the road.

Maintaining your motorcycle is one of the best ways to stay safe. If you do not take care of it properly, you will not know what parts you need to replace. You will also fail to do the needed repairs. Remember, it is not only important that you know how to ride your bike, it is also vital that you know how to take care of it.

Caring for Used Motorcycles: 4 Maintenance Tips to Keep Your Hog Running Like New

Caring for Used Motorcycles: 4 Maintenance Tips to Keep Your Hog Running Like New : High speeds, the open road, adrenaline coursing through your veins - motorcycles are associated with a romantic and edgy experience. It's not surprising, then, that we often forget about all the boring stuff like maintenance check-ups, scheduled oil changes, and other nuts-and-bolts upkeep concerns. Taking good care of your hog ensures high performance and maximum fun on the road. 

If you're planning to buy a bike, get familiar with the following maintenance tips now to extend the life of any new or used motorcycles you own.

1. Regular Oil Changes

Scheduling regular oil changes for your bike is the best way to extend your engine's life. Your motorcycle's engine is a complex device, full of many moving parts that need to be lubricated to function with precision. How often does your machine need an oil change? Every bike is different, so refer to your owner's manual to determine how many miles you should ride in between changes. In addition, types and brands of oil are a point of debate among bikers. However, your manual is, again, the best place to learn what kind of oil to use.

2. Cleaning the Air Filter

Each motorcycle has an air filter that forms a line of defense between the engine and particles in the air. Normal riding will take you flying through dust, dirt, and other debris. This means your filter catches a lot of gunk and grime, no matter where you go. A clogged filter cuts off the airflow to your engine's cylinders and can allow debris to sneak in. The solution? Clean your filter as often as possible. Your service manual will recommend periodical cleaning, but take this suggestion as a bare minimum. If you ride in especially dusty or dirty environs, clean the filter very frequently.

3. Keep Those Tires Full of Air

Many riders don't realize that low tire pressure can detract from their riding experience and pose serious dangers on the road. Low pressure is detrimental to fuel efficiency and handling. It's also rough on your tires, causing them to wear down more quickly. Be vigilant, learn the proper air pressure range for your tires, and fill them up every week or two. The rest of your bike will thank you for it.

4. Caring for the Drivetrain

A bike's drivetrain consists of the chain, belt, or shaft that moves the rear wheel. This is a major part of the vehicle's mechanical make-up, so you need to check it carefully and often for chain stretching, sprocket wear, or belt cracking. You also need to maintain the right level of oil in the bike's shaft housing to keep these parts running smoothly. The drivetrain can be tough to fix in both new and used motorcycles, so watch it closely and give it what it needs, when it needs it.

Whether you're working with new or used motorcycles, careful maintenance will be a big part of your riding experience. The basic tips above should get you started in keeping your machine on the road for a long time.