Bike Maintenance Fails Most Beginners Make

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If you have bought your first motorcycle, you will no doubt be excited to hit the road and enjoy the freedom and thrill that comes with this mode of transport. However, this thrill won’t last very long if you do not maintain your motorcycle properly. With that in mind, read on to discover some of the most common motorcycle maintenance mistakes people make, so that you can avoid them.

1. Poorly inflated tyres – There is only one place to begin, and this is with poorly inflated tyres. This is an error a lot of beginners make because they are simply not used to adding air to their tyres, and so they forget about it. Plus, a lot of people don’t realise how often you need to do this.
2. Using poor quality parts or parts that are not compatible – This is a mistake that a lot of people make, especially those with second-hand motorcycles. At Clean Harleys, you can see our preowned motorcycles, and it is always recommended that you replace any parts with a like-for-like piece. If you cannot find the exact part you need, consult with professionals, rather than engaging in a bit of guesswork. If you fit something that is not right for your motorcycle, you can end up causing more harm than good, which could mean that you have a very expensive repair bill on your hands.
3. Over tightening bolts – Any decent mechanic will tell you that this is one of the most common errors they see. Stripped threads often occur when too much force has been applied when tightening the bolts on a motorcycle. This can also lead to broken sump plugs and damaged bolt heads.
4. You don’t get your motorbike checked enough – You are probably well aware of the fact that cars need to have an MOT every year. They also need to be checked on a regular basis to ensure that everything is in good working order and there are no issues. The same applies for motorcycles, yet for some reason a lot of people don’t tend to take maintenance as seriously. An issue with a motorbike can be just as damaging and expensive as one with a car, if not more so. So, make sure you do regular checks and if you notice a problem, take it to a mechanic as soon as possible rather than letting it get worse.
5. Incorrect chain tension – Last but not least, we have incorrect chain tension, which is a major problem. If your chain tension is not correct, you can knacker your bike’s sprockets, which will result in the gearbox bearings being worn out prematurely. Moreover, the incorrect chain tension will also stop the rear suspension from working correctly.

So there you have it: some of the most common motorcycle maintenance mistakes that beginners make. If you can avoid the errors that have been mentioned above, you can ensure your new investment lasts for years to come so that you get plenty of enjoyment out of your motorcycle.