What Can You Do To Take Care Of Your Motorcycle?
As with other types of vehicles, your motorcycle is an investment. Taking care of that investment could pay off if you decide to sell it in the future. Unfortunately, not all owners know how to care for their bikes and they end up making serious mistakes that hurts their value. To help ensure your motorcycle is taken care of properly, here are a few maintenance steps to take.
Read the Manual
Obviously, the owner's manual for your motorcycle is not the most exciting aspect of owning it. However, reading the manual is an important part of being a bike owner. The manual helps you to understand the parts of your bike so that you understand what maintenance steps need to be taken.
The manual also gives you a basic understanding of the dos and don'ts of using the motorcycle so that you can avoid making mistakes that could damage it. If you have trouble with understanding the manual, talk to your mechanic or other motorcycle owners. Being a part of a bike club can be a useful and provide you with the support needed to care for yours.
Properly Prepare It for Storage
If you are not planning to ride your motorcycle year-round, you need to ensure that it is ready for storage. Even thought you are not using the bike, it can still suffer deterioration and other damage while sitting idle. There are several steps you can take to prepare the bike.
For instance, you can fill the tank with fuel to keep it from rusting. As an added measure of protection, you should also include a fuel stabilizer with it. The stabilizer will help to prevent the breakdown of the fuel. You should also get an oil change before parking your bike. The change will prevent a water buildup in the reservoir.
Clean the Air Filter
The air filter on your motorcycle is different than one found on a car. The bike's filter needs to be cleaned more regularly. This is especially true if you live in an area that is particularly dusty. If the filter is clogged up, the dirt can enter the engine and cause problems.
Talk to your mechanic about the right time to clean the filter. If you drive in a lot of dusty areas, he or she might recommend that you clean it every week or two.
Ask your mechanic about other ways you can protect your investment.