After spending your bucks at New Year's, we know you're all a bit reluctant to loosen up on your wallets and purses just yet.
And your bikes, freezing from the cold are hoarsely crying out for upgradations, is it? Well, between you and I, you can spruce it up without spending a dime. Go ahead, make your bike feel important.
1. Check and double check
Photograph: NatalyaSavka/Wikimedia Commons
Go over your bike with the proverbial fine toothcomb and check all of the components. By that we mean check everything that you can see.
Don't just look at them, touch them and check all the fixings too, even the nuts and bolts.
Your bike will sigh under your caring touch and unfold its mistakes to let you fix it to the root.
2. Get the WD-40 out
WD-40, when used sparingly, will protect and give a good slippery coating to any surface it comes into contact with. Just be smart on how you use it.
It works well on cable coverings and makes them slide against each other. It also helps with moisture resistance for connectors and switchgear.
You may try giving you bike's ignition key a squirt too and the barrel lock. It will make them work seamlessly.
3. Wheel alignment
Any motorcycle is going to ride better if the wheel alignment is correct with the back wheel following the trail of the front. With a bike's front wheel clamped by the forks it's really a matter of checking if the rear is running true and for that you need a pair of straight edges.
A couple of aluminum strips are best for this, and makes the process comparatively simpler and easier.
4. Grips, pedals and levers
Your motorcycle's throttle can be your best friend or your worst enemy. If you don't look after it, chances are one day it will smack your face and make you regret it.
The twist grips action should always be light with not much free play. With the engine turned off, open the throttle wide and then let it go.
If it's working as it was designed, it should snap back faster than you can blink. The gear shifter can also be adjusted to suit your riding style, but bear in mind you should always be able to change gear without having to move your body position.
This means the best set up should see the tip of the gear lever sitting just over the tip of your toes. You can alter this in the same way as the brake pedal by undoing the pinch bolt and moving it left or right on the splines.
5. Tire pressure
You should be checking your bike's tires on a regular basis. Some people do it on a ride-by-ride basis, others once a week, or there are some who do it when they remember.
A minimum of once a week would be our recommendation as you'd be surprised at how quickly a motorcycle tire can lose pressure.
Just a few drops in PSI really can make a big difference in a bike riding nicely or feeling odd. Because in the end, the pressure can make it or break it.
6. Check oil levels
Every engine does require a certain amount of air space inside the engine. Too much oil cuts down the airspace and subsequently increases the engines internal pressure.
Putting too less oil will cause the engine to blow-up, hence maintaining the correct oil levels are crucial. Checking oil levels can usually be done in one of these three ways:
Oil level dip stick: It is a stick that screws into the side of the engine with high and low marks on one end. Insert the dip stick in its hole and remove it to look at the lower end. The oil level should ideally be between the high and low marks.
Oil level plug: It is a threaded hole that is at the side of the crankcase which is at proper oil level. Remove the plug or bolt and pour oil till it starts to come out of the hole and voila, you are done!
Many race bikes and small street bikes follow this method.
Oil sight window: It's a clear plastic window cast into the side of the crankcase. There are high and low marks on or near the window and the oil levels should ideally be between these marks.
7. Check all cables and cable connectors
Always ensure that you have the correct set of clutch or brake cables for your bike. The cable length, adjusters etc can differ from one motorcycle to another.
The adjusters help you set the correct amount of tension or slack on the cable. Lubricating the cables allows it to function smoothly and also helps in extending cable life and reducing control effort.
8. Check your electrical and loosened wiring
The fuse box is the electrical point for your entire bike. To prevent a mid-ride bike break down, always do a proper check to your fuse box. You need to be looking out for any blown or loose fuse.
Blown fuses knock out all kinds of electronic equipment on your bike and not just the ignition. In case of such an incident while on a ride, borrow a fuse from a non essential component to get you home.
9. Check for weird sounds in your engine
Routine maintenance includes diagnosing where that weird noise originates from in your motorcycle. Oftentimes the noises are easy to diagnose and treat. Keep your bike in idle mode with the engine running and listen for weird sounds or vibrations.
It could be misfiring or knocking sound. In case you do identify it, then the best bet is to take to your trusted mechanic to rectify.
There, now your bike feels loved and you're all set to ride away. Happy riding!
