It’s great to have affordable motorcycle insurance so that you can cover your liability if a road accident is your fault when you’re riding your motorcycle. Of course, there’s also the expense of repairing your own motorcycle and paying for injuries —assuming you survive the accident.
You’re 5 times more likely to die if you’re in a motorcycle crash than if you are in a car crash. The rate of severe injury is 10 times as great. The cost of your health care is 6 times greater. Motorcycles are just plain dangerous.
So if you insist on riding a motorbike, the very least you can do is to make sure that you maintain your ride properly. You still need to know how to ride safely, but at least your ride is as safe is it could be (for a 2-wheeled vehicle).
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Air filter. If it’s clogged from dust and dirt, the motorbike just won’t ventilate properly. You’ll get less power, and the motorbike’s performance will suffer. So you need to check the air filter every now and then. Look it over, and if you see something wrong you should just replace it.
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Spark Plugs. These are one of the most crucial motorcycle components that affect the overall performance of the vehicle. Prior to removing the spark plugs, you need to use a can of compressed air to blow into the hole that contains the plug. Blowing the compressed air gets rid of debris and dirt from the hole. This makes sure that when you do remove the spark plug, there’s no dirt that falls into your engine.
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Chain. The function of this component is to transfer the power from the engine into your rear wheel. So to make sure it works right, you should clean and adjust the chain on a regular basis. It should have the right amount of tension: not too tight that you’ll have problems with the wheels and gearbox. You can also add some lube to the chain after a ride so that the chain absorbs the oil as it cools down.
If the chain isn’t working right, it can cause your motorcycle to malfunction, and this can result in an accident when it happens while you’re riding. So check the chain over every two weeks. If you don’t ride all that often, you can do the inspection every 500 to 700 miles.
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Fluids. You should read your manual carefully so that you can make sure that you’re using the right fluids as directed by the manual guidelines. Going against these guidelines isn’t recommended. At the very least, you can void the warranty. You’re better off buying the precise manufacturer’s replacement fluid so that you’re sure you’re getting the right stuff for your engine.
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Fuel. The kind of fuel you put in will have a direct effect on how your engine performs. It’s crucial that you only put in the kind of fuel specified by your owner’s manual. You can’t just use high-octane fuel just so you can supposedly improve the motorcycle’s performance. The wrong octane of fuel can actually degrade the motorcycle’s performance as well as its lifespan. So get the precise fuel specified, as a higher octane doesn’t mean better performance.
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Engine oil. You should change your engine oil every 3,000 miles or every 6 months. When you check your oil, you need to make sure the consistency is just right.
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Tires. Always check the pressure and the tread of the tires before you start your ride.
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Battery. The connectors on the terminals should be tight so it will start properly. Charge it once a week, and make sure that the terminals are clean to prevent corrosion.
Have a pro check over your motorcycle every six months, and get more tips regarding its maintenance. When it comes to riding a motorcycle, there’s really no such thing as too much effort in making sure your motorcycle is in top shape.
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