Almost time for Maintenance by Ivan Rodriguez

Well it's almost that time of year again. Where we open up our sheds or garages, pull the covers off and smile. You get your tools, your favorite motor oils of choice and away you go! It almost time for motorcycle maintenance! Just as a reminder for you early birds here are just only a few mean tips to remember when you are maintaining your motorcycle.

Whatever oil you choose, make sure you adhere to manufacturers specifications and use a good quality oil or synthetic oil. Make sure you add the correct amounts and don't forget to add extra when you're changing that oil filter as well. The same would apply for your transmission and primary drive oil. 

Don't forget to change your spark plugs with the correct type and be sure to check your spark plug gapping. You don't have to go crazy when tightening your spark plugs. The last thing you want is to crack it, so go easy it doesn't take a lot of torque. For easy replacement on the next service make sure to use some anti-seizing compound on the spark plug threads,  don't go overboard just enough to cover most of the threads, this will make for an easier replacement when removing them on the next service.

Make sure to inspect your battery and give it to wipe down if necessary. You can put some battery gel on the posts and just double check the terminals to make sure they are tight enough. Check your battery voltages to ensure everything is up to spec. 

Always remember it's still going to be pretty cold out overnight so you don't want to remove your battery from its battery maintainer or tender. If you don't have one you can purchase one with prices ranging anywhere from $30 to $90 it's all a matter of preference and they will all work the same. Just make sure you pick up one that will leave the right float voltage to maintain. Battery tenders are the best way to ensure better battery life from your battery.

Above all, make sure to look over every inch of your motorcycle. Inspect everything from your brake systems to tires to even wiring. Go over every single little nook and cranny! One of the best methods I use to inspect my motorcycle is during a thorough wash. That's right remove all the accessories you can and as your washing look into everything and ensure that everything is 110%! If it's not get it serviced immediately! 

By the way, you also do not want to forget to make sure that your state inspection and registration are up-to-date! You would be surprised at the amount of people that forget this and midseason get pulled over and get written up! So do yourself a favor and get it done! 

Thanks for reading! 

"Fluffy"