Many riders assume that motorcycle maintenance is complicated or requires specialist tools, but there are a few simple checks that can help you spot problems early, improve safety and potentially save you money.
The good news? Most of them take less than five minutes.
Tyres
Your tyres are the only part of your motorcycle touching the road, so they deserve a quick check before every ride. A quick visual inspection can often identify a problem before it becomes serious.
Look for:
Obvious damage, cuts or embedded objects
Any signs of cracking
Excessive wear
Low tyre pressure
Brakes
Before setting off:
Squeeze the front brake lever
Press the rear brake pedal
Check both feel firm and responsive
If either feels spongy or travels further than usual, investigate before riding.
Lights
Make sure:
Headlight works
Tail light works
Brake light illuminates
Indicators function correctly
Chain
A neglected chain wears quickly and can affect handling.
Check it appears lubricated
Look for rust
Check for excessive slack
Leaks
Take a quick look underneath the bike before moving off for any leaks:
Oil
Coolant
Brake fluid
Fuel
It sounds obvious, but many riders have pushed a bike home after forgetting this one! Check:
Fuel level
Range estimate if your bike has one
Want to know a little more about how to check and what to do if you think you have an issue? Visit the Motorcycle Maintenance section.