Bike Maintenance

Tips To Keep Your Two Wheeler In Top Shape

Like personal hygiene, regular bike maintenance is the basic step towards ensuring your two-wheeler is always in the pink of its health. Just like a human body, neglecting the wellbeing of your bike will only lead to dull performance, frequent breakdowns and have an adverse effect on your two-wheeler’s roadworthiness and your own safety. Thankfully, keeping your bike in top shape isn’t all that difficult. As long as you follow a basic maintenance schedule, your two-wheeler will perform reliably and like new until the time you keep it. Not to mention, it will also attract a handsome resale value when you part ways with it. Here are a few bike maintenance tips.

On-time Replacement of Fluids

Know the feeling when your throat is parched and how your body wants to collapse when you’re dehydrated? It’s the same with a two-wheeler when it’s running low or hasn’t been revitalised with vital fluids which are essential for its smooth operation. Ensure that all fluids, including the engine oil, brake oil, coolant etc are replaced on time. It is okay to be extra cautious and replace them slightly before the recommended interval. However, postponing the replacement schedule will definitely lead to increased wear-n-tear, dull performance, low efficiency, and if you’re really lazy, a breakdown in the middle of nowhere.

When topping up, make sure you use manufacturer recommended, high-quality engine oil/ fluids. If you decide to switch to a different brand, other than what has been specified in the manual, make sure you stick to the recommended grade, viscosity and temperature parameters specified for your bike’s engine. Keep the chain clean using a de-greasing product and lubricate it at recommended intervals. Use a chain lubricant only and do not pour any random oil or grease to get the job done.

Regular Service

Follow your bike’s manual to the ‘T’ when it comes to visiting the service station for a periodic maintenance stop. Talk to your service advisor and notify him about any known issues the bike’s been facing. Once the job has been done, take the bike for a spin to ascertain if all reported problems have been resolved and every job mentioned in the final bill has been done. If any major component has been replaced, ask for the damaged component to be returned to you. If possible, insist for the replacement to be carried out in your presence and ensure parts replaced are genuine.