How To DIY Maintain Your Bike – Top 5 Tips
Regular maintenance can be a lot of burden at times. Simple tips on how to DIY maintain your bike can make your life a lot easier while keeping your motorbike safe for you to ride.
Also, who does not have a fear of your vehicle breaking down on the way to something important or breaking down in the middle of nowhere?
Although two-wheelers are preferable for their cheaper price tags & manoeuvrable quality through the busy road, you will need to pay extra attention to the bikes due to the dirt & debris-filled pathways.
Also, if you frequently use the bike to commute, regular maintenance is a must for it to stay in the best condition. Now, for the DIY method, you just need to have a basic kit with a few tools which may come in handy in this.
Disclaimer – This article is only an advise to keep in mind & do what you can at your convenience. Please do not tamper with your bike further and find a trained technician or service centre for any damages or regular services.
In this article, we will discuss the top 5 DIY methods to maintain a motorbike:
Check on Brakes to DIY Maintain Your Bike:
To prevent excessive damage to your bike you should keep brakes and brake pads in check regularly. Also, it is important to take it slow and be cautious while working on them. The issues with brakes could be a result of many things so meticulously check everything to solve the problem in brake pads.
Bike brake pads are one of the crucial elements & if they are damaged severely & not working effectively, then, it may put your motorcycle in danger.
Furthermore, try to replace them if they are heavily damaged & beyond repair.
Air filter & Batteries:
It is better to check the bike manual to see how long the motorbike air filter lasts & what type of air filter is used in the manufacturing of your bike so that it gives information on when & which filter to replace it with.
Replace them only in case of heavy damage or if it has gone beyond the expiration date. You can easily clean them regularly to maintain their functionality.
To do it manually, try to blow air once every 3 months if you commute regularly with your bike.
Here’s an informative clip on how a bike air filter affects performance and how to clean it.
Likewise, batteries are another important part of the motorcycle which needs proper maintenance. Check the terminals for any form of corrosion or accumulation of chemicals regularly. Any kind of dirt or chemical accumulation can cause the battery to drain quickly and reduce its lifespan.
If left as it is without regular check-up, it may damage the entire system.
Keep the terminals clean and keep checking the fluid level as well as if there’s any potential leakage.
Read this article for full details on how to prevent bike battery damages and maintain them.
Spark Plug, Bolts and Indicators:
Ensure that all the lights are working fine on a regular basis (headlamps, tail lights & turn signals). Try to replace them if they are not functioning properly.
Keep a check on nuts & bolts at every interval and tighten them if they are coming loose to keep your bike safe & ride with ease.
Check the manual to know the life of a spark plug. They can get extremely heated due to the placement of them near the engine and get damaged often quickly.
Due to engine misfiring or flooding in the engine may cause spark plug to get damaged. The plugs can get broken, burnt or corroded by themselves sometimes.
A video on how to maintain and when to replace a spark plug of a TVS bike.
To DIY Maintain Your Bike Regularly Check the Tyres:
Maintaining bike tires is an extremely important part of taking care of the vehicle. There will always be wear & tear when it comes to bike tyres as time goes. Make sure to check the treads of your bike tyres to keep them in check. To know more about bike tyre maintenance, check this article here.
Engine Oil & Maintenance to DIY Maintain Your Bike:
Engine is the main part for your bike to function at all. The engine should always be well lubricated with oil. It not only lubricates the bike engine but serves as a cooling element as well.
You always have to ensure to change the engine oil regularly & balance the level so that it does not collect dirt & impurities inside the engine.
Specifically, keeping your engine tuned regularly is something that will reduce your running costs by giving you better mileage. Remember to keep the carburettor cleaned at all times as well as make sure that the gaps of your spark plug are set correctly. All of these small details will have a massive impact on the functioning of your vehicle.
In addition, the engine needs to be tuned well & regularly taken care of. Also, make sure to look around all the parts that surround the engine & keep them clean & out of harm’s way which in turn makes your bike function better & gives you extra miles. Engine affects the entire motorcycle heavily so it is significant to keep it clean and function properly.
If the damage on your bike is beyond your control and seems more complicated then we advise you to find a certified technician or service centre to get your bike serviced.
Himaalayaa TVS Service Centre located near Lalbagh Main Road offers you accurate TVS bike services & solutions to help your bike perform effectively. Take a look at the Service schedule for your TVS bike model on our page.
Bonus Tips on How to DIY Maintain Your Bike –
To add to the top 5 DIY tips to maintain your bike properly, let us offer you some extra things we may have missed in the list.
- Lubrication & fluids
- Regular bike cleaning
- Clutch maintenance
- Electricals and forks
Make sure to keep them all in check at regular intervals to keep your bike running smoothly and securely.
So far this was how to DIY maintain your bike, we hope this list helps you in some form & you can commute every day on your bike with ease & safety. Happy riding!