As we spend more and more time working on motorbikes at home, there are a few things we can do to make maintenance work easier, faster and safer. The cost savings, the peace of mind and the self-development factors alone are enough to convince you to start learning how your bike really works and doing more and more of the tasks at home, instead of sending it off to a bike shop for $60 plus per hour.
- Most regular maintenance procedures have been outlined extensively with pics and documentation. Check out these resources to find great articles for common procedures:
http://www.webbikeworld.com/Motorcycle-technical-articles/tech-directory.htm
- Use forums. There is an active community of bike experts willing to help out and you´d be suprised how quickly you can get a response. If you have a unique issue and can´t find any articles on the web. This is where you go: www.advrider.com
- Equip your garage. Making some modifications to your motorcycle garage will go a long ways in making your next motorcycle maintenance job easier and quicker. Doing extensive work on your bike? Consider getting the best motorcycle jack you can find, like the OTC 1545 motorcycle jack. This can make access to the rear tire and deeper engine work a helluva lot easier. Consider getting a tool board, a board set up to arrange your tools to keep them organised. Some people can work in clutter, but a small time spent on organising your tools can make your shop a lot more inviting.
- If you´re too tense you will tense the bolts too much. Learn this and other pearls of motorcycle maintenance that go beyond the norm in the must read Zen & The Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. A classic.
- Invite your friends from internet forums, riding clubs and other people you know who know more than you. Most bikers are happy to help out other bikers with their bikes for free or for a couple of beers and pizza. Get involved in your local bike communities and build a network of friends you can go riding with and share tech knowledge.
Keeping a maintenance log will also make sure your bike is always in pristine condition. Inspect your motorcycle closely and fix things right away if you notice potential trouble. That’s the only way to see problems before you have an accident.
