If you take care of your bike, it will take care of you! Even though it sounds like a bit of a cliche, routine motorcycle maintenance is absolutely crucial for your safety. It also ensures a smoother ride and extends the life of your bike. Even if you’re not a seasoned wrench-turner, here are a few basic things you can do to keep your motorcycle in peak condition. To learn more, visit Pensacola Motorsports in Pensacola, Florida, serving Pensacola and Santa Rosa County, Florida and Baldwin County, Alabama.

How to Change your Oil

You can check the owner’s manual to find out how often you should change your oil, but it’s a good idea to check it frequently and replace it as soon as it starts to appear black or sludgy. Ride the bike for a few minutes to warm it up. This will lower the oil’s viscosity and allow it to drain more easily. Place a drain pain underneath your drain plug and make sure your bike is standing upright and the engine is off. Remove the drain plug and the oil fill plug and let the oil escape into a drain pan. You’ll also want to remove the oil filter over the drain pan.

After the oil has fully drained, install a new oil filter and refill the oil. Replace the oil fill cap, and wipe away any excess oil. Be sure to recycle the used oil properly.

Replace Your Air Filter

Your air filter is an important part of your engine performance because it keeps debris out of your engine and makes sure you have clean air for maximum horsepower. Changing the filter is simple, but some bikes place it in a hard-to-reach location. Review your manual for the proper procedure if you need to remove your gas tank or any other parts, and be sure to reinstall everything you removed and tighten it all the way down.

Check Your Tires

Remove the cap on your valve stem and apply even pressure on the gauge to read your current number of pounds per square inch (PSI). The proper PSI will be written on the sidewall of the tire. If you over-inflate, just release some air from the tire and replace the cap on the valve stem cap when your tires are at the proper PSI. Be sure to also check the tire’s wear indicator on a regular basis and replace your tires when the knob is flush with the rubber that meets the road. 

Visit Pensacola Motorsports in Pensacola, Florida for more information about motorcycle maintenance, and to see our current inventory of new and pre-owned motorcycles for sale. We serve riders in Pensacola and Santa Rosa County, Florida, and Baldwin County, Alabama.