Motorcycle care: keep your bike working for years
A bike that works every day needs a little care every day. These simple habits cost little and save you from expensive repairs and lost days of work.
The first weeks: running-in
A new engine needs to settle. Your owner's manual explains the running-in period — usually it means riding gently, changing speed often and not riding flat-out for long. The first service and oil change normally come early. Do them on time: it is the cheapest way to make the engine last.
Every day (two minutes)
- Tyres — look for nails and cuts; check the pressure with a gauge regularly. Soft tyres waste fuel and wear quickly.
- Brakes — both levers firm, the bike stops straight.
- Lights and horn — you need to be seen and heard.
- Engine oil level — check it on level ground as the manual shows.
Every week
- Chain — clean, lubricate and check the slack. A dry or loose chain wears the sprockets and wastes power.
- Wash off mud and sand — especially after rain and on laterite roads.
- Bolts and mirrors — vibration loosens things.
Oil changes and service
Follow the oil-change interval in your manual and use the oil grade it recommends. Work bikes that ride all day, in stop-go traffic or dust, often need oil sooner than the maximum interval. Old, black oil is the fastest way to kill an engine.
Air filter: the dust problem
Harmattan dust and laterite roads block air filters quickly. A dirty filter makes the engine weak and thirsty. Check and clean or replace it more often in the dry season.
Fuel
Buy fuel from stations you trust. Dirty or mixed fuel causes hard starting, poor running and carburettor problems.
Use good parts
Cheap fake parts — brake pads, chains, plugs, filters — wear out fast and can be dangerous. Buy genuine or good-quality parts from shops you trust, and keep the receipts. Faults caused by poor parts or missed servicing are not covered by the warranty.