Important Dirt Bike Maintenance |
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| By H B |
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| Dirt bike maintenance is easy once you know how. Motocross
bikes, enduro bikes and pretty much all off-road motorcycles
are high performance vehicles that will eventually break
down and fail if maintenance is neglected. They can also
become very dangerous to ride if left unchecked, so it's
important you at least know the basics. It may cost you a
bit of time and money to keep on top of things through
regular maintenance but trust me it will save you a lot of
problems and money in the long run, and when it comes time
to sell your bike you will achieve a much higher re-sale
price to go toward your next bike. Here are some 'must do's'.. 1) Wash it: Wash that dirty thing after each ride, preferably with a water blaster. Be careful not to spray water into the exhaust or directly onto wheel bearings, and don't spray too close to the radiator or you will bend the cooling fins. 2) Clean the air filter: The air filter prevents muck from getting into the internals of the engine. As a rule of thumb you need to clean the air filter after each ride. It makes it easier if you have a spare one that you've already cleaned so it's ready to go. Failure to clean the air filter can result in some major engine damage. 3) Check for loose nuts, bolts, spokes and chain: Run a spanner over all of the nuts and bolts to tighten up any loose ones. Because of the heavy vibrations that course through the entire bike and engine, nuts and bolts often rattle loose. These include the ones that hold the plastics to the frame, clutch and brake perches, seat bolts and disc brake bolts. Make sure you check the chain tension too as they stretch over time and need adjusting. Use chain lube to prolong the life of it. Spokes are very important to keep an eye on - if they become loose you can end up bending or buckling the actual rim costing you a fair amount of money to replace! 4) Piston replacement: Most people can't do this themselves but what you must do is keep a record of how many hours the bike has done. You can either use a diary and write it down, but the best way to do it is to install an hour meter on your bike which will automatically count the hours for you. Read the manual for your model of dirt bike to know when the piston and / or piston rings should be replaced. Once you reach the hour limit as written in the manual, book it in to the mechanics to get the job done. Failure to do this will result in the piston blowing and seizing your bike, costing you major dollars to fix! 5) Oil changes and radiator top ups: The engine oil usually needs to be replaced after every 5 hours of riding - again check your manual for exact intervals. It's important to use a high performance engine oil to keep the bike running at it's best and to prolong engine life. Check the radiator fluid level before each ride to prevent overheating due to low fluid levels. |
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