Harley-Davidson® Motorcycle Maintenance Tips
As fun as it might be to speed down the city streets on your Harley-Davidson motorcycle, it’s important to remember that owning a bike comes with some responsibilities, like keeping up with regular service and maintenance. Motorcycle maintenance isn’t just important because it will keep your bike looking and riding good, it’s also important because it will make your bike safer to ride.
We’ve put together some essential information for you to get started on maintaining your Harley® motorcycle. If you have any questions, give us a call or visit Doc's Harley-Davidson in Kirkwood, Missouri.
Consult Your Manual
Before performing any maintenance tasks, you’ll want to review the owner’s manual of your Harley motorcycle. We can give you lots of general tips that should apply to most bikes, but the only place you’re going to find specific information on your model is in the manual. If you don’t have your manual, or can’t find it, visit the Harley-Davidson website for a downloadable copy.
Chains and Belts
The chains and belts on your motorcycle play a key role in your bike’s performance level. In order to keep the chains and belts in excellent shape, you’ll need to lubricate them regularly. Also, make sure to inspect your belts for any tears that need to be fixed. Your chains should be kept clean, so keep an eye out for any dirt buildup. The slack on both belts and chains should not be too loose or too tight.
Brakes
If you hear any grinding, excessive vibration, squealing, or any other questionable noises, you probably will need to have the brake pads replaced or the cylinders inspected. Brake fluid needs to be regularly topped off in the front and the back reservoir. Check your brake pads frequently to ensure they are wearing evenly. If you have any issues maintaining your brakes yourself, don’t hesitate to take your bike to a professional for further assistance.
Tires
It’s extremely important to maintain your tires because a blowout on the road will almost certainly lead to an accident. In order to avoid any mishaps, you’ll want to regularly check your air pressure for proper inflation. They should be inflated to the manufacturer’s specifications. Next, look at the tread and make sure that there’s no obvious physical damage, including abrasions, cuts, scrapes, or bald spots. Check to see if there are any foreign objects, especially metal ones, in the tread. Remember that motorcycle tires don’t last nearly as long as car tires, so you’ll want to replace them if they’re getting in the 10-15K mile range.
Fuel
If you’re pulling your motorcycle out of the garage after a winter of storage, you might have problems with your fuel. Water can condense in the gas tank and cause problems when you’re trying to get the bike started. You may want to consider using gasoline additives or switching to a higher octane fuel if you don’t ride your bike very often, so it won’t corrode as quickly. Do your best to avoid clogged filters. Water can easily condense in the tank, which may cause problems when starting up the bike. Your motorcycle should not sputter or struggle to start.
Oil
Engine oil is one of the more basic, but nonetheless important, elements of motorcycle maintenance. Make sure that the oil is within the correct range on the dipstick and then check the quality of the oil. Is it too sludgy or dark? Does it have water or other contaminants? Can you see metal shavings or anything that might indicate internal damage?
Battery
The battery is another thing that might be a concern if you’re pulling your motorcycle out of storage after the offseason ends. Inspect the battery posts for corrosion and look at the casing to make sure there are no signs of leakage. Hook it up to your motorcycle and see if the bike starts. If it doesn’t, you might need to charge it. Remember that when batteries are drained below a certain level, they have a harder time holding a charge in the future. If you’re having consistent problems with low battery power, you’ll probably need to replace it.
If you have any questions about motorcycle maintenance or if you need professional help, bring your Harley-Davidson motorcycle to the professionals here at Doc's Harley-Davidson in Kirkwood, MO. We welcome all our patrons visiting us from St. Louis and St. Charles.