Maintaining a Motorcycle

Posted August 23, 2004

Like any other part of motorcycling, maintaining a bike is an exercise in learning and growing. When you start out, you don't know much about it (and how could you?). As you progress, you develop methods for doing things; when they don't work, you discard them. Gradually, your motorcycle skillset grows into a useful and versatile thing.

I have found that motorcycle maintenance has developed for me into a process in which I'm constantly involved. From the moment I lay eyes on the bike, until it's out of my sight after the ride, maintenance is on my mind. Sometimes, I spend time thinking about it when I'm nowhere near a motorcycle. It's a skill and an art, which requires all your senses; even some you don't think of as senses.

Naturally, maintenance also involves tools and lubricants and a workplace. But to limit your thinking to that small space is to do you and your bike a disservice. The motorcycle is constantly telling you of its state, and what actions may be required in the near future. Your job is to train yourself to "hear what the bike is saying." This involves not only learning how the bike acts normally, but also learning about what's happening internally, and how it works, and is fitted together. Proper maintenance is not an easy task, although it gets easier with time.

For instance, when the bike stumbles on a cool day, most likely it's running out of gas, and the fuel tap needs to be switched to reserve. It's not likely that you have carburetor ice, or a failing ignition coil, or any of a thousand other things that could cause such a stumble.

You need to know your bike well enough to know that yes, it runs the tank dry around 200 miles on the odometer, or yes, it runs poorly on cold mornings. This is part of the reason a mechanic you pay can never be as effective doing a repair as you can -- he doesn't know the bike like you do, and must rely on your word as to what's happening. Conversely, of course, early on in your relationship with your bike, he may know what's happening better than you do, if he knows the model well.

notes: learn how your bike feels learn how your bike works mechanically ongoing process, even when not riding takes time right tools for the job follow the procedures as listed be orderly outline intro full-time process learning be orderly body learning process begin early pay attention to your bike learn the mechanics ongoing attention notice changes doing your own work be orderly organize tools, fasteners, etc. follow established procedures shortcuts don't save anythiing take breaks record keeping peace of mind resale value "mental" record keeping conclusion logical, ordered approach be calm, take breaks enjoy the work