DIY Motorcycle Maintenance Tips

Armed with the right knowledge, there are plenty of aspects of motorcycle maintenance that you can handle on your own. With some proactive care, you can help prevent various issues from cropping up on your used Harley-Davidson® motorcycle. We created a beginner's guide to maintaining used motorcycles below. When you find something beyond your ability, visit the experts at Ol' Red's Motorcycles. We proudly serve those in Greenville, Columbia, and Spartanburg, South Carolina.

Brakes

Your brakes help you stay safe on the road. They prevent you from crashing into another vehicle or picking up too much speed when you ride down a slope. But for them to work, they need to be well-maintained.

Start by checking your brake fluids. Remember to look at the rear and front brake reservoirs. There will be a line on the side that indicates the proper level. If your liquids are below this, you'll want to fill it back up. If the reservoir is fully empty, this could indicate a problem. You'll want to take your motorcycle in to someone who is experienced with used Harley-Davidson® motorcycles.

Next you'll want to check your brake pads. These wear down naturally over time. If you ride a used Harley, these will already have a decent amount of wear on them. The key is making sure that they are worn down evenly and smoothly. Once they get too rough or corroded, you'll want to replace them.

Finally, you'll want to pay attention to how your brakes respond when you engage them on the road. Notice any shaking or grinding? This could indicate worn down or damage parts, which means a trip to the mechanic is in order.

Tires

You need well-functioning tires to be able to safely cruise on down the highway. There are a few checks you'll want to do here. First, inspect your tread. It's what helps your used Harley bike maintain traction with the road and it naturally wears down over time. Eventually, it'll become so worn down that you'll need to replace your tires. Your owner's manual will let you know what level of tread is too low. Keep in mind that tread that gets worn down at different rates or at an unnatural speed could indicate an issue, such as poor tire alignment.

Second, measure your tire pressure. If they are too inflated, they won't have proper contact with the road. If they are underinflated, they'll struggle to cope with forces pushing on them. Check the owner's manual for the right level of pressure to aim for. Measure your tires in the morning when they are cold for the most accurate reading.

Battery

Sometimes used motorcycles refuse to start. If that happens, you'll want to inspect your battery. Sometimes all it needs is a simple recharge. If the battery on your used Harley is old, it might need to be replaced. If you replace your battery and it still drains too fast, your alternator may need to be inspected.

If you're going to store your used Harley bike for a long period of time (such as for the winter season), you'll need to take some extra steps. Connect it to a trickle charge to avoid it draining between now and when you ride it again. At the very least you'll want to take the leads from the posts to help avoid draining when it's not being ridden.

Eventually you are going to encounter some used Harley motorcycle maintenance that is beyond your ability. When that happens, take your used Harley-Davidson® bike to the experts at Ol' Red's Motorcycles. We offer used motorcycle parts replacement and repair. We proudly serve those in Greenville, Columbia, and Spartanburg, South Carolina.