Maintenance plays a crucial role in the longevity of every motocross bike. Replacing broken and faulty parts are one of the many ways you can ensure that your motocross bike is in top shape, capable of giving an optimal performance during its use. According to mechanics, one of the biggest and costliest mistakes committed by motorcross bike owners is neglection.

Neglected bikes are prone to carry damage and decay at varying degrees and are costlier than replacing old and worn out parts. To prevent paying additional costs for extra repairs and replacements with your motocross parts, one preventive way that motocross owners should do is to conduct a maintenance check. These maintenance checks, which can be done weekly or monthly, can be done with simple methods.

These methods may be simple but it can save motocross bike owners from spending more money on repairs, replacements and unwanted visits from the hospital. Below is a checklist of basic maintenance tips to keep your motocross bikes in good shape.

Clean up the bike

Dirt and grime are two of your motocross bike’s biggest enemies. Washing it helps remove the dirt that is most often caught within the moving parts. This simple preventive measure has proven to become an effective way of ensuring that the bike is not only clean but free from unwanted debris that could affect its basic performance.

Pick another brand of motor oil

Another effective measure that bike owners must do is to change the oil and filter. These two are responsible for cooling the bike’s internal parts as well as minimising friction between them. Oil is known to collect contaminants and moisture overtime which contribute to a decrease in the bike’s effectiveness to perform on the road. The absence of fresh oil in your engine shortens its lifespan, thereby risking your bike for the bottom and top to seize.

Filter for fresh air

Fresh air through the engine is fundamental in preventing the bike’s engine from taking in unwanted dirt and sediments which wear out the bike’s moving parts. Not only can they cause problems such as difficulty in starting the engine but they also contribute to the premature decay of the bike.

If you find yourself out of time and money to replace your current filter, you can opt to thoroughly wash it instead. Remove excess water by hanging it out to dry or by hanging it in front of the fire. Shortly after, add filter oil and reinstall it into the bike.

Use your bike as often as possible

Letting your bike sit for several months without use does not only cause fuel to turn into a mass that clogs your bike’s parts, but it also prematurely wears the bike down. Should you find that taking your bike for a short ride might be time consuming, do not forget to start it as often as possible. Letting the oil flow through your parts and gaskets will prevent it from developing rust and cracks when in use.

Inspect and perform maintenance measures when necessary

Several important parts such as the pipes, the valves, the chain and the sprockets are what drive the motorbike into an incredible and powerful vehicle. And one important way of maintaining it is by ensuring that each part is in good shape. Common maintenance checks that owners can do is by lubing the bike’s moving parts to prevent it from rusting and by adjusting its fit. Ensure that nothing is too tight or too loose.

Parts that are too tight can cause overheating while very loose ones can cause parts to fly off. Do not forget to check for rusty and worn out cables as these pose great threat to the riders.

Replace worn out parts

Every responsible motocross bike owner knows that replacing worn out parts should be done ASAP. It poses a great safety concern as faulty parts can cause distressing malfunction especially if the bike is in use. Money that could have been spent on groceries would then be spent on hospital bills instead.

Part of being a responsible owner starts with dutiful maintenance on the bike. Each piece and part of the bike is crucial for the bike to function well. Neglect is often the major cause of why motocross bikes become prone to damage and decay in a short span of time. Place great value in this mechanical investment and get the most out of it by doing necessary measures to keep it in good shape.