If you're a new motorcycle owner, you may be wondering how to properly care for your new ride. This post has some beginner tips that can help.

Basic Motorcycle Maintenance Tips

If you've taken the plunge and invested in a brand new motorcycle, you're going to want to keep it in great shape for as long as possible. Luckily, this isn't too hard if you know what you're doing. Keeping up with maintenance is a must, and you can do that majority of it yourself. Learn some of the basics for keeping your new motorcycle healthy in this post.

Read the Manual

The first step to keeping your motorcycle in great shape is understanding what maintenance it will need and when it will need it. Not all motorcycles are the same, so one rule does not apply to all. Luckily, every motorcycle comes with an owner's manual that will let you know how often certain tasks will need to be performed. Most motorcycles will need you to perform a number of maintenance tasks on them that include inspecting parts, making adjustments, changing fluids, replacing parts, and keeping things clean. How often these tasks will need to be performed will depend on the model you own and how old your motorcycle is. Your manual will usually tell you how often to perform each one, either by milage or by timeframes.

The Importance of Regular Maintenance

Maintenance may not seem like a big deal, but it's a huge deal. Keeping up with these little tasks will mean your motorcycle will be able to stay alive and healthy for longer. Neglecting to perform maintenance, on the other hand, will mean you motorcycle can suffer some serious damage that can even cut its life short. If you're new to motorcycle riding, don't feel pressured into performing all this maintenance yourself. Take your time to learn how to do it, and in the meantime, stick to taking your motorcycle to the pros. One important maintenance task you should never neglect is getting a synthetic oil change in Hagerstown. To keep your motorcycle running smoothly, contact ALF Marketing at (301) 416-0575. They will be happy to recommend products like AMSOIL's Signature Series 0W-20 Synthetic Motor Oil to keep you and your motorcycle happy.

Maintenance Tasks You Can Take Care of Yourself

If you're new to motorcycle maintenance, there are some tasks you will be able to perform without much help. Check out the tips below on some easy maintenance tasks anyone can take on successfully.

Tire Pressure

Ideally, you should be checking your tire pressure weekly in order to avoid riding on over or under-inflated tires. Both can negatively affect your riding experience, so do your best to keep your tire pressure at the right level. Your owner's manual should include a recommended tire pressure that you can use as a reference. Use a pressure gauge to check your tire pressure and make the necessary adjustments to get it right.

Chain Tension

Your owner's manual should include some instructions on how to properly adjust the chain tension on your specific model. Use these instructions to get yours just right and avoid any issues caused by the incorrect tension. While you're doing this, don't forget to have someone sit on your bike or add some weight to it. Since there will always be some weight on your motorcycle (you) when you ride it, it's important that this weigh is taken into account when adjusting the chain tension. Don't forget to also lubricate the chain while you're down there.

Oil Changes

If you want to keep your engine happy, never skip an oil change! Using a synthetic oil will also help keep your engine running stronger for longer. Oil changes aren't hard to perform at home, you just have to get to know the process and be able to identify the parts involved.  Again, you can check your owner's manual for the details you need to change the oil in your motorcycle.

Cleaning

Finally, don't forget to keep your motorcycle clean. Keeping your ride clean isn't just about making it look nice, it can also keep it in better shape. To wash your motorcycle use a motorcycle shampoo and warm water. Avoid blasting water onto it and be gentle when you wash it. Once it's clean, dry your motorcycle thoroughly and add a layer wax to it to protect it from the elements.

Get a Synthetic Oil Change in Hagerstown

If you're not quite up to changing your motorcycle's oil quite yet, take it into the shop for a synthetic oil change in Hagerstown. To find the perfect oil for your oil change, you can always rely on the help of the oil experts at ALF Marketing. You can call them at (301) 416-0575 or visit their online shop to learn more about their products.