Modern motorcycles are extremely well-built. That makes them not only more enjoyable to ride but also does wonders for their longevity. If you’ve bought a quality motorcycle, then you should get around 80-100,000 miles of use of it, though keep in mind that you can make it last even longer with a little bit of maintenance, care, and knowledge.
And if you love riding your motorcycle, then making it last as long as possible is exactly what you should do! In this post, we’ll run through a few tried-and-tested strategies for ensuring that your beloved motorbike is by your side for many years to come.
Read the Manual
Most people treat their motorcycle’s manual in much the same way as they treat every other manual. And that is to say, they ignore it completely. Spending an afternoon reading your motorcycle’s manual might not sound like your idea of a great time (and we’d agree!) but it can make a huge difference to the lifespan of your bike. Why? Because that manual contains all of the bike-specific information you need to treat your motorcycle correctly. While there are plenty of general tips that apply to all motorbikes, yours will have its own unique requirements — and it’s the manual that’ll tell you what they are.
Replacing Damaged Parts
Your motorcycle will work best when all components work together as a team. If one of the parts is damaged or showing signs of wear and tear, then it’ll likely have a knock-on effect on another part of the motorcycle. Left untreated, damaged parts can have a significantly negative impact on your bike, greatly reducing its lifespan. You can avoid these issues by taking prompt action as soon as you notice that a part has a problem. Keep in mind that while it can be tempting to buy an off-brand part, it’s nearly always best to buy a branded replacement part. It’s easy enough to use an online Harley-Davidson, KTM, or Royal Enfield parts finder to locate the part you need, however, so you shouldn’t have any difficulty. Don’t have much experience working with motorcycles? Find a mechanic to fit the part for you — a part that’s incorrectly installed will cause more problems than it fixes.
Understand Its Limitations
As we said above, modern motorcycles are made to last — but that doesn’t mean that they’re invincible. Pushing your bike to its limits — or even exceeding those limits — is a sure fire way to cause damage that will shorten the bike’s lifespan.
You might have ambitions of taking your motorcycle from one side of Europe to the other, but if it wasn’t designed to handle the mountainous terrain of Central Europe, then it’s inevitable that you’ll run into problems.
You can cause damage to the bike even in the terrain for which it was designed if you have improper riding habits. Fast acceleration and harsh braking put unnecessary pressure on the motorbike, while revving while the engine is still cold can cause damage to the pistons.
Cleaning and Waxing
It’s not just how your motorcycle rides that’ll impact how long it’s part of your life; how it looks does, too. You’ll be looking for a replacement much sooner if the bike is looking worse for wear. Investing some time into cleaning and waxing your motorcycle can pay off in a big way since it’ll ensure that your bike looks just as good five years down the line as it does on the first day you take it home. There’s a knack to cleaning and waxing your bike that you’ll naturally figure out over time. Just remember that the number one rule: product quality really does make a big difference, so take some time researching which products are best for your motorbike.
Secure Storage
The elements can do a number on motorcycles, impacting their appearance and performance. It’s best practice to keep your motorbike under cover, either in your garage or under a motorbike cover. Not planning to ride your bike for a while, and have no indoor storage space on your property? Look at renting a humidity-controlled storage unit. It’ll offer optimal storage conditions while also keeping your bike safe.
Don’t Ignore Issues
Finally, perhaps the best way to extend the life of your motorcycle is to take proactive action when you suspect there may be an issue. It’s possible that the strange noise you’re hearing may resolve itself, but it’ll be better to take it to a mechanic and find out for sure rather than simply hoping it goes away!
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