Dirt bikes are manufactured for the rough terrains and are used for sports events and other off-road uses for enthusiasts. The fact that these bikes are designed for the tough terrains means that they need special maintenance for their day to day functioning. When you buy and start using these kinds of bikes, you have to pay attention to their special needs and ensure you maintain them as such. You may want to visit Tokyo Mods or other websites that offer information about dirt bikes. In this article, we shall discuss some of the maintenance tips that can help keep your bike running.
Here are 6 tips for maintaining a dirt bike:
1. Wash the bike after riding it
As we know, an off-road bike is likely to retain a lot of mud and dust after every ride, considering that you will mostly ride it on muddy and dusty terrains. When washing the bike as a routine maintenance activity, ensure that you are gentle as you do it. Use a bucket of water and brushes that can knock off the mud. When using a pressure washer, always deflect water away from the bike so that you do not direct the mud and water into critical areas of the bike like the electrical components and the engine. Special care should be taken to cover the carburetor from water during the washing process.
2. Inspect and clean your chain
The chain is an essential part of the bike that keeps it functioning optimally. As such, you should inspect it on a routine basis. If the chain is muddy, you should let it dry overnight so that it will be easy to remove the mud using a nylon brush. Once you have cleaned the chain, you should lubricate it with the best quality lube available. The tension of the chain is also something that should be checked. Ensure it is not taut, that some slack allows movement of the suspension. If the chain has become too loose, it should be replaced for better performance.
3. Clean your air filter
For better performance, you should maintain a clean air filter. This is also one of the best ways to protect your engine and make it last longer. To clean the air filter, use a spray-on-air filter cleaner. You can also clean it using a mix of a household cleaner and water. Once the filter is clean and dry, you should then use a high-quality air filter to coat it.
4. Check your tire pressure
In between each ride, you should check your tire pressure to ensure it is safe for riding. A tire pressure gauge should be used to set the pressure based on the terrain you are riding the dirt bike. We can recommend 8 psi for the front tires and 6 psi for the rear tires when you are riding in muddy conditions. When riding in dry conditions, the recommended tire pressure is 14 psi for the front tire and 12 psi for the rear tire.
5. Change the oil
The fact that you will spend most of your riding time on mud or rough terrain means that your dirt bike engine will work extremely hard. As such, you should change the motor oil often. Some people will suggest that you should change your oil every 10 hours while others will suggest that you should change the oil after every ride. Well, the best way to go about it is to follow the recommendations of the manufacturer. However, you need to know the engine will last longer if you change the oil as often as needed.
6. Check your fluids and grease up
Your dirt bike needs to have the brake fluids changed periodically. This is because these fluids absorb moisture, and this would compromise the brakes. DOT-4 brake fluids are one of the most recommended by manufacturers. This is an alcohol-based brake fluid that works better for dirt bikes. Another fluid that should be checked regularly is the coolant. This should be topped up when needed. Your cooling system should be flushed once a year.
Another related item is the greased areas. Grease is very important for your dirt bike as it seals out dirt and water as well as serving as a lubricant for important components of the dirt bike. Some of the areas that should be checked for greasing are air filter, shock seals, forks, steering head bearings, hardware, and swingarm as well as wheel bearings. The best grease to use for your dirt bike is PTFE-based greases, moly-based greases as well as petroleum-based grease.