DIY Maintenance Checklist For Your First Bike

You’ve recently bought a brand new bike but don’t know much about how to maintain it. Don’t worry, you don’t have to depend entirely on a service center for complete maintenance. There are several DIY(Do It Yourself) tasks that you can handle yourself, take a look:

Maintenance Schedule

Every brand offers  warranties on its bikes and parts for a certain time periodHowever, to keep the warranty valid, you must get the service done only at an authorized center and as per the given schedule. If you miss even a single service, the company may reject your warranty claims when the time comes. 

Keeping It Clean

Keeping your bike clean not only makes it look good but it also helps protect the paint and parts from damage. If dust remains on the bike’s sensors for a long time, it can damage them. Similarly, if stains stay on the paint for too long, they can harm the finish. If rust has started to develop on your bike, it is important to control it, as it can severely damage the affected parts. You can use an anti-rust spray to prevent it.

Chain Maintenance

The chain already has grease sealed inside, however, it is important to control any rust that develops on the outer surface of the chain. You should clean and lubricate the chain regularly to ensure smooth performance and to keep it rust-free. It is also necessary to adjust the chain tension on time. You can get this done by a skilled mechanic or learn to do it yourself, but since it is a slightly technical task, you should be careful.

Tyre Check

A tyre typically lasts between 5,000-15,000km on average, although this depends on your riding style and the kind of surfaces you ride on. Maintaining the correct tyre pressure at all times helps prevent a drop in mileage and ensures optimal overall performance. Manufacturers specify a particular pressure for a reason, it is determined through research and testing. Maintaining the recommended pressure not only supports better fuel efficiency, but also delivers the best possible grip, tyre life, stability, and safety. Also, keep checking the tread grooves to ensure they are not wearing out unevenly on one side, as this could indicate misalignment. If so, get the wheels properly aligned.

Fluid check

A bike has several fluids such as the coolant (if the engine is liquid-cooled), brake fluid, and engine oil. For smooth functioning, it is important to keep all of them properly topped up. Before proceeding, make sure to check which grade and specification of engine oil and brake fluid are used in the bike, and use only those accordingly. Therefore, check these fluids regularly and refill them whenever the levels are low.

Using E20 Petrol In  Old Bikes

E20 petrol contains 20% ethanol, which has hygroscopic properties , meaning it attracts moisture. Because of this, the internal parts of bikes that are not E20 compatible may start to deteriorate over time. While this damage cannot be completely prevented, it can be slowed down by using a fuel additive at intervals of 500-700km. This helps keep the internal components clean and slow down deterioration.