Dealing With The Coronavirus - Do Some Motorcycle Maintenance

Like a lot of you, I’m currently stuck at home. It’s been more than a week since my fiancée and I started our self-quarantine to do our small part in putting a stop to the spread of COVID-19. And while I’m no stranger to working from home, the near complete societal shutdown of our little southern Oregon town creates a bit of havoc in my mind from time to time.

So I try to stay busy. I’m cooking more, catching up on some TV, learning some new Photoshop skills online, keeping up with the work I can do remotely, and getting my house (and garage) in order. Many of the things I neglect to do when it’s 9-5 as usual (not the work part, I swear).

I’ve found that taking on a project is a great way to point my attention in a positive direction. Which is why I thought it might be helpful to pose a challenge to the riders out there who don’t typically wrench on their own bikes. Why not try a little motorcycle maintenance? Or at the very least, some care and cleaning?

In case you haven’t seen it before, we have a phenomenal series of videos and articles on just such topics. MC Garage is a fantastic resource for any of you who feel a little less than confident about working on your own bike. I’d like to share some of my favorite episodes, in the hopes you might find some inspiration in the days and weeks ahead to spend some productive, quality time with your bike.

Related: MC Garage On YouTube

Making sure to change your oil and filter at the appropriate time is vital to the health and longevity of your motorcycle. If your bike is due for an oil service and you’ve never done one before, the video above lays out the whole process. You may need to order a few items, a new filter and the right oil for your machine to start, and possibly a rear stand too if your bike doesn’t have a centerstand. An oil pan is a must, and a torque wrench would be smart if this is your first time. All the items you’ll need are detailed in the video; just be sure to check your local area to see if a proper oil disposal facility (like an auto parts store or waste facility) is open and accepting used oil. It’s not something you want to leave just sitting around your garage. Just take the proper precautions if you venture out into public to ensure you stay healthy.

If you got your hands on a rear stand, you’ll also be primed to clean and lubricate your motorcycle chain. A little chain cleaner and a good brush or chain cleaning tool make the process painless, and it’s nice to have some nitrile gloves, clean rags, and a bit of cardboard as well. This setup will have you well prepared to lube your chain too, with the help of a quality chain lube. Both are straightforward, simple processes but drastically improve the life of your drive chain and sprockets.

If you aren’t in a position to spend extra cash on motorcycle tools or accessories, you can also practice your pre-ride check protocol and commit it to memory so that you move through the steps without fail every time you leave the house. The one caveat is that it’s important to have a tire pressure gauge, but you can do all the remaining steps by sight and feel alone. Making this pre-ride check second nature can pay huge dividends down the road, allowing you to catch potential issues before you’re stranded on the side of the road a few hundred miles from home. If you already have tools to address potential issues, then it’s a great opportunity to dial in the finer points of your machine, but even if you don’t, this is a checklist every rider should know by heart.

This is another low-impact project that could really benefit you, especially after the sun goes down. You will want a little help from someone else in your house who will mark some measurements for you, so it’s also a chance to have a nice bit of bonding time together. Once you know if your beam is too low or too high, you’ll be able to adjust the position of your headlight to ensure it’s aiming in the right direction when you need it most.

Get your motorcycle fresh and clean, it’ll make you feel a little swell of pride and it will help to keep your paint, chrome, and other finishes stay in top shape. You can get a specialized motorcycle cleaner if you’d like or you can use an all-purpose car wash. A sponge, a few buckets, some clean towels, and some smaller sponge brushes later and you’ll be completely set to give your motorcycle a thorough clean. This is also a really great way to spend some time outside. Maybe crack a beer while you’re at it.

There is a full catalog of maintenance and care tips available for all skill levels. So if you find yourself taking a liking to performing your own bike care, there’s plenty left to do. Just browse our MC Garage selection and then enjoy the fruits of your labor.