Wash Your Motorcycle. And Then Let Your Friend Ride It.

Wash your motorcycle

That’s it; that’s the big tip. Crusty and dirty is fine while you’re out riding, but clean it up when you’re back at the pad. Removing a major component like a trans or an engine? Clean all the things you can get to. Why? Because it forces examination of the machine. I’ve found cracked frames under dirt. Wiping a component off may expose the witness marks from a missing fastener. Bumping into an area of the bike you might not visit frequently can often alert you to loose bolts, unseen damage, and failing parts that may leave you stranded if left unchecked.

This is extra-easy and extra helpful if you have a lift. Get that machine up to the height of your eyes and see the parts of the bike that you normally cannot. Wash it! Clean parts are easier to inspect, and in the case of moving parts, often last longer. All the old-timers you see polishing their bikes like crazy? That's not just an excuse to hide from the fam; there's legitimate purpose in running hands over your bike.

Let someone else ride your bike

In my circle of buddies, I’m known as the nitpicky guy. There’s one other guy who is about as persnickety as I am. Unsurprisingly to me, he is also a mechanic. Both of us repair and sell motorcycles to earn a living.

What that means is we’re both highly sensitive to things that are amiss on a machine. In the repair bay, catching wonky items makes us money and is expected by many customers who are relying on us to keep ‘em safe. And when a machine for trade or sale rolls in? We need to quickly be able to pinpoint anything that needs attention because it will cost us money and labor after the fact if not found. A set of tires that’s vibrating or a click in the steering head bearings or a slipping clutch gets slowly worse over time and many riders “ride around” the problem or aren’t aware of how bad it really is. (And I believe both of us can pick out accident damage from a mile away, but that’s neither here nor there.) Having a fresh rider behind your handlebars can also help to alert you to something you may just be living with.

If you want to keep your scooter in tip-top shape, clean it up and get another rider in the saddle to verify that it’s functioning as designed. Both are free and easy, and you might save yourself a ride in the chase truck.