UK no-sign up Motorcycle Home Mechanic Guide - Manual / Resource - Page 7
Electrics
The time to find out your battery
isn’t charging is not when you are
halfway home; the simplest test to
do is check that the headlight gets
brighter as you rev the motor.
If you have a wet cell battery, check the fluid level in it. Make sure both
battery terminals are tight and free from corrosion, and check that the vent
tube is in place and routed properly. Give the whole bike a quick once over
for loose or pinched wires.
Engine oil
Check the engine oil level and
look for signs of leaks under the
bike. On shaft-driven bikes, and
bikes with separate primary drive
and transmission oil, check all of
these as well; since these tend to be neglected it is not hard to develop a
leak and not know it until it is too late.
Fluids
You already checked the brake and clutch fluid with the controls, but
check the motorcycle’s coolant level on liquid-cooled bikes and top off
with clean water.
Many bikes have a fuel gauge these days, but physically checking how
much petrol is in the tank is a good idea if you haven’t ridden in weeks
or longer. On bikes with petcocks, check that it is set to “on” and not
“reserve” before you ride, and get petrol if you are on reserve.
Chassis
Look over the bike frame for areas where the paint may have cracked or
flaked, because that is a good indication that there may be a structural
crack developing.
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