So, I‘m looking into getting a motorcycle. . . the thing is, I don‘t really know much about them. I would like to be able to take care of it once I have one, so I was wondering if anyone could give me some basic motorcycle care tips. Like, washing, oil and tire changes, engine care. . . stuff like that. :/ Also, I‘m going to be getting an old one and I was wondering if the mileage on a motorcycle works kind of the same as the mileage on a car, or what to look for as far as mileage is concerned. Thanks a bunch to anyone who helps. :)
Motorcycle mileage is usually way lower than a car. Tires will usually only last 5000 miles or so, and it is crucial you have good tires on a bike. Keep it clean, so you can inspect it easier, don't use Armor All or similar products on the tires, they'll make 'em 'slippery'. Oil changes should be done about every 3 months, same as a car, even if the mileage doesn't get that high, as oil breaks down over time. I have seen bikes that were beat by 10000 miles, others that were in great condition at 40000 miles. Maintenance is very important for keeping it running, as well as safety reasons.
The guy who said tires last 5000 miles, I'd like to see how he rides! I suppose on the hottest sport bike, if you ride like a crazy person you might wear out a set of tires in 5k miles. But they don't last nearly as long as car tires because they're made of a softer, more aggressive rubber. I get 10-12k miles out of a set of 'touring' tires (i.e. made to go a long distance at the cost of that last little bit of tire adhesion). If the bike is chain drive you also have to replace the chain and the sprockets every 10,000-20,000 mi. Motorcycles are used differently from cars. Some sit in garages for years at a time. So a 10 year old bike with 2,000 miles on it is not necessarily a good deal because some parts deteriorate even faster if they aren't used--rubber gaskets and seals, etc. To tell how well a bike has been treated is not always easy. I go by the owner, what kind of person he is, does he seem meticulous. Still, 50k miles on a bigger Japanese bike is not too much. If the oil and filter and the air filter has been changed on schedule, it's got a lot more life left in itMotorcycle Spares Parts Suppliers in UK
