Motorcycles have a die-hard following for a reason: they’re insanely fun to ride. Along with the fun bits, though, safety and maintenance are key to keeping the rubber side down and ensuring you can keep on riding. Motorcycle maintenance is pretty comprehensive, but there are a few things you can keep up on to ensure your safety. If you’re looking for salvage rebuildable motorcycles for sale, keep these things in mind to keep your salvage title motorcycle up and running after your initial rebuild.
Clean and lube the chain
Ah, the chain. One of the most important aspects of your bike. Keeping your chain clean not only extends the life of the chain itself but your sprockets as well. With salvage rebuildable motorcycles for sale, you don’t know how the chain was cared for previously, so if you aren’t replacing it this is a good step to take while you’re getting the bike ready.
You can lube and clean the chain without a rear-stand or a center kickstand by moving the bike forward and backward in the street or in your driveway.
First, you’ll want to spray the chain with chain cleaner to get rid of grime and dirt that’s built up. Don’t be shy, you really want to soak it to make sure the entire chain and all moving components are hit with the solvent. At that point, you’ll want to scrub the chain with a chain brush or a rag, but a chain brush will make it easier.
Once you’ve scrubbed it thoroughly, spray and soak the chain again with whatever cleaner you used to get rid of any residue that’s still in the chain. Make sure it’s completely dry and all the residue is off, and then you can lubricate the chain with your lube of choice. Clean up and you’re good to go.
Keep your tires inflated
Checking your tire pressure regularly not only helps your tires last longer but can prevent a flat while you’re riding, which can be disastrous. A simple tire press gauge shouldn’t cost much more than $10.00 and is an incredibly handy tool to keep around. Check your PSI before each ride to make sure your tires are inflated properly to prevent accidents. If the PSI is low, most gas stations have an air compressor on site that you can use to quickly fill them up.
Oil changes
Another issue with salvage rebuildable motorcycles for sale: you don’t know how long the oil has been sitting or when it was last changed. Even if you’ve got a brand new bike, keeping up on oil changes is imperative to the health of the bike.
Start by running the bike for a little bit to warm it up, it makes the oil easier to drain. Set an oil pan or container under the drain plug, and with the bike upright, remove the drain plug to release all of the old oil. While the oil is draining you can take out the old oil filter as well. Once all the oil has drained, replace the plug, install the new oil filter, and use a funnel to refill the oil to the level indicated in your owner’s manual.
Brakes and brake pads
This is another tidbit of motorcycle maintenance that’s wildly important to safety. Remember, when you’re on a bike you aren’t surrounded by thousands of pounds of metal to protect you, so keeping your brakes in tiptop shape is necessary.
The brake pads on motorcycles aren’t as thick as a car’s, so you may not need to replace them as quickly as you’re used to, but keep an eye on them. It’s also a good idea to inspect fluid levels and conditions in both brake cylinders. One is on the handlebars, and one is on the side of the bike. The systems for front and rear brakes are independent, so make sure you check both. Refer to your owner’s manual to replace brake pads and top off fluid.
Lights
While this may not be considered maintenance, for new or salvage repairable bikes for sale, you want to make sure your lights are working before each ride. A turn signal or a brake light can save your life, so, it’s safe to say they’re pretty important. Check your running headlight and highbeams, turn signals, and rear running and brake light. Make sure both the rear brake lever and the front brake lever activate your brake light, as well. Your owner’s manual will tell you how to change each of them if they stop working, but this is a definite must on your pre-ride checklist. This is especially important for used and salvage motorcycles for sale since you don’t know the condition of the electrical system.
Find salvage rebuildable motorcycles for sale on AutoBidMaster
From sportbikes like the Honda CBR and Yamaha R6, to a litany of Harleys, to classic cafe racers like the Triumph Thruxton, we’ve got bikes for everyone. Remember to run a VIN lookup before bidding on any bike to know exactly where it’s been and what it’s been through. For dealers involved in business, a bulk vehicle history report is the best solution. It can give you peace of mind when buying a used car and help you avoid potential scams or fraudulent activity.
If you need help finding the perfect bike or registering, give us a call at +1 (503) 298-4300 between 6:00 AM and 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday, Pacific Standard Time. You can also email us at support@AutoBidMaster.com or contact us through WhatsApp at +1 (503) 473-9895.
Happy bidding, ride safe!
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