Motorcycle Maintenance On The Road
When you ride your motorcycle everywhere, it’s best to be prepared for any eventuality. The open road can bring just about anything your way! If you are a little prepared, it’ll go a long way in ensuring you can keep moving toward your destination. One situation that can pop up is facing a maintenance snag when you’re riding your bike. To make sure that you don’t get flustered and confused, it’s best to have a plan of action in mind.
To help you tackle any maintenance issues that occur during a bike ride, we at St. Charles Harley-Davidson have compiled the following guide. To prevent problems like this, get professional bike service and repair from our trained technicians. Get in touch with us if you’re looking for motorcycles for sale in St. Charles, St. Louis or St. Peters!
Staying Prepared
One of the best things you can do to handle emergency situations on the road is to make sure you’re properly equipped. You should have a repair kit that includes wrenches, screwdrivers, pliers, tire patches, a portable air compressor, and a fuel siphon. It isn’t enough to pack these tools, you should also know how to use them properly on the bike’s parts. This way, you’ll be ready to tackle the minor issues that occur every now and then.
Get Out of Traffic
If your motorcycle starts to act up when you’re riding it on a roadway, the first thing you should do is get off the road as soon as possible. If you’re going to have to attend to it immediately, pull over into the shoulder or median right away. If it’s possible to keep moving until you safely reach an exit, do that before pulling over. Make sure you signal your situation to other motorists and keep an alert eye on the traffic as you navigate your way through it.
Decide Your Approach
When faced with an emergency bike maintenance situation on the road, there are two basic options open to you: fix or flee. If you’re equipped with the skills and the tools to tackle the problem and are in a safe area, it can be an easy choice to fix the snag. If you’re in a narrow shoulder or a high traffic area, it might not be the best idea to start working on your motorcycle right then and there.
Fleeing might be the best recourse is you’re not in a traffic-free area or don’t really have the skills to address the problem. Then you can make your way to the nearest gas station or mechanic for help. You can also call a friend who owns a truck or trailer to help you haul your bike back home or to a repair shop. You can also call a roadside assistance service; just use the internet on your phone to locate a towing company or mechanic nearby to help you out.
Prevention Tips
Of course, the best way to handle bike maintenance issues is by nipping them in the bud before they actually become a problem. When you take good care of your motorcycle, it tends to function without incident. Perform regular maintenance on your motorcycle, including oil changes, tire pressure checks, examining the battery for corrosion, belt and chain tightening, coolant and filter checks and replacements and clutch or brake adjustments. If you’re going to be taking a long trip, it’s a good idea to let a professional service your bike so that they can fix the upcoming problems you may not even be aware of.
Let the trained technicians at St. Charles Harley-Davidson take care of your bike so it functions more smoothly and efficiently. You can also contact us if you’re looking for motorcycles for sale in St. Louis, St. Peters or St. Charles and we’ll show you our wide inventory. One of our sales representatives will gladly help you out!