The Ride Guide Blog

Brakes are one of the most essential parts of any vehicle, including your motorcycle. When out riding, they are crucial for helping you slow down and stop your bike. Poor or insufficient maintenance can decrease brake performance and increase crash risks. Especially come springtime, brakes should be high on your motorcycle maintenance list.

Many of today’s motorcycles use disc brakes, which are less likely to overheat and need fewer adjustments. Typical modern brake models feature twin disc brakes in front and a single disc or drum brake in the rear.

Each brake is supported by a caliper, which is powered by up to six pistons, and the brake pads will be clamped to the disc. Your brake usually sits in the wheel to adjust to temperature changes as you ride and may feature anti-block system (ABS) technology.

Much like a car, motorcycle brakes experience wear and need to be replaced. The system’s fluids may run low or hold onto debris and moisture, so it’s a good idea to give the brakes a once-over before every ride.

Brake Fluid

Brake fluid helps reduce wear on the system’s mechanical components. Over time, the amount of fluid starts to decrease and may trap moisture or debris. Based on how often you ride, it’s recommended the old brake fluid is flushed out and a new supply added every one to two years.

To avoid air bubbles in the brake fluid, you may want to have a professional perform the job if you’ve never done it yourself. Additionally, the substance can be damaging to your bike’s exterior, eating through the paint or plastic if it splashes outside the reservoir.

Do not get in the habit of only checking the brake fluid when you suspect it needs to be replaced. Riders should inspect the fluid level and color at least once a month.

If the fluid is brown or black instead of clear, it needs to be flushed out. Delaying fluid replacement reduces brake lubrication and decreases performance.

Motorcycles are equipped with two brake fluid reservoirs, one located toward the handlebars and one in the back. Both should be opened as you monitor the fluid levels.
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During winter when our bikes are in storage, motorcycle riders have to think about the battery, fluids and reducing rust. One factor often gets pushed to the bottom of the winterization list: Pests.

Although this can happen any time of year, mice, rats and squirrels looking for warmth in winter may target your motorcycle, especially if your garage is not fully sealed. They can burrow into the exhaust pipe or air intake box, build a nest in your saddle bag and may chew through wires.

Before you discover pests living in your bike or have to pay for extensive repairs once spring arrives, here’s what you should know about protecting your motorcycle.

How Pest Infestation Happens

Mice and squirrels do not hibernate during winter, but they still want a warm place for temporary shelter from the cold. Your motorcycle, particularly if stored under a cover, can look like the perfect home.

If you periodically check your motorcycle while it’s in storage, you know you’re dealing with a rodent problem if you spot droppings around the bike. You may also see scratches or bite marks on the seats, saddle bag and anything else that’s not made out of metal.

Unfortunately when you spot these signs, you have other things to worry about. Most importantly, rodents constantly need to gnaw to keep their teeth from growing too much. To do this, they will go after wires and other hard surfaces of your bike. As such, if you haven’t checked your motorcycle in a couple of months, mice may have gone after the electrical system.

Additionally, mice that have been there for a while will likely make a nest, tearing parts of leather, rubber and paper to create one in an enclosed area. You might see a nest inside a saddlebag, between the handlebars or on the seat.

Rodents also carry various diseases that are harmful to humans and pets. Through their presence and droppings, your motorcycle has been exposed to whatever they may be carrying. Touching or taking a ride in the spring could become a health and safety hazard.
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When it comes to motorcycle winterization, a temperature-controlled environment is safer than leaving your bike outside, exposed to precipitation and UV rays. Yet not everyone has the same options for winter storage.

Whether in a garage or securely covered in the driveway, you assume your motorcycle will be safe throughout the cold season but the risk of condensation increases under a cover.

Condensation can accumulate underneath, resulting in rust, corrosion and mold after months in one place. Learn how you can keep your motorcycle protected this winter.

How Condensation Occurs Under a Cover

The air contains a percentage of water vapor, known as relative humidity. When the temperature drops, water vapor gathers on cool surfaces.

A motorcycle cover can trap moist air underneath that starts to condense when the air temperature rises, but the bike’s metal parts are still cool. As a result, it might appear as if the cover is leaking.

The condensation cycle may be intensified by the ground below, particularly with dirt or cement that absorbs moisture. Especially in New England, snowfall can also increase the amount of moisture that may gather below a motorcycle cover.

What Can Happen As a Result of Condensation

If this process goes unchecked, you may be dealing with more issues than the condensation itself. Other potential damage includes:

• Rust: May affect the metal or damage the gas tank. A rusted tank can decrease fuel economy, affect how fluids flow through the bike or cause pressure buildup.
• Corrosion: Can be accelerated by rock salt or substances like sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide – two byproducts of the engine’s combustion process.
• Mold: Can start to form on non-metal components.
• Fuel Breakdown: Water vapor gets inside the gas tank and mixes with ethanol.

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Plenty of motorcycle guides provide advice on how to winterize your bike. Yet, conflicting opinions can make it difficult to know which tips to follow. Once spring comes, your bike could have sludgy fluids or visible rust on the exterior without the right winterization checklist. While having a plan is crucial, you should be mindful to avoid the following mistakes.

Not Filling the Tank

Before placing your bike in storage, fill the tank with fresh gasoline and add fuel stabilizer. Run the motorcycle, so the stabilizer goes through the system.

Settling for Older Fuel

Fuel that your bike has used all season can pick up debris and start to thin out. As gasoline breaks down quickly – especially when a vehicle is not in use – these deposits remain and you’ll end up with varnish deposits in your tank, fuel lines and carburetor.

To avoid this, drain old fuel before winterizing your bike, add gasoline to your tank and fuel stabilizer. Especially if your bike will be sitting in a garage for months, this approach decreases the likelihood of deposits and clogs.

You Use the Same Oil

Your bike’s oil goes through the same process and pattern as your gasoline: It picks up substances and breaks down through repeat use and exposure to heat and oxygen. In storage, this process will continue, resulting in a thick, cloudy consistency when you take your motorcycle out for spring riding. Instead of skipping this crucial step, replace the oil and all other fluids during the winterization process.
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