A smooth highway, wind cruzing through my hair, glowing sun light, and screeeeeeeeech, my bike broke all my dreams. Well, this has happened to all of us at some point or the other. The bike gave up on you on a crowded road, where people showed national integration by not helping you. After riding the bike for a couple of years and facing many such problems, not because of the brand or anything, but sheer bad luck and bad maintenance, I have a few tips and helpers that might come as a life saver for people not as lucky as a few.
Low Mileage
Boo hoo…My bike sucks all the fuel and is always hungry for more. Before I start calling my bike, my nagging wife, I tweaked it for success.
Check your tyres, low pressure in the tyres, sucks out the fuel real bad. Maintain the rolling resistance; do not lead to increase it making the tyres glide harder. Kick your tyre, not out of vengeance, but to check for the pressure, if the tyres swallow your foot even a bit, check the tyre. Use the manual for recommended tyre pressure ratings.
Oil me good
Bad quality oil affects the heart, and so does the bad quality engine oil affect the heart of the machine. Bad simile, but the truth is dirty oil can become thick, increase resistance to movement. How will you know the oil is dirty? No, you don’t dip your hands and taste. Jokes apart, if the gear shift lever becomes hard, dirty oil is the culprit. Check the oil cap, if it is black time to change the bugger, not the cap, the oil. Check the manual it again tells you about the intervals after which you should change the oil.
Tune me carburetor
Tune it good. Carburetor holds two screws, one engine idle RPM screw and the Air/Fuel mixture screw. Use the A/F screw adjustment to adjust the air versus fuel injected in the engine ration. The equation being that more the air, the lesser the fuel, which sums up to better efficiency. If the bike is fuel injected, abort the carburetor mission. I say this cause work is easier for you as the ECU system will auto adjust the Air/Fuel Mixture settings.
Loosen those tight brakes
Brakes dominate how much effort is needed to turn the wheel. Tighter the breaks, more effort wasted. To check the brakes are tight enough, put the bike in neutral, on the center stand, and rotate the wheels manually to check the free movement. If the front rear are hard to rotate, loosen the brake little bit at a time and try again. If your bike has disc brakes, take it to the company workshop and don’t fool around with the bike.
Fast and make the bike furious
Accelerate to achieve is the motto in your aspirations, let that stay there. Don’t accelerate for any reason. Maintain a good speed to save fuel. Avoid sudden acceleration and sudden braking.
Carbon deposits do not give returns
If the bike has run over 30000 kms, make sure you check the carbon deposits on the piston and other parts. Check the oil cap too, if black do not change the cap, clean and change oil.
Set my valve
If all the above tips fail to make your bike fit and fat or lean, time to check the valve settings. Don’t be a mechanic wearing rugged clothes; just take the bike to a real one.
Improper Break-In:
All the single cylinder bikes need to be ridden with specified speed and RPM in the first 1000 kms, people do not believe this and then face low efficiency. Keep it away from your friends for the first 1000 kms, and strictly tell them pillion only. Warm the bike in the morning for about 5 minutes before actually using it.
Poor Performance
Air Filter:
Check the air filter since Indian roads and the dream roads your bike dealer promised.
Fuel Quality:
Stop investing more in a haircut, and invest more in good quality fuel. Go to reputed petrol pump, try their fuel, to find the perfect fuel for your bike.
Lack of Warm Ups:
Warm up your baby, by starting it for like 5 minutes in the morning before actually using it.
Tyre Pressure:
Tyre pressure is very important for good performance and good mileage both. Keep checking if you witness hiccups in riding the bike.
Low engine Oil:
Never ever keep the engine oil low. This might lead to permanent damage to the bike components.
Chain Slack:
Reduced acceleration is faced due to a slacking chain. If you hear a rattle or two from the chain, get it checked.
Bad Brakes
Brakes are the most important feature of the bike on Indian roads and in bad traffic.
Drum Brakes:
If you have drum brakes, check the free rotation of the rear and front wheels. Put the bike in neutral, on the center stand, and rotate the wheel by hand. If too tight, loosen the bolt a bit and try again. Check the dirty break pads as well.
Disc Brakes:
With Disc brakes, check the brake fluid levels. If there is enough fluid and yet you have issues, run to the nearest company workshop. Don’t fiddle with it yourself.
Top of all this mumbo jumbo, please note the following –
- Warm me up – Warm you bike in the mornings before taking it out for about 5 mins.
- Check Tyre Pressure – Once a month, take the bike to the petrol pump and get the pressure checked.
- Chains – If you witness rattle and noise, check your chains and get them tightened.
- Periodic Service- Maintenance is the key to a good bike
- Avoid cheap part – Don’t invest in cheap parts, because it will only be repetitive investment.
Use the tips and let us know if you have any additions of your own.
