25 Motorcycle Safety Tips

1. On wet roads always expect the bike to stop at twice the distance you expect it to stop.
2. Always use indicators to signal you turning, at least a few meters from your actual turning point.
3. Sticking out a wide hand when turning, can be risky in two ways,you can hurt yourself by a close ongoing vehicle and also you cannot a control a bike with one hand.
4. Always keep anticipating, if the vehicle which is 2/3 vehicles ahead of you displays red tail lights,you should also slow down. Chances are you too need to stop. If a vehicle wildly cuts off a vehicle ahead, understand the driver’s psychology. He may do the same to you.
5. On steep turns if possible allow 4-wheelers to complete their turn. 80% of accidents occur because drivers loose their control on steep turns.
6. When descending a mountain many of us tend to turn the ignition completely off. Keep at least the key turned it, so that you can flash lights and most importantly blow horn.
7. Perform a test ride before taking out your bike, even when you are visiting the local grocery shop.
8. Do not overtake if overtaking lands you on a road which is joined by another road.Chances are another vehicle may just cut in at that moment.
9. Never ever mess with Heavy Vehicles at night. You may be sore, but many at night time the truck drivers are full-on.
10. Wear proper eye safety gear at night,so that the Lights of oncoming vehicles don’t flash right into your eyes.
11. When buying shades try buying those through which you can look at the sun straight for 1 min or so.
12. Wear clear glasses at night at any case, chances are that a insect might hit you in the eye. Our hand’s natural reflex is to to rub the eye and imagine doing so while whistling at a speed of 100kms in middle of a highway.
13. Look out for old trucks, cases have been that that their rear doors open up when the vehicle is banged. A high risk when you are bump to bump to one such.
14. Look out for cow dung, cricket ball sized stones, rounded pipes or even bundles of cloth. Enough to tip you over in a flip of eye.
15. Try avoiding hitting out small animals,they tend to lock up in the rear tire.
16. Never ever talk on a mobile while driving, no call is important than the call of life. Stop along side the ride and finish the call.
17. Trucks loaded with steel bars, a absolute no-no. Overtake them safely. Never ever linger behind them.
18. Always watch out for bikes which have some luggage tied at the either side or near the wheel. They can mangle you up.
19. Checkout if your side stand is pulled in.
20. Do not overtake from wrong side, if at all, watch out if the vehicle has a left rear view mirror or a ream mirror and do so alertly.
21. Don’t let insane honking and light flashing bother you, stay your cool and let the vehicle pass or just ignore.
22. When anything comes right before you while driving at high speed, try braking and steering the vehicle to the left of the road (for right hand drive). Vehicles, people, animals have a natural tendency to move/run ahead to avoid collision.
23. Always help accident cases,nowadays the law is quite liberal. So you won’t be harassed by anyone. Imagine you or your near dear ones lying on the road wounded and others just passing by casually.
24. Make sure you have appropriate fuel in the bike. You won’t want the engine to shut down when you are overtaking a long vehicle! In such a case try to stay in line behind with the vehicle by flashing bright lights or just shoot to the other side of the road if there are not vehicles on the other side.
25. These are some of the tips which i have gained through mine or someone else’s experiences. Some of them may be too much, but life is cruel. Remember expecting you not to get a accident because you drive safe, is like expecting the lion not to eat you because you are a vegetarian!

Motorcycle Chain Maintenance

The chain is a very important Component of your Bike as the chain is what powers the rear wheel. The Chain drive of your bike has to be in proper condition so that the there is no power dissipation when the power is delivered from the engine via the cam chain tensioner to the rear wheel. A Bike’s chain, sprocket and the cam chain tensioner are the main components that transfer power to the road from the engine. The chain, sprocket technique is the most efficient method to power the rear wheel and that’s why most of the bikes employ this method. Some bikes employ Belt driven method like the Gearless scooter Honda Activa that employs a V-Matic belt driven transmission system. Big V-twin Bikes like the Suzuki Boulevard 1783 cc employs a Shaft Driven Transmission system like in a car. The chain cant handle the extra torque produced by the bigger engine as there is higher wear and tear so shaft system is used in higher engine capacity bikes.

Why Chain Maintenance: India is a country, which has a diverse range of environmental conditions so this ensures that the chains in your bikes need regular care. Rains, dust, muddy and slushy roads etc all wreak havoc with your bike’s chain. These days many bikes come with an O Ring sealed chain, which is exposed to the environment. The conventional Chain Guard prevents the chain from getting damaged. The O Ring chains are more prone to wear and tear as they are exposed and need regular maintenance so that your bike’s chain is healthy. Conventional Chains also need regular maintenance.

Tips for maintenance of O Ring Chains and conventional Chains: Your bike’s chain need regular lubrication, cleaning and adjustment. In case you have a bike which has a conventional chain cover remove it and then go ahead with the job.

Cleaning: Wash the chain with paraffin, a soft brush and a piece of cloth and remove the dirt accumulated in the chain. Don’t use Water as it might rust the chain links because if the water has salt or minerals or chlorine and sodium it will damage the chain. After the dirt is cleaned with the brush and paraffin wipe the chain with a clean dry cloth.

Lubrication: Lubricate the chain links and the chain with used engine oil. For this you need not buy expensive oils, whenever you get your bike serviced ask the workshop to give you some old engine oil in a bottle. Use this used Engine oil and lubricate all the areas of your bike’s chain by rotating the wheel so that you lubricate all the areas of the chain. Check if the chain has rusted or starting to rust if it is, then put more lubricant on the rusted areas. It is a good idea to touchup with paint in the rusted areas to prevent further rusting, WD 40 Antirust spray is also helpful. Make sure your bike is switched off to prevent any injuries to your hand.

Inspection and Adjustment: Check if your bike’s chain has a free play of 2-4 mm in general by moving the chain up and down in a vertical direction with your fingers. Your bike’s chain must have the correct tension and free play of the rear wheel. If the tension is more the chain wont power the rear wheel smoothly during motion. If in case the chain is loose, the power delivery from the engine to the rear wheel wont be optimal and there will be loss of power due to slippage. Take the bike to your mechanic or service center and get it adjusted to the manufacturer’s specifications.
Always remember that all the moving parts will affect the performance of your bikes. The Transmission system in bikes is often overlooked by many people. You must inspect the Transmission system every three weeks in general to ensure your bike’s engine and transmission components are in perfect working order. Remember you bike must not only look good Cosmetically but also function properly and regular Chain Drive Maintenance will ensure this and the performance of your bikes wont drop through passage of time.

Six Tips on Maintaining Your Bike at its Best

1. Tyre Air Pressure: Ensure tyre pressures are maintained at manufacturer recommended levels. Different pressures are recommended for single seat and pillion riding, observe them to squeeze out the optimum mileage. Over-inflated tyres do result in better mileage but play havoc with the ride, handling and stability, so don’t get desperate.

2. Brakes: Both the brakes should have the right amount of free play. To check that brakes are not binding, put the bike on the main stand and ensure that both the wheels turn freely.

3. Chain: The chain should be well lubricated and have the right amount of slack.

4. Air filter: Keep the air filter clean as dusty conditions in India tend to clog up the filter in no time. Change the air filter at recommended intervals and increase the cleaning frequency in particularly dusty climes. Clutch: Should be properly adjusted and have the right amount of free play. An over tightened clutch will cause it to slip unnoticeably and increase the fuel consumption while also burning it out quickly.

5. Engine: Again regular servicing and tune-ups will keep the engine running like clockwork and reduce your petrol bills. Pay special attention to cleaning the carburettor and maintaining valve clearences. Don’t neglect the spark plug, ensure it is clean, the gap is set correctly or replace it if past its prime as it’s the most crucial link in proper combustion. Most modern bikes require the choke to be used on cold starts as they run lean to meet emission norms as well as fuel efficiency requirements.

6. Engine Oil: Engine oil should be changed religiously. The oil thickens due to carbon deposits creating drag in the movement of engine internals. Running the bike on dirty oil will not only increase fuel consumption but also reduce the life of the engine.

Dressing for The Perfect Biker

You’ve always desired to ride the best looking bike present on the planet. However did you ever considered about the person, who was riding the bike, and the way he looked. Although your clothing is of little importance while driving a bike, having everything in the right order is sure to work for you. Take it in this way you should look as good as the bike you’re riding! Let us try some advice aimed mainly at new riders to make them understand what will suit them better:

Helmet: Good dealer advices and assures that your helmet fits properly on your head. It should have good snug fitting. Helmets are available in different sizes and you might find that you require trying different ones for finding the one, which perfectly suits you. Again, you shouldn’t buy second hand helmet. They do not work efficiently if they are more than three years old or dropped from height over 2 feet. Always take care of your visor and clean it with soft cotton clothes. Avoid paper towels for their abrasive feel. Most riders like their helmet to complement the bike. Whilst most popular color in helmet black, buying bright colors might help others to notice you more.

General Clothing: Whilst every biker craves for motorcycle clothing, you should know that they are expensive and individuals mostly have to settle with normal clothing or opt for buying them one at a time.

If you’re going to buy the clothing one at a time, buying it in this order can work for you:

1. Helmet
2. All season gloves
3. Jacket and trousers (Lightweight Waterproof)
4. Jacket
5. Boots
6. Trousers

Whist you’re riding, you might never get hot on the hottest summer day. However, biggest dangers loom when you’ll feel cold. Make it sure that you’re wearing clothing for keeping you dry, comfortable and warm. In case of coming out of accident with minimum scars, you should protect yourself with tough and well-fitting clothing.

Gloves: Never consider riding bikes without gloves. You’ll ultimately find that you need gloves irrespective of the season in concerned. The gloves should be thick in winter and medium-weight preferably in other seasons. Ski type gloves might help you to stay dry, warm and trendy, but won’t work as a protection during unforeseen events. Trust me, its no fun getting your hand’s skin off. So, choose other safer options.

Trousers: Lightweight and waterproofs nylon clothing is not expensive and you can fold them up to small size for keeping it in your carrier. You can use them over denim jackets, jeans and the list goes on.

Jacket: Avoid bulky jackets (Ski type ones), as they’ll give no protection in case of accidents and obscure the bike’s mirrors. You can even get affected more by the wind when you’ve got them on. Bike jackets should be either fabric or leather. Leather ones offer better protection, whereas fabric tends to work well in every season.

Boots: Absence of proper biking boots, you should have heavy shoes as replacements. Work boots and heavy walking boots are considered fine by expert, as ideally you only need your ankle protected. However, avoid steel toecaps. Again, boots with soft sole makes it difficult for putting bikes on to stands.

Trousers: You’ve got leather and fabric as options. Leather works well for you, if you’ve got safety in mind and fabric is enough if you consider weather to be a bigger threat. Tough denim jeans can be good substitutes provided it has good fitting.

So, try incorporating these advices for getting the clothing while riding your bike. It will have an impact on both the way you look and keep you safe on the road.

Safe Riding – Points to Remember

If you’ve been searching thoroughly on the web recently, you’re sure to have come across bikes that are fast and have a beautiful body. I’m certain that at a first look only, you’ll desire to ride them. The only thing that will fill your mind on that instant is riding the beauty and talking to the wind on the way to a long drive on the highway. And if you have finances for getting one, the very next day you’ll get it at your doorstep.

In the world of imagination where you’re driving & talking to the wind with your closed one at the back, we forget that there are certain biking tips that we should follow for making it a safe journey. These tips are very much important not only for you, but also for people riding along with you.

Anticipation: Anticipation while driving is very much important. Though it sounds simple (Trust me, it is), there have been cases when people overlook it. You’ll find it easy for switching off when you’re riding, especially roads on the quieter side. You should always have an eye out for something that is unexpected.

Always keep a watch on your speed: I’m not telling you to crawl on the road at 5 miles/hour. I agree! The experience would be similar to the one you have while walking. Who wants that after buying a bike? What I want you to do is just assure that you’re riding at speeds, which can give you enough time for reaction on the road: especially when it comes to wet, icy or foggy condition.

Positioning: When you are on the road, it’s crucial that you are seen at all stages. It’s your job to position yourself in a way that cars will be able to see you properly.

Overtaking: Overtaking is one of the things that can give you satisfaction, especially in case you’re stuck in heavy traffic. However, you should make sure that you’re always looking above your shoulder for seeing what individuals are doing behind you. You should avoid overtaking near junctions or on bends and should obey road markings.

Be seen: If you’re having good light dipped headlights, you’ll easily get spotted on the road. Getting spotted is very much important, especially in cases when you’re driving on the highway in foggy conditions. If your bike has been built or sold after 2002, you’re sure to have dipped headlights in your vehicle. If it’s not of that period, check out your motorcycle for these headlights.

You should remember one thing: the better you’re riding skills, better will be the chances of avoiding accidents. Yes, overlooking rules while driving on a bike is enticing. Still, you need to ‘ride to live’ for ‘living to ride’.

Taking Care of Your Bike Battery

Get the battery topped up with good quality distill water every month without fail. The reading of the battery should be around 12.36 + or – 10 for a good healthy battery with the help of a Multimeter. Make sure the battery drainpipe is connected securely to the battery and have some petroleum jelly applied to the terminals to prevent corrosion. The terminals must be cleaned every month to make sure the discharge sludge doesn’t corrode the terminals as acid is discharged from the battery every time we crank the battery for self start.

Make sure you do not use the electric start until the bike has at least run for 5 kms. By doing all the above, a battery would last easily for 3+ years and the owner need not change their batteries frequently due to lack of maintenance. Due to the heat and constant usage of the battery the Electrolyte will get dried up easily that’s why to maintain battery life we need to top up the electrolyte level with pure distill water.

Tire Advice for your Bike

Tires are like the shoes of your bike. No matter how powerful the engine is, it is the tire which finally transfers the power. Here are some tips and advice for your bike’s tires.

The tire pressure of your bike should be maintained according to the usage, load, road surface conditions and as per the manufacturer’s specifications. For city use the regular specifications are fine, but for the highway use one must increase the PSI by at least 3 or 4 for both the tires from normal due to the constant high speed running of the tires on the highways, as there is loss of air due to heat and friction.

The load also determines the extra PSI that you must take into account. You have to check the max pay load for any bike or scooter and if the load increases from the maximum payload then you must increase the tire pressure accordingly. But make sure you don’t overload the bike/scooter to a high extent as it would damage the suspension geometry and the walls of the tires would get weak and there will be uneven surface wear leading to less grip during braking, going through water in rains or other such surprises on the road which could lead to an accident. Similarly don’t over pressurize or under pressurize your tires and check the tire pressure once a week.

If you under-pressurize the tires the ride would feel spongy and the tube will become weak especially when the two-wheeler goes over irregular surfaces on the road like bumps or speed breakers. Alternatively, if you over-pressurize the tires then the tire wall and the outer tire would become irregular in shape and develop uneven wear and the ride would become too bumpy even for small bumps.

It is not a good idea to change the tires that the manufacturer has provided with the bike or scooter, as it would only lead to unnecessary wear and tear of the tires and interfere with the bikes handling, suspension, dynamics and weight distribution. My Karizma gives a very good mileage because it has a 100/90 rear tire which is enough for decent handling even for a 223cc bike. while the Honda CBF Stunner also has 100/90 rear tire but the bike has only a capacity of 124cc compared to the Karizma’s 223cc.

Another case in point being the R15, which has smaller 17 inch and narrower tires but the grip is phenomenal on road and track surface and even on irregular surfaces. The point I am stressing is, fat tires are not the only requisite for grip and performance. Having driven the R15 over various surfaces I can vouch for this fact. Also a manufacturer tests the tires performance on all roads and optimizes the tire dimensions most suited for the specific two wheeler so if one were to modify the factory settings most of the long run benefits will be lost.

Air valve cap: Ensure that the small cap of your tires air valve is always fastened securely to the tires of your two-wheeler. This air valve cap ensures that no air escapes the tire and prevents air dissipation during motion.

Cosmetic Care for Your Bike

How proud we feel when our bike is just one week old! There is a shine in the bike and the empty number plate tells our friends that it is brand new. But most of us really start caring less about the bike’s looks as time goes on, and the bike is no longer shiny and appealing. But think again, a few minutes of extra care everyday will keep it as good as new. And do you remember?… Girls like clean and neat guys! The following tips will help your bike to look better than your neighbor’s…

Cleaning & Washing: Wash the bike yourself once a week with hand cloth and a bucket of plain clean water. Do not use any detergent or chemicals, as it would harm the paint finish of the bike. Don’t give the bike for water wash outside frequently as the water jet spray used has high pressure and will enter the electric circuit and wires, also more importantly stagnate at some unapproachable places and eventually lead to rusting. Always remember your bike must look good every time you hop on it. Just as we bathe, brush, shave and comb everyday your bike also needs some basic care and is entitled to proper maintenance. The cleaner your two-wheeler is the better your bike will perform.

Cleaning your bike yourself improves your bond between you and your two-wheeled steed and its fun as you would discover and explore your bike and learn more about your two wheeler. It also gives you a good workout as you stretch and reach for those unapproachable places. Wash your bike gently with water and hand and wipe clean with a soft clean cloth. Getting the bike water washed once a month is acceptable. Make sure you take your bike out for a spin immediately after the water wash as it would automatically dry the water at places you cant reach by hand. Make sure you cover the exhaust while cleaning your bike with polythene cover and secure a rubber band tightly across the exhaust and the plastic cover.

Protection of cycle parts: Always park your bike under a shade as this would help you conserve fuel as the shade prevents not only the loss of fuel due to evaporation but also protect your bike’s paint finish. By not exposing your biketo too much sunlight or rain or dust you can enhance the life of the cycle parts of your two-wheeler especially the rubber parts. For most manufacturers rubber parts are not easily available for sale at most dealerships and the rubber parts play a major role for your two wheeler’s performance. Always remember the rubber engine mountings, the rubber fuel lines, the electric wires insulation can take a beating due to too much exposure to the environment.

Bike Cover: Always park your two-wheeler under covered parking and buy a flexible polythene rain cover for covering your two-wheeler during the rains. Don’t buy cheap quality ones as it would get brittle with time and create scratches on your two-wheeler as put on and remove the cover. Get an imported one, which is silver in color and is flexible and soft almost like a cloth, this type of rain cover would last a long time and wont scratch the paint surface of the two-wheeler.

Use rubber patches to prevent rusting: Try to stick tube rubber to the bottom surface of your two wheeler’s side stand and main stand. By doing so the metal won’t scratch against the ground thereby protecting the paint finish. This helps in preventing rusting of the under sides of both the stands especially during rains as rainwater will rust the parts wherever there is no paint. Also stick a small patch of tube rubber on the part where you use to step (as shown in the third picture, on the right) and put the bike on to the side stand or main stand.

Rust prevention spray: There is a spray called WD40 it is an anti rust spray. Use it in places where your two-wheeler develops rusting so that the spray prevents further rusting of the part.

Teflon coat: Get the bike Teflon coated once every 3 months as the environmental conditions these days wreak havoc on your bike. It would only cost you Rs.150 to 250 depending on the shop and wont take more than a couple of hours and will ensure your bike is rust free and protect the paint finish.

I am going to stick to the above tips to keep my bike always shiny and sexy… will you?

How to Handle the Bike in a Curve

Most of the accidents occur on curves. So it is important for us to practice handling and braking the bike in curves. Usually when you are approaching a curve, the safest tactic is to start turning late and take a sharp turn rather than having a long gradual turn. When you turn late, you will have better visibility of the vehicles coming from the opposite direction, or any other possible distractions and would buy you some time if it was going to be a risky show up.

The usual human nature is to take a ‘C’ turn. I prefer you to take the ‘L’ turn. Alright, nothing technical… ‘C’ is the gradual curve and ‘L’ is the near right angled turn. Although it is impossible to have a perfect right angled turn, try to work your way up from ‘C’ to ‘L’. If you are riding a new bike for the first time be extra careful. Curving nature oof the bike differs from model to model. I had a shock when my friend’s Yamaha R15 refused to turn as I wanted it to.

It is very difficult to practice this in a curve but you can practise turning in a round about. Choose the one which has little traffic. Also choose the time of the day when there are not too many vehicles and especially when there are no guardian of road laws! First practice in a big one and work you way down to small round abouts. As you get used to turning and leaning, start braking. Imagine an emergency situation and brake suddenly. Be careful.

Tips for Choosing Motorcycling Boots

Your feet are considered to be in the firing line, when you’re riding your motorcycle. They are positioned closest to the hot parts of the bike and the road, on which you are driving. Again, when it’s time for you to stop the bike, your boots require making adequate contact with the road. Failing to do so, your bike might end up in a horizontal position.

This is why your boots are considered amongst the most important accessories of your motorcycle. At the same time, they prove to be one of the costliest accessories, which you must buy for your bike. There are things, which you should consider while picking a boot for your motorcycle similar to other accessories.

So, keep reading on and you’ll have all the information available to you that can help you in getting the maximum return from your investment. The information has been organized on the basis of different riding styles.

Sport Bikes: Technically, racers feet are busier than other types of rider. You are sure to find them constantly: Shifting Gears, Braking, Dragging the Pavement, Shifting weight.

Thus, it throws a big challenging to boot manufacturers. Now, their job lies in creating motorcycle boots, which are resistant to crush. At the same time, boots of racers should give you maximum movement and flexibility on foot pegs. Again, you shouldn’t overlook the needed comfort and ventilation, while you are off your bike. However in case of pure racing, off bike comforts are given less consideration.

Touring & Commuting: Even if you are spending longer durations on your bike in between stops, you should give more attention to off-bike comforts when opting for a motorcycle boot, which is going to be used in touring & commuting. Apart from being comfortable, they should also be waterproof, which can be useful during long journeys on the road.

Cruisers & Customs: Previously, most cruisers preferred wearing a pair of combat or cowboy type boots. While they are still not an appalling option, you can go for boots that are specifically made for cruisers.

Dirt Bikes: Boots for dirt bikes are also manufactured considering the technical aspects necessary for a racer. Uppers of such boots should be set at an angle for your riding position. However, you might look a bit funny while having a walk in them. Although they are mostly available in black, other colors are also there for matching your bike and riding suit. Of course in case of dirt bikes, the entire outfit will mostly stay covered in mud and color coordination is surely not going to last for long!

So, make a decision on your motorcycle boots by giving consideration to these tips and you’re sure to run away with an amazing pair of boots for yourself.

Tips for Improving Your Bike’s Mileage

The mileage of a bike is a critical factor in the buying decision and also keeping our running costs low. Many of you think that mileage is just about the cost of fuel, but it is not. A bike which gives a good mileage compared to other similar bikes is a sure indication that the health of the bike is well maintained and the rider is careful enough to get the bike frequently serviced and tuned.

I talked with Sudarshan from Chennai and was surprised to know that his Hero Honda Karizma R gives a mileage of 41 in the city and 49 in highways. His bike is in perfect health. To keep the engine healthy all you have to do is, let the engine warm up before you take it to real performance. Small engines like that of Splendor NXG and Passion Plus have a horizontal engine, so as soon as the bike is started, the oil flows easily into the engine. But bikes with a high bore and stroke find it difficult to circulate the oil throughout the engine as soon as it is started.

Sudarshan recommends bikers to put the choke, self start the engine and leave it for 10-15 seconds so that the oil gets heated up and the luke warn low density oil finds it easy to circulate through upto the top of the engine. Do not leave the choke for too long as it would flood the engine with fuel. Do not open the throttle until it has run for atleast 5 km distance and the engine comes to a normal operating heat range.

If you gun the engine in cold conditions as soon as you start it, there would not be enough lubrication in the engine and it leads to more friction which ultimately damages the piston and the engine and hence your mileage will be low.

If you go to a gym, your coach will ask you to warm up before you do some heavy lifting and iron pumping… this is just like that. Your bike is not much different from your body!

Another good tip worth mentioning is to remove the saree guard if there is no use for it. I am a student and even after I get married I do not expect my wife to sit on the high back seat of Karizma… I would be probably getting a free car as a gift at that time . So I removed the saree guard as soon as I bought it. It reduces dead weight by 4-5 kg and would definitely improve the performance of the engine and increase fuel efficiency.

Some basic fuel efficiency tips that you may have already known are 1. Switch off your engine during signals with long waiting periods. 2. Change your oil according to your manufacturer’s recommendations. 3. Check your tube’s pressure every month… higher pressure than the recommended value would give you more mileage but less friction and stability. So keep it to the optimum value.

I am interested to know what kind of mileage your bike gives. Post your bike model and mileage in the comment below and let us see who reports the highest mileage!

Bike Cleaning and Maintenance Tips

Be it your new Lord of the Streets or your cute budget bike, they are such loyal buddies taking the lazy you to office, to grocer, carrying you and your monthly grocery through the crowded streets to home, after you’ve had enough of the rest-of-the-world experience. Don’t you think we need to pay back our 4-stroke bike at least giving it a once-in-a-while cleaning at house? So said, I would like you to read through the following lines.

You got all those bike accessories as because you liked the way they changed the look of your bike; whether it is the shiny chrome, or the dual tone graphics on it, or even extra beautiful paint. These could set your bike apart in a crowd and give it a special identity like you have in your work place. While you receive all that pampering do you pay back to your bike? In fact let me tell, even a 1lakh bike will be great on road if its dirty and an decade old bike can still be shining and attracting second looks- all in the maintenance.

I am going to give you a few tips in bike cleaning and hopefully with the pampering it receives it will never let you down:

If you have had a long drive the bike needs a cool down time period before you head for a washing episode. It allows the engine to cool down. If not there could be streaking, damage to chrome and spotting and at times even crack of the engine as well. Look for leaks if any and wear of the tyres, any loose bolts and even hoses, and give a thorough look at other areas which sometimes take your attention to otherwise neglected things.

Cleaning Equipment Required: The list of soaps, waxes and cleaning agents is almost endless and if you are a little careful you can do a hell lot with a good brush, clean rags, and some water. But so said, I would suggest that you pick a cleaning solution that is tailor made for bikes. Inappropriate cleaners will get on saddle, blue the chrome and get on the paint. Thus, use products that will not cause problems as regards to spoiling the finish or discoloring it. Remember cheap cleaning products will only harm your vehicle.

Once preparing the cleaning solution as per the mixing direction start cleaning your toy. Give heavy dirt settled on fenders and bugs a presoak treatment and then rinse with jet of water to clean off the loosened dirt. Use a clean sponge or cloth so it doesn’t scratch the chrome or the paint.

Give a thorough rinse to the bike, give a little rubbing, but an extra wash and rinse is any day better than rubbing for the reason that it will dull the shine of the paint or scratch the chrome. But so said, when water is scarce give a gentle rubbing to the heavily soiled areas. Clean the hidden areas as well to ensure it’s absolutely free of dirt. Ensure that the cleaning solution is washed off the bike. Give another rinse job and if there is run off of the water with no signs of beading your bike needs a thorough polishing; however, with the manufacturer recommended polishes.

Clean the wheels with separate rag and rinse the wheels again separately. Wipe the bike off the water with dry and soft cloth. Avoid doing this under direct exposure to sun to prevent any streaking.

Never use a dryer or air compressor to dry the vehicle as it might grit the finish and cause irreparable damage. Use a cloth to dry rather than a blower or a dryer. Clean the leather saddle (if) with the manufacturers recommendations.

Once the bike is clean you can pamper the tyres if you desire. Give some oil treatment to the chain with the recommended oil. With so much bike spa treatment your bike is ready to carry your lazy body again, but now with more shine and beauty.