Motorcycle Service Checklist
Arizona Honda is your local motorcycle dealer with a dealership in Snowflake. Here are the answers to some of the most common questions about motorcycle service so you can decide when and how to get your bike tuned up.
Why Seek Out Motorcycle Service?
Even if you’re adept at maintaining your bike on your own, it’s still a good idea to have your motorcycle serviced regularly by a professional. You’ll benefit from the peace of mind you can get when you have a mechanic look over your bike and address all its issues. Regular professional service also helps to extend your bike’s life and allow it to operate at its full capacity so you won’t have to struggle with losses of power or other problems on the road.
How Often Is Service Necessary?
Ideally, you’ll want to have your motorcycle serviced by a professional at least once a year. This helps to ensure that your rides are as safe as possible by preventing small issues from turning into major operational problems. Of course, this needs to be combined with regular tune-ups performed at home, such as oil changes, tending the battery and tire-pressure checks.
Will Service Save Me Money?
Yes! Having a professional service your motorcycle will prevent you from having to shell out on expensive repairs due to neglect. Also, if you decide to sell your motorcycle down the road, having a detailed record of all maintenance and repairs performed will be an asset to any potential buyer.
What Does Professional Service Entail?
There are four main levels of service that your motorcycle might need: interim, annual, major and full. Each level of service always includes basic maintenance like inspecting bulbs, clutches, bearings, spark plugs, suspension system, exhaust, oil and filter changes and tire examination, but some levels go above and beyond this. Most service levels can be completed in a day’s time, but the more intense service levels may require the shop to hold your bike for a few days to look everything over.
The type of service you spring for will depend upon how often you use your bike and how you use it. For example, a frequent racer or daily commuter battling inclement weather is going to put a great deal more wear and tear on their bike than a weekend rider who only goes for casual cruises on sunny days. The more you use your motorcycle and the fiercer the conditions you ride under, the more intense service your bike will require.
Interim Service
This is the most basic type of service, which will provide a road test along with a broad inspection of the bike’s components. Fluids will be refilled, oil will be changed and filters will be replaced. This type of service is good for infrequent riders who don’t push their bikes too hard.
Annual Service
If your bike could use more attention, then you’ll want an annual service that covers all of the above, plus a few additional things. Air filter inspection, spark plug replacement, battery and tire inspections are all a part of annual service.
Major Service
For anyone whose bike is somewhat older with a long history of maintenance, a major service may be necessary to thoroughly inspect past issues as well as current problems resulting from wear and tear. Major service includes a detailed history check, a valve clearance check and a throttle body balance adjustment.
Full Service
A bike that’s older and has sat around for a while unused may require a full service. All fluids will be replaced and the entire bike will be thoroughly examined from top to bottom with full service. Some special areas of interest for this level include cleaning and lubricating steering head bearings and rear suspension linkage, fork oil replacement and control cable inspection.
If you need some professional assistance with motorcycle maintenance, contact the Arizona Honda service department to schedule an appointment with our team of mechanics. We can give your bike a thorough going-over to make sure that everything is in peak condition.
Looking for a new bike instead? Check out our Snowflake dealership’s fine selection of new and used motorcycles on our website. We can even provide financing assistance if you require it for your motorcycle purchase. Arizona Honda proudly serves the cities of Show Low and Holbrook, AZ.