MAINTENANCE |
TIRE CONDITION
Make sure you have even tread wear and not beyond the safe wear limits. Motorcycle tires have built-in tread wear bars as part of their design. The bars are areas in the grooved part of the tread which are raised a little from the bottom of the groove. They are designed so you can see when a tire is reaching the end of its life. Riding with a tire after its’ reached this wear bar is not safe. The tire cannot channel water correctly and it will puncture easier. Another thing to look for on you tires is cracking or checking on the sidewall. The sidewall dries out and causes these cracks. Do not ride with a tire in this condition.
For tire basics, checkout our
Tires page.
TIRE INFLATION
Tire inflation is one of the most important aspects of your Harley-Davidson maintenance. It’s normal for a tire to loose air over time. You should check tire pressure on a regular basis. Riding on an underinflated tire can cause abnormal tire wear, adversely affecting the bikes handling. It can also lead to heat buildup in the tire which is a major cause of tire failure.
VALVE STEMS
When you think about Harley-Davidson maintenance, most riders don’t think about their valve stems. Make sure the valve stem is covered with a cap. For proper balance, make sure you use the same cap you used when the wheel was balanced. Check for signs of cracking on rubber stems.
BATTERY CABLES
Cables loosen due to vibration and expansion and contraction of the terminals as they heat up and cool down. If this happens, it’s possible for your battery to go dead and leave you stranded. When tightening the positive terminal, don’t touch the
motorcycle’s frame. See your manual.
For battery maintenance tips check out the
Battery page
Brake rotors should have a smooth clean surface not rough and grooved. Also look for discoloration just inside the area where the brake pads contact.
BRAKE PADS
Make sure your brake pads are thick enough. A good rule of thumb is 1/16” but always check your manual.
SPOKED WHEELS
Spokes can loosen for a number of different reasons. To check them, carefully drag the tip of a screw driver over them and listen to the sound it makes.
A loose spoke makes a different sound than the properly tensioned one. If you find one or more loose spokes, tell your mechanic. Check the overall condition of your wheels, whether it's spoked, cast or whatever.
CHECK YOUR OIL
When it comes to Harley-Davidson maintenance, one of the easiest and most important things you could do is check your oil regularly. Oil not only lubricates but it helps keep the engine cool. Harley-Davidson has used different types of oil dipsticks. Some are rigid and others swivel at the joint. You need to use the style your bike came with. Some bike require a certain positioning of the kickstand to check the oil level, while others need to be upright. Again, check your manual.
For more oil tips go to
Harley Oil.
LIGHTS
Have someone stand in front and behind you to check your head light, tail light/brake light and blinkers. If you're alone, pull up to a wall, (for reflection) and check your front lights and blinkers then back up and check your back lights.
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