Dirt Bike Maintenance - Techniques and tips to save time and effort

Dirt bike maintenance is one of those things that we know we should do but it doesn't always get done. I mean, we'd all rather be riding right? Maybe so but it's never much fun when your bike expires halfway through a moto or out on the trail as your riding buddies disappear around the next bend.

A good dirt bike maintenance schedule will include tasks that should be done every time you ride, in between outings and periodically through the race season.
Here's a list to get you started.

Every ride.
- Check your chain tension and lube it if necessary.

- Check your air filter is clean, change it or clean it if required.

- Give the bike a general going over to check for loose bolts, spokes and that everything is where it should be.

Click here for more tips on chain lube and cleaning air filters.

Dirt bike maintenance checks between outings.

- Your bike should have been washed from your last outing.

- Check your brake pads for wear.

- Check your controls for smooth operation, inspect cables for fraying etc.

- Check your chain and sprockets for wear, they have to absorb a lot of abuse.

- Check your gearbox oil level and also engine oil level if you ride a four stroke.

- Check your radiators for damage and leaks, also check your coolant level.

- Check tyre pressures.

Click here for tips on how to wash your bike.

Periodically throughout the season.

- Inspect wheel bearings for wear and replace if required.

- Inspect your swingarm and headstem bearings for wear, clean and repack with grease or if they're too worn replace as required.

- If you ride a two stroke check your power valve! You wouldn't believe how often power valves are neglected and once they stop working properly they can make a big difference to your bikes performance.

- Control cables should be cleaned and relubed.

- Change your brake fluid periodically, brake fluid is hygroscopic and will absorb moisture over time as well as becoming contaminated.

- Repack two stroke mufflers. This is one noisy aspect of dirt bike maintenance that is often overlooked and a poorly packed muffler can actually decrease the performance of your bike.

Click here for dirt bike maintenance tips on wheel, swingarm and headstem bearing maintenance.

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