The guides
Maintenance, answered.
What to service, when, and what that noise means. Written plain, dated, and kept current. The same schedule logic runs the app.
Chain & drive
Lubing, tensioning, and reading wear on the part that wears fastest.
Chain and sprockets: when to replace the set
Replace chain and sprockets as a set, typically every 20,000–40,000 km. Why mixing new and worn parts halves their life, what the job costs, and gearing.
5 min read
Chain lube, wax, or gear oil: what to use
Any dedicated chain lube applied every 500-1,000 km beats the perfect product applied rarely. Spray, dry wax and oil compared for fling, mess and rain.
6 min read
Chain noise: what each sound is telling you
Dry whirring means lube today. A clunk once per wheel turn means a tight spot or worn sprocket. Grinding means stop now. The full chain sound map.
6 min read
Five signs your motorcycle chain needs replacing
The pull test, kinked links, tight spots, rust, and maxed-out adjusters: five plain signs a motorcycle chain is finished, and why you stop riding on one.
5 min read
How often should you lube a motorcycle chain?
Lube a motorcycle chain every 500 to 1,000 km, and after any wet ride or wash. Intervals by riding conditions, overdue warning signs, and technique.
5 min read
How to clean a motorcycle chain
Clean a motorcycle chain every two to three lube cycles with kerosene or chain cleaner and a stiff brush. The steps, the tools, and what never to use.
5 min read
Motorcycle chain tension: how to check and adjust it
Most street bikes need 25–35 mm of chain slack, measured at the tightest spot. How to check it, adjust it without guesswork, and torque it properly.
5 min read
O-ring vs X-ring chains: what actually differs
Both are sealed chains with grease locked in at the pins. X-ring seals drag less and last longer for 20-30 percent more money. When the upgrade pays off.
6 min read
Oil & fluids
Engine oil, brake fluid, coolant, fork oil — what to change and when.
Brake fluid: why it has an expiry date
Change motorcycle brake fluid every two years regardless of mileage. DOT 4 absorbs water, the boiling point drops, and the lever goes long when hot.
5 min read
Fork oil: the service interval everyone skips
Fork oil is due every 20,000-40,000 km, sooner with hard use. How dead fork oil feels through the bars, which weight to run, and the honest DIY verdict.
6 min read
How often to change motorcycle oil
Most motorcycles need fresh oil every 6,000-12,000 km (4,000-7,500 miles) or once a year, whichever comes first. Oil type and riding move the number.
6 min read
How to bleed motorcycle brakes at home
Bleed motorcycle brakes in 30 to 60 minutes with a ring spanner, clear tube, and fresh DOT 4. Step-by-step for front and rear, plus the ABS caveat.
5 min read
How to change motorcycle oil and the filter
A 30-45 minute job for $40-80 in parts: warm the engine, drain, swap the filter, refill to the window and re-check after a run. Every step, with torques.
6 min read
How to check motorcycle oil level properly
Warm engine, bike upright and level, wait two or three minutes, read between the marks. Why side-stand readings lie and how much oil use is normal.
5 min read
Motorcycle coolant: intervals, types, and the swap
Change motorcycle coolant every two to three years or 40,000 km. Which type to buy, how to check the level, and the drain, flush, and refill steps.
5 min read
Motorcycle oil explained: viscosity, JASO, synthetic
What 10W-40 actually means, why JASO MA2 matters for a wet clutch, and when synthetic is worth paying for. Motorcycle oil without the marketing.
5 min read
Brakes & tyres
The two systems that stop you. Wear limits, pressures, and warning signs.
How old is too old for motorcycle tyres?
Inspect motorcycle tyres closely at 5 years and replace at 10, whatever the tread. How to read the DOT date code and why old rubber loses wet grip.
5 min read
Motorcycle tyre pressure: the numbers that matter
Run the placard pressures, checked cold once a week. Why the sidewall number is not a target, what low and high pressure do, and when to adjust for load.
5 min read
Spongy brake lever: causes and the fix order
A spongy brake lever is air or old fluid nine times out of ten. Bleed with fresh DOT 4 first, then work seals and hoses in order of cost and likelihood.
5 min read
Warped brake discs: symptoms, causes, and limits
A pulsing brake lever that tracks wheel speed usually means disc runout or pad deposits. The symptoms, the causes, and the minimum thickness check.
6 min read
Wheel bearings: how to check them before they fail
Rock the wheel at 12 and 6 with the bike on a stand - any play or notchy rotation means the bearing is done. How to check them at every tyre change.
6 min read
When to replace motorcycle brake pads
Replace motorcycle brake pads below 2 mm of friction material, or at any metal-on-metal sound. How to check them in the caliper and how long pads last.
5 min read
When to replace motorcycle tyres
Replace motorcycle tyres at the wear bars, on sidewall damage, when the profile squares off, or on age - whichever comes first. How to check each trigger.
5 min read
Engine & electrics
Valves, plugs, filters, battery — the services behind the fairing.
Air filters: clean it or replace it?
Paper filters get replaced every 15,000-20,000 km; foam and cotton-gauze get cleaned and re-oiled. Which type you have decides the job, not the brand.
5 min read
Clutch lever free play: check and adjust it
Cable clutches want 2–3 mm of free play at the lever. How to measure it, adjust at the barrel, and tell slipping from dragging before it costs plates.
6 min read
Motorcycle battery care: charging, storage, lifespan
A smart maintainer whenever the bike sits more than two weeks roughly doubles a battery's 3–5 year life. Voltage checks, AGM vs lithium, drains, terminals.
6 min read
Spark plugs: intervals, and reading the old plug
Nickel spark plugs last 10,000–15,000 km, iridium 40,000 km or more. How to read the old plug, gap and torque the new one, and when iridium pays off.
6 min read
Suspension basics: setting sag and preload
Street bikes want 30–40 mm of rider sag, about a third of travel. The three-measurement method, setting preload, and what wrong sag feels like.
5 min read
Valve clearance: what it is and when to check it
Valve clearance is the gap between cam and valve. Check it every 24,000-40,000 km on modern bikes - valves tighten with wear and burn without warning.
6 min read
Troubleshooting
Symptom to cause: noises, no-starts, vibrations, and what they mean.
Battery keeps dying: charging system triage
Three multimeter tests split it: rested voltage, charging voltage at 4,000 rpm, and parasitic draw. Find out if it is the battery, a drain, or the reg/rec.
6 min read
Engine noises: ticking, knocking, rattling decoded
A light top-end tick is usually valve clearance. A deep knock that grows with revs means stop riding. How to decode each engine sound and its urgency.
6 min read
Motorcycle running hot: causes and what to do
In traffic, overheating is usually the fan or low coolant. At speed, suspect the thermostat, water pump, or a blocked radiator. What to check, in order.
5 min read
Motorcycle won't start: work the checklist
Most no-starts are the battery or a safety interlock. The ordered checklist: silent, one click, or cranks with no fire, and the right test for each.
5 min read
New vibration at speed: where to look first
New motorcycle vibration points to tyres, chain, wheel bearings, or mounts. One question splits the diagnosis: does it track road speed or engine revs?
6 min read
Petrol smell: find the leak before it finds heat
A petrol smell after a hot shutdown is normal for about five minutes. Cold or while riding, it is a leak. Where to look, in order, before you ride again.
5 min read
Squealing brakes: harmless noise or warning
A high squeal with healthy pads is usually vibration or glazing. Grinding or squeal with a soft lever means inspect now. Causes, fixes, and warning signs.
6 min read
Costs & records
What maintenance costs, what to do yourself, and why the paperwork pays.
Buying used: the maintenance inspection checklist
Twenty minutes of checks shows how a used bike was kept: cold start, chain, tyres, brakes, oil and records. What good looks like and what findings cost.
5 min read
DIY vs dealer servicing: what to do yourself
Chain, oil, pads, filters, and battery are beginner jobs covering 80% of routine cost. What to DIY, what to leave to a shop, and the truth about warranty.
5 min read
How to keep a motorcycle maintenance log
A motorcycle maintenance log needs four fields: date, odometer, work done, and cost. How to keep one that answers what is due next and holds resale value.
4 min read
Service history and resale value: what records are worth
A documented service history typically adds 10–15% to a used bike's price and sells it faster. What buyers check, what counts as proof, and how to prep.
5 min read
Service intervals explained: km, miles, and months
Motorcycle service intervals run on distance or time, whichever comes first. Typical km and month limits for oil, chain, brakes and valves, in one table.
5 min read
The full motorcycle service checklist
A complete service covers five systems: engine, drive, brakes, wheels, chassis. The full checklist with typical intervals, plus minor vs major explained.
5 min read
What motorcycle maintenance actually costs per year
Budget $300–1,000 a year for a commuted mid-size bike — half that if you do your own work. Full breakdown by item, DIY vs shop, and what blows the budget.
5 min read
Seasonal & storage
Winter storage, spring revival, and getting a bike ready for a long trip.
How to store a motorcycle for winter
Store a motorcycle for winter: full tank with stabiliser, battery maintainer, tyres off the floor, breathable cover. The prep list and what not to do.
5 min read
How to wash a motorcycle without wrecking it
Cool bike, garden hose, proper shampoo, and water kept out of the chain, electrics and wheel bearings. The 30-minute wash order that avoids damage.
6 min read
Prepping the bike for a long trip
Start two weeks out: tyres, chain, brakes, oil, and any service that falls due mid-trip done early. The checklist, load changes, and what to pack.
6 min read
Waking the bike up: the spring start-up checklist
Before the first spring ride: battery voltage, tyre pressures, brakes, fuel state, chain and lights, then a slow first ten minutes. The checklist in order.
5 min read
What rain riding does to a motorcycle
Rain does little harm while you ride; sitting wet is the problem. The ten-minute post-rain routine, what water actually attacks, and why salt is worse.
6 min read
Basics
Where to start when the bike is new to you.
Motorcycle maintenance for beginners: start here
Five habits cover most of it: weekly tyre checks, chain lube, oil on schedule, a charged battery, and a written log. What each costs and where to start.
6 min read
The two-minute pre-ride check
Tyres, controls, lights, chain, leaks: the two-minute pre-ride check in a fixed order, the no-go conditions, and when to do the deeper weekly version.
6 min read
Moto Companion
The schedule that reads these guides for you.
Every interval on these pages becomes a countdown in the app — driven by your odometer, logged in your bike's file, synced through your own iCloud. Coming soon to the App Store.
About the app