If you don't make it a point to do dirt bike maintenance on a regular basis, a dirt bike probably isn't going to last you for very long. The average dirt bike will only stick around for 3 to 5 years in most cases if you don't make maintenance a top priority.
To ensure that you're able to get more life out of a dirk bike than that, you should prepare to do lots of maintenance from the second that you bring one home. It'll keep your dirt bike in the best possible condition and guarantee that you always have a great time when you go dirt biking.
We've assembled a list of dirt bike maintenance tips for beginners that you should put to good use. Check them out below and make sure you work your way through them to avoid the need for frequent dirt bike repairs.
Wash Your Dirt Bike Every Single Time You Ride It
When you're finished riding around on your dirt bike, it will be covered with, well, dirt. Your dirt bike is going to get very dirty after even the shortest ride, so you should make sure that you wash it after each time that you use it.
If you don't wash your dirt bike regularly, it's going to be difficult to get it completely clean when you finally do get around to doing it. You're also going to find that dirt will work its way into some hard-to-reach areas that could cause complications with your dirt bike.
Look for Any Leaks From Your Dirt Bike
Once you're done washing your dirt bike after riding it, you should give it a chance to dry off. You should then look around and under your bike to see if there might be any fluids leaking from it.
If you have oil, brake fluid, or coolant leaking from your dirt bike, you'll want to take it out of commission ASAP until you're ready to find the source of the leak and fix it. You don't ever want to get caught riding around on a dirt bike that is very low on or even out of fluids.
Keep an Eye on Your Dirt Bike's Fluids and Change Them Accordingly
Just because you don't see any fluids leaking from your dirt bike doesn't mean you should assume that you have plenty of fluids in it. You should also make it your mission to monitor your fluid levels so that you can top off fluids or replace them as needed.
Generally speaking, you will need to change your oil every time you spend more than 8 to 10 hours on your dirt bike. You'll also need to change your brake fluid pretty often since it can absorb moisture and cause issues with your dirt bike if you're not careful.
You won't need to change your coolant as often as your oil and brake fluid. But you should still try to change it about once each year to keep it circulating through your system.
Pay Close Attention to the Condition of Your Dirt Bike's Chain
One of the most important aspects of your entire dirt bike will be its chain. This chain is going to be what keeps you going when you're riding around on your dirt bike.
After spending time on your dirt bike, you should remove any dirt that is left behind in it. You should also check the tension of your chain to make sure that it isn't too tight or too loose. You may need to adjust it ever so slightly after a few rides on your dirt bike.
Get Into the Habit of Cleaning Your Dirt Bike's Air Filter
If you don't ever get around to inspecting and cleaning your dirt bike's air filter, it could be detrimental to your engine. You may end up damaging your engine and potentially even putting your dirt bike on life support by not cleaning your air filter.
You should be able to find a spray-on air filter cleaner that can get your air filter as clean as it needs to be so that you don't put a big strain on your dirt bike's engine. You can also create your own cleaner if you would like.
Adjust the Amount of Air in Your Dirt Bike's Tires
You'll always want to have a tire pressure gauge handy when it comes to dirt bike maintenance. It'll let you see how much air you have in your tires at a moment's notice so that you can make adjustments to them.
If you're going to be riding around on a dirt bike in muddy conditions, you will usually want to take some air out of your tires (8 psi for the front tire and 6 psi for the rear tire will usually do the trick). If you're going to be riding around on a dirt bike in dry conditions, putting a little bit more air than usual in your tires would be a good idea (14 psi for the front tire and 12 psi for the rear tire).
Replace Any Worn-Down Parts With OEM Dirt Bike Parts
No matter how much dirt bike maintenance you do, there will be times when the parts in your bike will give out on you. You'll have no choice but to replace them to keep your dirt bike running.
When these times come, you should shy away from using aftermarket dirt bike parts that won't always last you a long time. You'll be so much better off using OEM dirt bike parts that were manufactured by the company that produced your dirt bike in the first place.
Doing Dirt Bike Maintenance Can Help You Avoid Unnecessary Issues
As soon as you buy a dirt bike, you'll want to work as hard as you can to maintain it. The more dirt bike maintenance that you do, the longer your dirt bike should last overall.
If you need help maintaining a dirt bike or making repairs to it, we can provide you with high-quality parts. Our dirt bike parts will breathe life back into your dirt bike and keep it around for the long haul.
Get in touch with us today to speak with someone about our dirt bike parts.