For many riders, maintenance is not a chore but part of the pleasure and a way to trust the machine on the road. A motorbike is made up of many systems, and each one needs its own care depending on how you ride, the weather and the season.
In Ukraine a bike has to cope with summer heat and UV, autumn mud and spring road salt. Below are six jobs worth adding to your routine, along with the WD-40 products that make them easier.
What you will need
Important: No lubricant of any kind should reach brake discs, pads or tyres. Cover the brakes with a cloth before treating nearby parts, and wipe off any overspray immediately.
Step 1
Wash the bike
Maintenance only makes sense on a clean machine. Wash the bike with warm water and car shampoo, using a soft sponge on painted parts, alloy wheels and chrome. Only wash the engine and exhaust once they have cooled down.
Dry the bike afterwards and drive moisture out of awkward spots, connectors and bolts with WD-40 Multi-Use: it displaces water and leaves a thin protective film.
Step 2
Protect rubber and plastics
Sun, heat and frost dry out seals and rubber boots, and plastics turn dull. Spray WD-40 Specialist Silicone onto seals, boots and unpainted plastic, then wipe off the excess with a soft cloth after a few seconds.
Do not treat the seat, handlebar grips, footpegs or tyres: silicone makes them slippery.
Step 3
Clean and lubricate the chain
A dirty chain wears the sprockets quickly. Scrub the caked dirt off the links with a brush, using a mild degreaser if needed, and wipe dry. Then, turning the rear wheel slowly, apply WD-40 Specialist Motorcycle Chain Lube to the inner side of the chain and give it a few minutes to settle.
Step 4
Grease pivots and levers
Clutch and brake lever pivots, the side stand, pedal joints and seat catches all work under load and in dirt. A thin layer of WD-40 Specialist White Lithium Grease resists rain and removes play and squeaks.
Step 5
Look after the electrics
Oxidised connectors cause flickering lights, faulty switches and starting trouble. Switch off the ignition, unplug the connector and spray the contacts with WD-40 Specialist Contact Cleaner. It evaporates quickly and leaves no film, so the connector can be reconnected almost straight away.
Step 6
Free seized bolts and protect metal
If a mounting bolt has rusted in over winter, apply the same multi-purpose spray you used after washing, wait a few minutes and undo it with the correct spanner, without jerking. Repeat the application on really stubborn joints.
Before seasonal storage, wipe chrome parts, fasteners and bare metal with a cloth dampened with it: the thin film protects them from garage damp.
Tip: After every ride in rain or on salted roads, rinse the chain and the underside of the bike and apply fresh lubricant. Salt works fast, and five minutes of care straight away keeps the chain and fasteners going for seasons.
What next
Do the full routine in spring before the season and in autumn before storage, and service the chain every few hundred kilometres and after every wet ride.
These uses come from the experience of WD-40 users in many countries. Always follow the instructions and warnings on the product label.
More guides in «How to use».