Learning to Repair a Motorcycle as the Mortal Rookie You Are

With the rapid advancements in technology, electronic systems are slowly becoming ubiquitous and it’s no difference when it comes to cars. This makes the average person more and more incapable of working on his own car, performing even minor maintenance tasks and repairs. Today, people have to rely on mechanics, who are upgrading their knowledge in accordance to the newest trends and technological advancements, for even the smallest of problems.

However, luckily for us motorcycle enthusiasts, motorcycles have remained pretty much the same for the bigger part, at least when it comes to maintenance and basic repairs. Thanks to that, almost every motorcycle enthusiast who has at least some basic understanding of motorcycles, is capable of servicing and repairing their own ride.

Given that the motorcycle you have is relatively new and kept in a good shape, all you need are a couple of essential motorcycle tools and a brand service kit (Suzuki kit if you own a Suzuki, Kawasaki service kits if you own a Kawasaki, etc.) to successfully maintain it.

While most of the tools are pretty general and can be used on every type of bike, service kits, as aforementioned, are certainly not. You shouldn’t try to use Kawasaki service kits on a Yamaha or Honda, for example. So, when shopping for kits, it’s much safer to look for OEM kits instead of aftermarket brands.

Service kits usually contain engine oils, like a Motul 2T Engine Oil for example, plus Motul SAE Transoil Gearbox oil, NGK Iridium Spark Plug and unifilter performance air filter, etc. But then again, different service kits contain different items. Keep in mind that every service kit has a list of the items it contains and the motorcycle model it’s meant for.

As previously mentioned, aftermarket service kits are also available on the market, and can work for a few different motorcycle brands. I highly suggest that you stick to OEM kits, however, if you do decide to buy an aftermarket kit, choose one carefully and make sure it’s usable for your bike, otherwise issues may come up.

As a general rule, I like to carry a service kit and some essential tools under my seat at all times because you can never know when trouble is lurking around the corner. Items like a service kit and basic repair tools are not big and will surely fit under the seat and can help you when you need it most.