Accessories to Keep Your Bike in a Good Running Condition

In a rider's life, a bike can bring freedom and pride while offering a sense of belongingness. Keeping this machine as good as new requires consistent effort. The passion for riding your bike needs to be complemented with diligence to maintain it properly. This would include using TVS genuine parts and accessories and servicing the bike at recommended intervals.

What can you do to keep your bike in good shape?

Certain tips and practices go a long way in keeping your machine in optimal running condition. We have subdivided bike care and maintenance into three aspects: - mechanical and exterior care followed by the must-have bike accessories from TVS Motor.

Mechanical Care

The quality and the lubrication ability of the engine oil dictates the responsiveness of the bike’s engine in terms of pickup and acceleration, smoothness of the gear shifts, and the overall NVH (Noise Vibration & Harshness). Hence, it is highly recommended to buy high quality engine oil of the right grade, and replace/ top-up the oil at the recommended interval. While replacing the engine oil, do a proper engine oil flush as it helps to get rid of impurities and residue of old oil.

Air filters in any two-wheeler are the lungs for the motor, fetching and supplying clean air constantly. This crucial part requires regular cleanup and replacement after every consecutive servicing. Timely replacement of this part, in the long run, helps avoid carbon and dust accumulation on the cylinder head and camshaft.

Transmission is a key mechanical part that supplies power from the engine to the wheels. It simultaneously gets heated due to various moving gear sets, cam chains and bearings. To attain minimal power loss, adequate lubrication is necessary.
Ensure your transmission oil is clean (golden in colour) which will ensure smooth gear shifts. Also, chain lube and chain cleaning are crucial as a clean and lubed chain makes the ride quality and gear shifts smoother. Make sure the chain has proper tension and just the right level of free play.

Keeping in mind the unpredictable road conditions in India, motorcycle tyres are exposed to a lot of rough use and abuse. To derive the maximum lifespan from the tyres with minimal issues, optimum tyre pressure and healthy tyre tread should be maintained. It is always advisable to check the tyre pressure at least once in a week to avoid unnecessary stoppages while on the road.
When it comes to braking, OEMs these days are offering disc brakes as standard. Check the brake pads and look at the space between the rotor and the pads – it must be more than 3 mm thick for effective braking. If you spot dirt and brake pad residue, clean it with disc brake cleaner. If you are looking at rotors, make sure they are straight and don’t touch the pads and all the bolts attached to the rotor and to the wheel are snug while the bike is idle.

Aesthetic Care

Aesthetic care is just as important as mechanical care. After all, it is the first impression of the health of the motorcycle. Here are some of the aesthetic care tips to keep your machine looking as good as new: -

The aluminium parts of your bike corrode with dirt, mud and moisture. Cleaning the wheels and exhaust after the ride is recommended with a wet sponge and then with a clean cloth. For exhaust, you can remove heat stains with a liquid abrasive or apply silencer coating from TVS Motor for an additional layer of protection.

Avoid regular use of water. Instead, clean the exterior with a dry cloth -> wet sponge -> dry cloth. A direct high-pressure spray of water causes corrosion to various metal parts and may lead to rusting.

While purchasing a new bike, consider applying Paint Protection film or ceramic coating. An industrial-grade ceramic coating is a chemical polymer that binds with the paint to create an additional hydrophobic layer of protection.
PPF, on the other hand, is a thin but strong layer of the sheet that is resistant to tearing, UV rays and water damage. It is a popular vehicle care accessory as it reduces the need to frequently polish and wash your bike.

Most Importantly, Be a Responsible Rider.

Since a bike is more exposed to the environment as compared to a four-wheeler, your riding gear, such as gloves, riding jacket and helmet is the first line of defence and safety tool for any rider.
Ensure wearing proper riding gear, ride in speed limits and follow the traffic rules. Lastly, apart from the DIY approach to maintaining your machine and adding TVS accessories for safety and utility, always trust a TVS Motor authorised service center for the right servicing and maintenance of your bike.

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