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Basic motorcycle checks

Knowing how to check your bike for faults & condition is important, not only for preparation for a safety check (NZ WoF or UK MoT) but also as part of the servicing of your bike too...

How to get a stored m/cycle up & running again...

By Andy Mechanic on 26 August 2016

As a motorcycle mechanic I regularly get asked to 'take a look' at bikes that won't start. Often they have been parked up for months, sometimes years. Unless prepared for storage a number of problems can develop which can prevent the engine from firing up.

Stale fuel is often to blame, going 'off' in the float bowl of the carburetor and sometimes the fuel tank too if stored for more than 6 months. The battery too can discharge and, due to corrosion on the plates, refuse to re-charge resulting in its replacement.

Parts Worked On: 

  • Engine

How to do a compression test

By Andy Mechanic on 26 August 2016

A 'Compression test' is still one of the first methods of engine diagnostics, a reading that falls within specification allows you to eliminate a wide range of possible mechanical faults from your 'investigation'. However, a low or 'non existent' reading tells you that there is a fault or faults associated with the following:

Parts Worked On: 

  • Engine

How to check and adjust spoke tension

By Andy Mechanic on 26 August 2016

Another of the new 'Basic Skills' family of short videos, here I'm showing you an easy way to check for loose spokes on a 'spoked' wheel. This technique applies to pretty much any spoked type wheels, including bicycles, motorcycles and cars too...

This 'Basic Skills' video isn't meant to be a decisive, all encompassing, training video on teaching you all the various aspects of professional skills, no, not in the slightest!

Its a short video showing the basics giving you a starting point on how its done, the tools you need and a few tips along the way...

Parts Worked On: 

  • Chassis

Checking motorcycle swing arm bearings for play

By Andy Mechanic on 26 August 2016

Another of the new 'Basic Skills' family of short videos, Here I'm showing how to check the rear suspension bushes on a mono shock type rear suspension setup on a motorcycle.

This includes checks on the swing arm bushes and all of the lower rear shock linkage too. All of these bushes/bearings checked for condition, operation and play in an MoT or WoF inspection.

Parts Worked On: 

  • Chassis

Checking steering head bearings

By Andy Mechanic on 26 August 2016

Another of the new 'Basic Skills' family of short videos, Here I'm showing how to check the steering head or 'head stock' bearings on a motorcycle and also the front wheel (hub) bearings too...

Both these two bearing sets are checked during an MoT or WoF and if they are in any way 'notchy' or show signs of play then its a fail.

Parts Worked On: 

  • Chassis