There’s nothing quite like the thrill of ripping around some dirt road in the back of beyond on your dirt bike. There is a sense of freedom that comes with the combination of pathfinding new routes, following GPS trails, and concentrating hard to ride out the lumps and bumps that rapidly pass beneath your wheels. Anyone who does this activity regularly will tell you that after a while, you enter what can only be described as a flow state where your regular world, along with all of its problems, simply melts away and only you and your bike remain, man and machine in perfect synchronization. The only real way, though, that you can enter this zen-like state is to be utterly confident that the machine between your legs won’t fail on you at a critical moment, sending you flying over the handlebars and limping back home with a broken clavicle, a couple of ribs bent out of place, and a severely wounded ego. For those of you who are already handy with the tools, it’s very likely that you already keep your bike well-maintained, but for those of you who maybe aren’t so well-versed and think that all you need for an engine to function properly is a left-handed screwdriver, this is the post you’ve been looking for.
The Pre-Trip Inspection
Just as you would before heading out in any other vehicle for an expedition (or at least ought to), you must perform a basic pre-trip inspection. This action is best performed in a clean environment with a raft of basic tools. If you head out often, you will want to keep all of your spare parts and toolkits in the same location so you can focus 100% on the inspection rather than having to go back and forth from your dirt bike storage garage to the place you store these items. But what actions do you actually have to perform at this stage? Fortunately, most modern bikes make things fairly straightforward, and the process itself isn’t overly taxing. Some steps are only needed occasionally or when something seems wrong, while others should be done every time you head out:
Engine And Drivetrain
The first step is to check the oil levels and ensure that it’s filled up to manufacturer specs. Also, check when it was last changed. If it was fairly recently, or if you’re only heading out for a short ride, you should be fine; otherwise, change the oil for lovely fresh oil and replace the filter. You will also want to listen for any potential issues like an improperly tensioned timing chain by letting the engine tick over and keeping your ears open. Finally, open your airbox and inspect if you need a new air filter or if the breather tube needs declogging (something that many bike owners fail to check). Some sounds to be aware of that might indicate a more serious issue include:
Rhythmic tapping or clicking: Usually the valve train, which can be fixed relatively easily by tensioning the timing chain (if you have a manual one) or replacing it.
Knocking: Possible crankshaft or bearing rod issues. You cannot go out, and you may need a complete bottom-end engine rebuild
Piston slap: Could be several things, but if accompanied by an anemic-sounding engine and blue smoke, it might be that your piston rings need changing. You can typically diagnose this further by performing a compression test.
Whistling or high-pitched “squealing”: Generally, such a sound will indicate an air leak where your engine is pulling in additional, unmetered air into the engine, which alters the chemistry of the burn.
Grinding or whirring: This sound is generally clutch and gearbox related, and if it’s a harsh grinding noise, you probably want to open the crankcase for a more thorough inspection.
Starter motor clicking: Probably a dead battery that needs recharging or replacing.
Fluids
A quick check of your coolant tank should indicate if you have enough to avoid engine overheating issues. For a belts-and-braces approach, you can also open the radiator cap and just double-check it’s topped off.
Tires
If your tires are on the edge tread-wise, it’s always best to change to a new set. Even if you’re heading off-road and aren’t overly concerned about the police stopping you, you really want the grip that a fresh set of knobblies can provide. Before ripping off, also check that the pressures are within the range based on the terrain you’ll be riding on.
Brakes
By examining if your brake pads have enough meat, you can ensure you will stop when you pull the brake lever and that you won’t destroy your discs, which are far costlier than a set of pads. All this procedure takes is a glance to ensure they’re within spec.
Battery
For this job, you’ll want to whip out the multimeter and place the probes on the battery terminals (red for positive, black for negative). Turn the engine on, and if you see a number between 13.5V and 14.5V (when using the 20V setting). If the number is lower than that, the reading can indicate that the battery isn’t charging and the switch has burnt out. If too high, then you most likely have a rectifier issue (usually a simple replacement).
Chain And Sprockets
Rotate the rear wheel and observe the chain and sprockets. Look for kinked chains and worn teeth, and if you see any, it pays to change them before heading out. While you most likely won’t have any issues during a short trip, it’s best to change them for a new set.
Suspension
You can often tell immediately if your suspension has any issues, as there will be a puddle of fluid on the floor underneath it or an oily residue on the exposed parts. If you choose to ignore these signs, you will find that the dampening effects of the forks will be severely compromised and could cause anything from a harsh ride to too much bounce or sag, making it difficult to control the bike over rougher terrain.
Protective Components To Install
There are a few additional items you may wish to install on your bike if you want to keep it operational regardless of how hard you ride it. While not entirely necessary, the following things will give you peace of mind and, in some cases, act as much cheaper, sacrificial bits of metal and plastic that keep the costlier parts operational.
It’s incredibly fun riding an off-road motorcycle through different kinds of terrain and can elicit a range of feelings from thrill to intense concentration. As long as you keep your bike well-maintained and follow a basic set of pre-ride checks, you can put all of your effort into enjoying the trip rather than worrying if it will give out on you in the middle of the forest.