
Motorcycle Maintenance: The Simple Checks Every Rider Can Do
You do not need to be a mechanic to look after your bike. The simple checks any rider can do themselves: tyres, chain, brakes, oil and a roadside kit.
1 Sep 2026
The checks you can do yourself, the tyres that carry you, and what to do when something fails far from a mechanic.

You do not need to be a mechanic to look after your bike. The simple checks any rider can do themselves: tyres, chain, brakes, oil and a roadside kit.

Two palm-sized patches of rubber hold you to the road. How to set pressure, read the sidewall, judge wear and age, and know when a tyre is finished.

Almost every motorcycle breakdown comes from the same short list. Here is how to spot which one you have, what you can fix yourself, and when to stop trying.