Are motorcycles generally high maintenance?

Question

I heard a friend say that he would have loved to keep biking, but the demand for maintenance was unbelievable. I asssume some bikes are higher maintenance than others. Does the high maintenance tend to be a universal for motorcycling, or can it be avoided?

Answer 1

I f you buy a cheaper bike, they are more dependable than the exotics, the fewer carbs the less maintenance :)

Answer 2

Like any machine there is a requirement to maintain the equipment.

It does vary from machine to machinse and the higher end would be the high performance bikes that are built for speed like Hyabusas.They would need a lot of workshop time compared to other bikes.

at the other end are probably scooters with there lower power and understressed engines.

Other factors is the amount of time spent riding and type of riding.age of the bike and the way it has been cared for previously. Obviuosly older bikes require more maintainance.

The key to maintianance is to do it at regular intervals as a prevention , it is cheaper than doing it to repair.

I have had a BMW K750 for 16 years and it requires very little in the way of workshop maintainance, oil changes etc I do myself.

You cant avoid maintainance on any machine, maintainance is part of a good safety program.

If you avoid maintainance you will pay dearly for it at some stage, either in the way of an accident or a substantial and expensive mechanical failure.

Part of the fun of riding is getting "intimate " with the bike and knowing your bike and how everything works. Its good for rider confidence and also very helpful if you do breakdown on an isolated road.

When you go for a ride you need to be thinking about what is going on around you, you dont need the extra burden of thinking whether something is going to break.

Answer 3

I think the maintenance level is about the same. You still need to change the oil, water (if water cooled), air filter, brake fluid, pads, tires, bulbs, etc, just like a car. There are a couple of extra things that you wouldn't have to do on a car but it also depends on the bike.

Chain for example needs to be checked and adjusted periodically and it needs to be lubed. I generally just spritz it every Friday and check it once a month for adjustment.

Belt needs to be checked for stones and whatnot and adjusted if necessary. Never had a problem with my Harley's belt.

Shaft drive needs to have maintenance done (lubing the splines? not sure; haven't had a shaft drive bike yet).

You also will need to change the fork oil once in a while but that's generally pretty far out. Valves need to be checked but that's pretty easy. Replacing shims under the buckets are left to the mechanics as far as I'm concerned although it's probably pretty easy :)

The problem might be more the cost. If you don't do the work yourself, it can get pretty expensive. Especially on the Harley. My Harley service calls were around $700. I do all the work on my Suzuki except for the valves but just checking my valves cost $250. Tires can get used up quickly which can run up the costs, especially when two bike tires can cost as much as four car tires.

Answer 4

Okay please only listen to those of us who've owned a bike before. Yes, bikes CAN be high maintenance vehicles, because they're also HIGH PERFORMANCE VEHICLES. But if, like another poster said, you're adjusting valves every 400 miles (bullcrap by the way) then you've bought the wrong bike.
Bikes can outperform cars in just about every category except wind protection. That kind of performance requires maintenance that can be pretty tricky if you're not handy with a number of tools and have a lot of knowledge about bikes.

The going rate as of 3 years ago when I sold my bike was $60/hour for shop work...whether they're putting a tire on your bike or whatever other maintenance you required.

Keep in mind that the higher performance bike you buy, the greater the maintenance demand will be. Look for bikes that are well maintained if you're buying used...bikes with low miles.

Answer 5

a motorcycle should get more maintenance than a car but not much. Oil changes are more frequent because a bike engine is high-revving and the oil reservoir contains less oil than a car. I was getting my new Triumph bike serviced just once a year, with a low mileage of about 4000.

If you get a older design bike then, yes there will be more maintenance. As would be the case for an old car.

Answer 6

amleecdt is NOT a Harley-Davidson owner/rider. I have six (6), yes I said six, Harleys and don't need, nor require maintenance every 200-300 miles. That being said, let's move on.

Motorcycles, in general, do require closer maintenance then cages. When motorcycles need work it tends to be more costly AND dealerships don't appear to have the same 'sense of urgent ency' that car/truck dealers adhere to, that's been my experience. My bike's have been well maintained, mostly me. All have oil changes every 2500 miles, plugs checked and re-gapped, etc.

Scooters are considered a 'status' symbol, which only and to the cost of owning and operating them. It's not like everybody NEEDS a motorcycle, if they did, I'm sure we would see a difference in all related cost.

To avoid some of the 'high cost', you might want to give some thought to taking a course at a Community College; it will cover the general things that the average person can do. If interested, you could do as one of my son did.......enroll in MMI school. That will give you ALL the nuts and bolts of a mechanic, at a cost, of course. It will take just over a year to complete, and you must relocate to one of the areas the schools are in, Florida or Arizona.
After you 'graduate' you will be able to work at any motorcycle dealership in the country. They also offer 'lifetime job assistance'

Answer 7

Some bikes require more frequent maintenance than others. A bike with hydrolic valve lash adjusters ("self adjusting valves") and shaft drive requires less.
A Yamaha VStar requires frequent valve adjustment, and you must remove the exhaust and floorboard to change oil. Other bikes are a snap to maintain.

Answer 8

if u take care of ur bike, it will take care of u. maintainence for the most part is simple: air pressure checks, oil checks/replacement, etc. nowadays, bikes are built alot better and are stronger than the bikes of the past...just like cars...the engines are built to last alot better.
just like a car, if u neglect simple and basic maintainence, u could have a small, easy to fix problem, turn into a big cost problem.
yes, tires are more expensive than car tires, and for safety, they should be installed professionally..only 1 wheels separate u from the road, and the road will give u an entirely new definition of pain if u go down.

Answer 9

All bikes and better on maintenance than they used to be. Just get the bike you like and keep up with it. You'll enjoy it.

Answer 10

They tend to get washed more often. Chain drives need periodic lubrication. DIY oil changes cost the same as an auto (or less). What else is there? Not much. Minor adjustments for control and safety. Which should be done on an auto and are usually overlooked.

Answer 11

I'm jealous of Life Ryder, I only own 4 Harleys.Maintanance on a bike is just like everything else.If you want it to be dependable and last awhile you take a day off from time to time to make sure everything is tight and well lubed.