Owning a scooter/motorcycle is just the beginning of the riding experience. Now that your new machine is nestled neatly in your garage you can start planning to familiarize yourself with all the moving parts and how to properly maintain them. Motorcycle maintenance begins with your manual. Use the OEM maintenance checklist to help guide you through the process of checking your oil, tightening your chain, checking tire pressure, bleeding your brakes, or prepping your bike for storage in the off-season.
It is important to visibly inspect your moto bike before and after every ride to make sure that nothing dangerous has occurred with your bike along the way. Think of it as your pre-ride routine. Check your tire pressure, twist the throttle, hop on the bike and check the brakes while rocking it back and forth. Oh yeah—make sure you have enough fuel to get to your destination. When you get back from the ride, it is a good time to make sure nothing is dripping, that you didn’t pick up a nail in your tire, and that your lights work.
All of this can be intimidating, but once it becomes part of the routine it will make you a better motorcycle rider.