After sitting in your garage or on your driveway, you should give your bike a thorough examination before heading back out on the road. We asked our Workshop Supervisor at Kawasaki Motors UK, Ross Symons for his top tips on maintenance and items to check before heading out for your next ride.
 
Safety checks, general checks and more checks:

• Do your lights function correctly, including warning lights and horn? Note that the bike needs to be running to check headlamps.
• Check tyre condition and pressures, which should be listed on the drive chain guard or in your owner’s manual.
• Adjust the drive chain if required and lubricate chain well.  Front and rear paddock stands will make this job a lot easier!
• Do the brakes bind? This is simply where the wheel does not turn freely. This could occur when the bike has been parked with water in and around the brakes from riding or washing, especially if road salt is present and has caused corrosion within the brake calliper area. If they are binding, this will likely require dealer inspection and repair.
• Check fluid levels including, engine oil level, engine coolant level, brake fluid levels (front and rear).
• Check for any loose nuts and bolts.
• Check the steering turns from lock to lock smoothly.
• Does the throttle grip operate smoothly?
• The clutch lever must have the correct amount of free play and operate correctly. Some bikes are now equipped with hydraulic units. Cable operated bikes require 2-3mm of clearance; however, not every model is the same so refer to the owner’s manual or your Kawasaki dealer for assistance.
• Check the side stand and or centre stand operate smoothly and returns fully to the “up” position - lubricate as required.
• Is the MOT valid or due? Same goes for insurance, road tax, tax/sorn etc.

 
Ross Symons also explains why customers should go in for a service based on length of time and not only mileage travelled, saying, “All of our models have service intervals that relate to mileage and time, and should be serviced on whichever unit comes first. One example is brake fluid, and if we take the Ninja H2 SX for instance, this should be first changed at 15,200 miles or after two years. Brake fluid absorbs moisture over time which can affect the braking performance and therefore is required to be changed both on mileage and time.”
 
Remember, if you feel that anything mentioned above is beyond your skillset or you don’t have the tools required, then our Kawasaki dealer network remains open for essential maintenance and MOTs. You should also always refer to the owner’s manual or your Kawasaki dealer for assistance with any issues.
 
You can find your nearest Kawasaki dealer here - https://www.kawasaki.co.uk/en/dealers.