The Right Engine Oil for Your Bike
Do you feel like your ride quality has decreased over time? It happened to me with my Pulsar 220F, and it was immensely frustrating. The gear shifts had become very inconsistent, throttle response was jerky and there was this ridiculous amount of vibration. Safe to say, it drove me mad. I even considered buying a new bike for some time. However, I decided to take it to a mechanic and he gave me a number of reasons why my ride wasn’t smooth. I managed to fix the problem and it feels like a new bike all over again. Check out some tips on optimizing your bike below!
Fill Your Engine Oil
Engine oil is the lifeblood of the bike, and people sadly underestimate its importance. The friction and heat level goes up as mileage increases, which can lead to a cranky engine. Improper lubrication ups your bike's vibration. To avoid hot engine vibrations, keep your oil as full as possible. Carry out regular oil check ups to avoid this issue.
Change Your Engine Oil
Over time your oil becomes thicker and dirtier, leading to a drier engine and less smooth ride. I made the mistake of using a cheap quality engine oil. This turned out to be the reason behind most of my frustrations, so now you can imagine the importance of engine oil. I switched from Motul to Castrol based on the mechanic’s recommendation. I now use the Castrol POWER1 CRUISE series to be specific. Premium oils go a long way in improving your ride quality.
Change Your Air Filters
I got this tip from the mechanic - usually air filters are not the issue, but clogged filters can end up being the cause of vibrations when they’re all gunked up. So it is good practice to spend 30-40 minutes on the weekend cleaning your bike and treating it with the love it deserves.
Check Up On The Wheel Chains
This issue is frequently the cause of added vibrations. If the chain is too tight, there will be more load on the engine which will reduce engine quality in the long term. Regular oiling and adjustment of the engine chain is important for a maintaining a smooth ride.
Understand and learn your bike instead of riding in frustration. Don’t make the same mistake as I did