Maintaining your triumph motorcycle
Owning a Triumph is a unique pleasure; the performance, power delivery, and handling all make riding a Triumph a truly special experience.
But to continue getting the most out of your bike you need to ensure your motorcycle is kept in peak condition. The reward for a little care and attention will be a ride that routinely delivers dreams, while the penalty for negligence might ultimately take the shine of an otherwise perfect ride.
Below are 5 key motorcycle maintenance checks you can carry out yourself that will help towards keeping your bike performing to the standards we all expect.
1. TYRES
You should check your Triumph’s tyre pressure weekly, as it’s a crucial aspect of the bike set-up, with both performance and efficiency being affected by the pressure being even slightly out.
Your tyres are, of course, your contact with the ground, and under-inflated tyres can hugely affect handling and braking, while over-inflation can reduce the size of the contact patch on the road, which can affect stability.
Consult your bike manual for the correct pressures. Remember, your tyres may need more pressure if you regularly ride with a pillion passenger. Always check pressures when the tyres are cold, and whilst doing so you can check the overall condition and tread depth as well to ensure the wear on your motorcycle’s tyres are still legal. If in any doubt always refer to your local Triumph dealer who will be happy to help.
2. CHAIN TENSION
Check your user manual or ask your nearest Triumph dealer how to adjust your bike's chain to the correct tension. Remember, each model is different, and you need to set the tension with, preferably, a rider seated on the bike as the chain will tighten up once someone is on-board. Make sure to regularly clean and lubricate the chain to avoid any rust and corrosion that may lead to the chain breaking.
3. BATTERY
Remove the battery from the holder to check the acid level by placing it on a flat surface. Triumph batteries are sealed so you will need a dealer to check the level in the battery.
Your battery terminals should be greased before the battery is placed back on the bike, and this will help reduce any corrosion that may occur over time. Just don't ever touch both terminals at the same time, and do follow all guidelines and advice in your user manual.
Remember batteries contain strong acid, so be careful and ensure that no battery acid comes into contact with your skin.
4. OIL Level Check
As bike maintenance goes, this is an important one, so first check your user manual for a detailed explanation of the steps before going ahead.
Motorcycles normally have something called a 'sight glass' which indicates what the minimum and maximum oil levels should be (on a Triumph motorcycle, look for the sight glass very near the Triumph-branded engine cover). Take a quick look at this regularly; every week if possible. If the oil level you can see while the bike is standing flat is below that minimum line, then you need to at the very least top it up pretty quickly to avoid engine damage. Whatever you do, don't think that as you've only notched up 2,000 miles in the last 12 months you don't need to even check your oil.
If you have any doubts then don't forget that any Triumph dealer would be happy to conduct an oil change or service for you.
5. GREASE
All Triumphs, in fact all motorcycles in general, will benefit from a little grease applied to certain areas, and grease can extend a motorcycle’s life immensely.
Using a spray grease allows you to lubricate foot-rests, most hinges, levers, locks, and some of the motorcycle’s cables. As always, you need to consult your motorcycle user manual to ensure that you apply grease to the right parts of your Triumph. Take care, for example, to avoid applying grease on brake discs, as greasing them is almost certainly likely to cause them to become less effective.
If you keep your Triumph in good condition with just a little regular motorcycle maintenance, you’re not only less likely to develop problems with it, but you will also extend the life of the motorcycle. Always check your user manual or speak to a Triumph dealer if you need more information about keeping your Triumph where it is meant to be... on the road!
Remember... with great power, comes great responsibility!