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Motorbike maintenance schedule
Most breakdowns and big bills start as something small that nobody checked. Here's what to look at weekly, monthly and yearly, and the typical service intervals to look up for your bike.
Your owner's manual comes first. Intervals vary a lot between bikes: a modern sports bike, an air-cooled classic and a 125 commuter all differ. Use this as a checklist of what to look at, and take the numbers from your manual or dealer. If the bike is under warranty, follow the manufacturer's schedule to the letter.
Before every ride and weekly
The quick checks that catch most problems early. Many riders use a simple memory aid like POWDERS (petrol, oil, water, damage, electrics, rubber, security).
- Tyres: pressures, measured cold, with a gauge you trust. Look for nails, cuts and bulges.
- Chain: look at the slack and whether it's dry or rusty. Lube it after wet rides, and every few hundred miles on chain lube you've applied warm.
- Lights, indicators and horn: a 30-second walk round with the ignition on.
- Brakes: both levers firm, and the bike stops straight.
- Fluids: engine oil level in the sight glass or on the dipstick, coolant in the expansion tank, and a look underneath for drips.
Monthly
- Tyre tread depth and condition. Note the reading so you can see how fast it's going.
- Chain slack measured properly, and adjustment if needed. Check sprocket teeth for hooking.
- Brake pads: look at the remaining friction material, and the fluid level in both reservoirs.
- Cables and controls: throttle snaps shut at all steering positions, clutch free play is right, cables move freely.
- Battery: terminals clean and tight. If the bike stands for weeks, use a smart charger.
- A proper wash, especially through winter. Road salt corrodes fasteners, spokes and brake parts quickly.
The service schedule at a glance
Typical intervals. Treat them as a guide to what to look up in your manual, not a substitute for it.
| Item | Typical interval | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Engine oil and filter | Every 3,000 to 6,000 miles, or yearly | Use the grade and spec in the manual. Change it before winter storage, not after. |
| Chain and sprockets | Clean and lube every 300 to 600 miles; replace as a set when worn | Replace when the chain won't hold adjustment, has tight spots or the teeth are hooked. |
| Tyres | When worn or aged | The legal minimum for bikes over 50cc is 1 mm across three-quarters of the tread width. Most riders change well before that. |
| Air filter | Inspect at each service; replace roughly every 6,000 to 12,000 miles | Sooner in dusty conditions or on off-road bikes. |
| Spark plugs | Commonly 6,000 to 16,000 miles | Iridium plugs can last much longer. Check the manual. |
| Brake fluid | Every 2 years | It absorbs water, which lowers its boiling point. Dark fluid is overdue. |
| Brake pads | On condition | Replace before they reach the wear groove. Below 1 mm of friction material is a dangerous MOT defect. |
| Coolant | Commonly every 2 to 3 years | Some long-life coolants last longer. Check frost protection before winter. |
| Valve clearances | Commonly every 12,000 to 24,000 miles | A big, expensive job on many multi-cylinder bikes, so it's a key item on a used bike's service history. |
| Fork oil and seals | Commonly every 2 years or 12,000 to 20,000 miles | Often skipped. Fresh oil transforms an older bike's front end. |
| Steering head and wheel bearings | Check at every service; grease or replace as needed | Notchy steering in the straight-ahead position is a sign of worn head bearings. |
| Clutch and throttle cables | Lubricate at each service | Hydraulic clutches need their fluid changing like the brakes. |
| Brake hoses | Inspect yearly; some manuals give a replacement age | Rubber perishes with age. Braided hoses last longer. |
The yearly service
If your mileage is low, most jobs fall due by time, not miles. A good annual routine, ideally before the MOT:
- Oil and filter change.
- Brake check: pads, discs, callipers cleaned and slider pins greased, fluid changed if it's 2 years old.
- Chain and sprocket inspection, and a proper clean.
- Air filter inspection.
- Coolant strength and age.
- Bearings: steering head, wheels and swingarm.
- Battery health test, especially after winter.
- All nuts and bolts on the brakes, wheels and suspension checked for security.
Keep every receipt and note the mileage. A complete service record is the best thing you can hand a buyer, and it makes valve-clearance and fork-oil intervals easy to track. Our MOT guide has a pre-MOT checklist to run alongside it.
DIY or dealer?
Oil changes, chain care, pads and plugs are well within reach of a home mechanic with a torque wrench and a paddock stand. Valve clearances, fork rebuilds and anything touching brake hydraulics are best left to a specialist unless you have the tools and experience. If the bike is under warranty, check what the manufacturer requires before doing your own servicing.
Pick the jobs that apply from Tickover's ready-made schedule and set your own intervals. The app tracks oil, chain, brake fluid, coolant and more by miles or months, and logs every service with costs.
Quick answers
How often should a motorbike be serviced?
Follow your owner's manual. Many bikes need a minor service every 3,000 to 6,000 miles and a service at least once a year, whichever comes first.
How often should I change motorbike brake fluid?
Most manufacturers say every 2 years, because brake fluid absorbs moisture over time and becomes less effective.
How often should I lube my motorbike chain?
Typically every 300 to 600 miles, and after riding in the wet. Your chain lube and manual may give a specific interval.
Do I need to service a bike I barely ride?
Yes. Oil, brake fluid, coolant and tyres age even when the bike isn't used, so most jobs fall due by time.
Will servicing my own bike affect the warranty?
It can. Check the manufacturer's warranty terms before doing your own servicing while the bike is covered.
Related guides
- Winter motorbike storage
- Getting your motorbike back on the road in spring
- Motorbike MOT: what's checked and how to pass
- Common motorbike MOT fails you can fix at home