Best Tips for Adventure Motorcycle Maintenance

Adventure motorcycle riding is different from normal motorcycling on paved roads, and so is the maintenance. ADV motorbikes put a lot of effort into overcoming the multiple challenges they come across.

Without a doubt, ADV bikes are rigid, and they have a solid build. They don’t break down quickly. They are meant to be ridden on dirt trails, dirt, and gravel and face obstacles confidently.

However, it doesn’t mean they are bulletproof. Adventure bikes require more care and attention to deal with hurdles, sand, mud, dirt, rocks, and water.

In addition to the regular maintenance service, make sure to keep a check on your bike after every ride. Continue reading this article to learn about the best tips for adventure motorcycle maintenance.

ADV bikes are different from regular motorcycles in terms of use and purpose. However, they have the same motorcycle parts that can wear and tear when subjected to challenging terrains.

If you ride your adventure bike regularly, you need to ensure you keep a regular check on your bike. Maintenance is the key if you want your ADV motorcycle to stay in top shape and continue performing.

The key components common in almost every motorcycle you must take care of include:

• Engine

• Drivetrain

• Brakes

• Suspension

• Air filter

• Tires

• Electrical System

To keep the bike in good working order, frequently check these parts and components. Make it a habit to regularly clean and lubricate the moving parts, especially those mostly exposed to dirt and debris while off-roading.

Let’s discuss the useful tips to help you maintain your ADV motorcycle in good shape.

If you love taking your adventure bike off-road, the engine will work harder than normal. However, there is nothing to worry about. Adventure bikes are built to go off-road.

However, you can regularly check the engine oil level. As the engine works harder than usual, it will consume the fluid early.

Adventure motorcycles can take you uphill and can maneuver over mud and water. Most riders load their ADV bikes with multiple luggage bags, eventually putting more load on the engine.

There is also a lack of airflow in off-road conditions, which puts more stress on the engine. As a result, the engine oil will decompose earlier due to a lack of heat dissipation.

• Check your engine oil level and condition before every adventure ride.

• Change your motorcycle engine oil according to the manufacturer's recommended schedule.

• Do not ride with a low engine oil level.

• Use the recommended engine oil with the right viscosity for your ADV motorcycle.

• If you mostly ride off-road terrains, change the engine oil sooner than the recommended time.

• The interval can become even shorter if you do extreme off-roading on your adventure motorcycle.

Most ADV motorbikes are chain-driven. They are equipped with a chain to drive the rear wheel. As we all know, chain drives require more attention to avoid early wear and tear.

How chain drive works causes grinding movement between the chain and sprocket teeth. If the chain is properly lubricated, the frictional force between the chain and sprockets is reduced to avoid early wear and tear.

Chain final drive has several benefits and is widely used in motorcycles like ADV bikes. It provides better acceleration and push to overcome challenging terrains.

Why must you lube and maintain your ADV bike’s chain more than usual? This is because adventure bike riding is subjected to more harsh conditions than on paved roads. The dust and debris stuck with the chain cause more damage to the sprockets.

Off-road conditions keep the chain dry and dirty, which is not good for smoothly operating the ADV bike.

On the other hand, riders also face puddles and small ponds, which wash the lube away from the chain, resulting in more friction between the chain and sprockets.

Overall, it is true that off-road conditions are extremely harsh on your adventure bike, especially the chain.

Another major problem ADV motorcycle riders face is the chain becoming tight while riding the ADV bike on off-road terrains. Why it happens? It usually happens when your ADV bike rear suspension compresses while going through an obstacle or a bump, which usually occurs the whole time during off-roading.

Therefore, to keep your chain maintained and make the ADV motorbike perform smoothly, you need to follow the below tips on how to maintain your ADV bike’s chain:

• Keep your ADV motorcycle chain clean and dry.

• Wash away all the dirt and debris from the chain before going for an adventure ride.

• If there are signs of rust, remove it before it spreads.

• Keep your motorcycle chain lubricated. It helps in preventing rust, debris, and wear and tear.

• Clean and lube your ADV motorcycle chain after every adventure ride.

• Adventure motorcycles require a balanced amount of chain slack or tension to operate smoothly.

• It must not be too loose to allow dust, debris, and logs to stick inside.

• It also must not be too tight to increase the wear and tear of the transmission and other moving parts.

• Check and adjust the chain tension as required.

• You can check the recommended chain slack/tension on the owner’s manual.

• You must check the chain tension after every ride if you mostly ride your ADV motorbike on off-road terrains.

• Regular  checks on the sprockets’ condition are also needed.

• Keep track of the number of miles you have traveled so that you can replace the chain on time.

• You must replace the chain earlier if you mostly ride your ADV motorcycle on off-road terrains and do extreme off-roading.

The best way to maintain your ADV bike is to start from the bottom up. Adventure motorcycle tires experience the most stress, pressure, and load. They are in direct contact with the off-road conditions.

Whatever terrain you go through, your ADV motorcycle tires are at the forefront to keep you going.

Most adventure motorcycles are heavy. Also, ADV riders love to keep their bikes loaded with stuff by installing ADV luggage bags, including side cases, panniers, and tail bags. These add-ons put more weight on the tires.

Most of the time, riders aren’t sure about the terrain. As an ADV rider, you face many surprises and challenges that can damage your ADV motorcycle tires and wheels.

The more load on tires, the more wear and tear. Therefore, ADV motorcycle tires and wheels require more attention and regular maintenance. You may not get the required traction if the tire pressure and spoke tension are inaccurate.

Due to regular rough use, ADV motorcycle tires lose traction and off-road terrain grip after an interval.

Let’s discuss the useful tips for tire and wheel maintenance to avoid any inconvenience while off-roading.

• Check your ADV motorcycle tire pressure regularly before every ride.

• Inspect tires and wheels regularly for any damage, including cuts, punctures, cracks, bends, and wear and tear.

• Always carry the tire puncture kit to avoid any inconvenience.

• Also, regularly check the wheels’ spokes tensions for strength, as most ADV bikes have wire-spoked wheels.

• Regularly check the wheel bearings for any wear and tear and unusual damage.

• Check for any unusual wheel damage, dent, or bending. It may cause the tire air pressure to be lost.

• When the ADV motorcycle tires start losing traction and off-road grip, it is time to replace them.

• Keep the wheels clean and dry.

• Avoid rust from settling on your ADV motorcycle wheels as they become weaker with rust.

• Consider replacing normal tires with specialized off-road tires if you mostly ride your ADV bike on off-road terrains.

Suspensions play a big role in ADV motorcycle riding. They are the key components that help in overcoming off-road challenges. Otherwise, riders cannot bear even a minute while riding on off-road terrain.

Suspensions are the springs that dampen the vigorous up-and-down movements on an ADV bike. They also help in keeping the bike stable and upright on off-roading. Otherwise, the amount of compression and expansion they go through can damage a bike and throw you away while off-roading.

You must maintain your ADV bike’s suspensions to ride safely on off-road terrains.

Adventure bikes are built for both on- and off-roading. Most ADV bikes have adjustable suspensions to suit the riding conditions.

If you ride your ADV bike on paved roads, you can adjust the suspension to ensure a harder setting. This will allow ADV bikes to not jump too much while turning corners and maneuvering on paved roads.

On the other hand, before you choose to go off-road on your ADV motorcycle, you can tune the suspension setting to make it softer. This allows for better damping rates and more elasticity.

• Check the suspension setting and ensure it is adjusted according to the riding conditions.

• Check for any signs of damage.

• The most common issue with the suspension is fork oil leakage due to the damaged seal.

• If you see any marks on the fork's tube, you must check for the fork's oil leakage.

• Ensure the inner fork tubes are clean, with no dirt or debris. The settled dust and debris on the fork tubes can damage the seals.

• Check the fluid level regularly.

• Refill the forklift if it is below the optimum level.

• An ADV motorcycle requires more frequent suspension maintenance than a standard road bike.

• As a rule of thumb, consider taking your adventure bike for suspension maintenance after 10,000 miles.

The braking system on your ADV motorcycle can wear and tear when exposed to off-road conditions. Dust, debris, mud, and water can enter the braking lines and system, affecting the stopping power and riders’ safety.

Also, during extreme off-roading, riders may be required to frequently use brakes. Braking in an off-roading condition is not solely used for stopping. Braking while off-roading is also used to take sharp corners or skid the bike when required.

Due to this reason, the ADV motorcycle brake pads are prone to early wear and tear.

• Check the brake fluid level and condition regularly.

• Refill the brake fluid when it is below the optimum level.

• Check for any brake oil leakage or damage to the brake lines.

• Most importantly, keep a check on the brake pads. Replace them if they have lost shape and show clear signs of wear and tear.

You must never risk going off-road in a remote area with a weak electrical system on your ADV bike. If its health is compromised, either replace it or repair it until it starts working effectively.

The electrical system on your ADV motorcycle is very much responsible for your safety. Nothing will work if the electrical system, including the motorcycle battery and components, fails to operate.

Keep your ADV bike's electrical system maintained to ensure you never risk your safety while off-roading in a remote area.

• Keep your motorcycle battery, including the terminals, clean.

• Don’t let the dust, debris, mud, or water sit near the electrical system.

• Don’t let the rust to form anywhere near the battery.

• Keep the electrical system dry.

• Keep a check on the motorcycle battery, wires, and cables.

• Replace your motorcycle battery if it is old and its health declines.

• Keep your battery charged.

• Check all the electrical components on your ADV motorbike, especially the lighting, to ensure they work properly before going off-road.

• If your ADV bike has a USB charging port for mobile and device charging, ensure it works before you go for an adventure ride in a remote area.

Considering the purpose of an ADV motorcycle, you can predict how important the role of a clean air filter is. If an adventure bike is mostly used for off-roading, it will require more frequent air filter cleaning or replacement.

Off-roading can cause ADV motorcycles’ air filters to clog early due to dust, debris, and mud exposure. Large displacement e requires more air to mix with fuel and cleaner air filters to ensure good airflow.

Therefore, air filters installed in ADV bikes require more frequent maintenance.

• Regularly inspect your ADV motorbike’s air filter condition.

• Keep the air filter clean.

• Don’t let the dirt accumulate on the air filter.

• Check the air filter for dust build-up or blockage before going for a ride.

• Check any signs of damage or opening while cleaning the air filter.

• Replace the air filter on your ADV bike if it is clogged, dirty, or damaged.

• Visual inspection and sound tests are a good way to discover any basic issue with your adventure motorcycle.

• Regular inspection is necessary to avoid any major problems with your ADV bike.

• Wash your bike regularly and keep it clean and in top shape.

• Keep a check on fluid levels.

• Follow the maintenance and service schedule mentioned in the motorcycle owner’s manual.

• Keep the useful and basic maintenance and repair tools to avoid getting stuck while off-roading.

• If your adventure motorcycle's issue seems complex, consult a professional mechanic.

Like every motorcycle type, if you take good care of your adventure motorcycle and maintain it regularly, it can last more than 50,000 miles. However, this is mostly true for ADV touring bikes because they are mostly used for riding on paved roads.

Meanwhile, a true ADV bike used for both on- and off-roading may not last as long as 50,000 miles. This is mainly because the bike takes a lot of beating when ridden off-road. The parts and components also wear out earlier when the ADV bike mostly spends the time off-roading.

It depends on the type of adventure bike you own. Some manufacturers manufacture road-biased versions of their popular ADV bikes. These models have comparatively low seat height and road-biased smooth tires for better on-road performance.

Generally, a true adventure bike is not ideal for daily use as it is heavy, tall, and has softer suspensions. They aren’t a good choice for daily use, especially for beginners.

The most common maintenance problem a rider can face is the battery issue. This is mainly because modern motorcycles have several electronics and gadgets installed on them that require electric power to operate.

Putting too much load on motorcycle batteries is bad for their health. Also, most riders usually don’t pay much attention to their motorcycle batteries regarding bike maintenance.

This is why motorcycle batteries drain faster and become weak over time.

Adventure motorcycles are the most fun and robust type of motorcycles. They are fully loaded with add-ons and gadgets to keep the rider engaged. Above all, they are one of the most versatile bikes, and they can take riders on both on- and off-road adventures.

ADV bikes are multi-purpose motorcycles that can be used for city traveling, highway cruising, long-distance riding, and even dirt riding. Many experienced riders use adventure bikes for even extreme off-roading.

However, all these performance benefits come at a price. Due to being used roughly in almost every riding condition, ADV motorbikes require detailed inspection and frequent maintenance. They require more attention, especially if you use them more for off-roading.

ADV motorcycles are slightly different from standard road bikes' construction and design. However, the basics are the same. If you are an ADV motorcycle rider or learning to become one, we have the best maintenance tips to keep your adventure motorcycle in good shape. Follow the above adventure motorcycle maintenance tips to make your ADV bike live longer and ride safely.