Motorcycle maintenance checklist

Most breakdowns and MOT fails start as something small that nobody looked at. This checklist splits the jobs into before every ride, weekly, monthly and yearly, so nothing slips.

Before every ride (two minutes)

Riders often remember it as POWDERS: petrol, oil, water, damage, electrics, rubber, security.

• Petrol — enough for the trip.
• Oil — no fresh leaks under the bike.
• Water — coolant level, on liquid-cooled bikes.
• Damage — anything loose, cracked or hanging off.
• Electrics — lights, indicators, brake light and horn.
• Rubber — tyres look properly inflated and undamaged.
• Security — luggage strapped down, stands up, controls working.

Weekly

• Tyre pressures, checked cold, to the figures in your manual.
• Tyre tread and sidewalls — at least 1mm across three-quarters of the tread on bikes over 50cc.
• Chain tension and lube (more often after rain).
• Brake fluid level in both reservoirs.

Monthly

• Engine oil level, on the sight glass or dipstick as the manual says.
• Brake pads — material left above the wear-limit groove.
• Cables and levers — smooth, not frayed, correctly adjusted.
• Battery terminals clean and tight; use a trickle charger if the bike is standing.
• Fork legs and rear shock — no oil leaks.
• Nuts and bolts on mudguards, exhaust, mirrors and number plate.

Every service (miles or months, whichever first)

• Engine oil and filter.
• Chain and sprocket wear.
• Air filter and spark plugs (as scheduled).
• Brake fluid (usually every 2 years) and coolant (usually every 2–3 years).
• Steering head and wheel bearings.
• Valve clearances at the mileage your manual gives.

Not sure how often? See How often should I service my motorcycle?

Before winter storage

• Clean the bike and protect it against road salt.
• Fill the tank (and add stabiliser if it'll stand for months).
• Battery on a smart charger.
• Tyres at the right pressure, ideally off the ground on paddock stands.
• If you take it off the road, make a SORN so you don't pay tax on it.

Before your MOT

Run through the motorcycle MOT checklist a week or two before the test.

Keep track without the notebook

MotoTrac keeps your schedule, shows what's due soon or overdue by miles or months, and lets you tick jobs off as you do them — see the motorcycle maintenance tracker.

Sources

• GOV.UK: The Highway Code, Annex 6 vehicle maintenance, safety and security
• GOV.UK: MOT inspection manual for motorcycles, wheels, tyres and suspension

This guide is general information for UK vehicle owners. Your owner's manual and your mechanic or MOT tester have the final word for your vehicle.