Keep the spark alive: Three easy ways to make your bike seem newer

Feed into the system 

They say relationships are a system, and what you get depends on what you give. Help your bike be the best it can be by giving it a full tune up, and you might be surprised by how much better it works and feels. 

Fresh oil will make your motorcycle shift better and improves clutch action, a lubed chain is quieter and transfers power more smoothly, properly adjusted clutch- and throttle-cable slack enhances precision, lubing lever pivots increases smoothness and feel, and fresh brake fluid boosts braking power and lever firmness. The list goes on (and you can find it in your bike’s workshop manual). 

If your motorcycle isn’t quite as enjoyable to ride as it used to be, creeping wear and maladjustment could be to blame. Investing half a day to dial things in can make your bike feel thousands of miles newer. 

A wash can do wonders 

Hey, wait, shouldn’t a wash have been first in this list? Perhaps, but I can’t help but promote a tune-up over a glow-up. Still, it’s amazing how much some soap and water can improve a bike’s appearance and appeal. 

If you commit to more than a simple spray-down, a full detail can seem to take years off a motorcycle. Waxing the bodywork, polishing chrome, scrubbing out the nooks and crannies in the wheels, and treating black plastic and rubber with a silicone-based detailer will make your bike look a whole lot newer. Shoot, you can even get your exhaust system looking new again, as demonstrated in The Shop Manual video below. 

Update your profile 

One of the most obvious improvements you’ll ever experience with your motorcycle is when you change from old, worn tires to new rubber with fresh profiles. It’s hard to overstate how much a squared-off rear and a scalloped front tire will inhibit your bike’s handling and stability, so if your buns are shagged, order up a new set and prepare to be delighted. 

I’ll take this opportunity to step onto my soap box and say that whatever street bike you’re riding — from a little KTM Duke 390 on up to a mighty Suzuki GSX-R1000 — you’ll be best served by sport-touring rubber. Dry roads or wet, commuting or carrying crazy lean angles in the twisties, modern ST rubber has you covered. Better still, sport-touring tires last two to three times longer than that hot hypersport rubber you think you need, so you won’t be back on compromised profiles nearly as quickly.    

On the topic of rubber, new grips are another easy and very tangible way to revitalize your motorcycle. 

Like any good relationship, keeping the spark alive with your motorcycle takes a little attention and care. You don’t need a new fling to fall in love again — sometimes, all it takes is showing your current ride a little love to remind you why you chose it in the first place.

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