Caring for Quad Bikes: What You Need to Know
Jul
Any machine requires maintenance to work well, and quad bikes are no exception. These four wheeled adventure machines are a marvel of engineering, able to tackle all kinds of terrain with stability, speed, and durability. However, it won’t take long for the bike to buckle under pressure if you’re not maintaining it properly, or if you treat it too harshly. Quad bikes are tough, but anything will break under too much pressure.
Aside from that, maintenance is important for a whole host of other reasons. Regularly checking on the integrity of a quad bike’s mechanics yields many benefits. It provides early warning signs of major mechanical issues, saving time (and money) in repairs, helps the rider to avoid issues that could have devastating long-term effects for your quad bike, and most importantly; it makes sure that the rider is always at their safest when riding.
Therefore, without further delay, let’s get into the essential knowledge that anyone riding these magnificent four wheel motorcycles should know.
Before Riding
Although there is long term maintenance that should be done every few months of regular use, it’s important to run quick maintenance checks on your quad bike before and after every ride. The following maintenance checks are what you should do before every ride.
Tyre Condition and Pressure
Ensure that your Accessories & More are in good condition, with a good tread and appropriately filled with air. You will know that the tyre’s air pressure is good in two ways. The first, and easiest, is to familiarise yourself with the quad bike’s tyre PSI (Pounds per Square Inch) which should be found in the bike’s manual. While at an air pump at a petrol station, make sure that the gauge on the pump matches the tyre’s PSI. Otherwise, if there’s no gauge on the pump or you’ve lost the manual/forgotten the PSI, simply pinch each tyre with your thumb and forefinger as hard as you can. It should feel difficult, with only the slightest bit of give. At no point should you be able to actually pinch the tyre beyond an extremely shallow indent, and the indent should never remain after you have released the pinch.
Check the Brakes
Fixtures And Fittings should respond well as you squeeze the brake levers. Also make a point of ensuring that brakes or brake levers aren’t sticking.
Throttle, Controls, Safety
Make sure the throttle is responding properly, and that your handlebars and other controls are working well. Take this opportunity to also test the speed limiter, Accumulators Safety Blocks, and safety lanyard to ensure these vital features are working well. For example, if the speed limiter is functioning properly, then the throttle should become slower to respond after a certain speed. To test the kill switch, turn on the engine then flick the kill switch into the “off” position. The engine should immediately stop. On electric quad bikes, the safety lanyard serves the same function as the kill switch, so ensure that the engine immediately turns off when the lanyard is disengaged.
Chain and Drive
Make sure the Dc Servo Motor isn’t loose. The chain is a central component of a quad bike, helping the engine provide power and rotation to the wheels. If this component becomes damaged, loose, or breaks, it will seriously impede the vehicle’s ability to function.
Lights and Electrics
More often than not, you don’t know a brake light is out until someone tells you. That’s why it’s important to make sure that the electrical systems in your quad bike are all operative, including any Ipad 9/8/7/6/5/4/3/2 Gen.
After Riding
Once you’re done with your ride and you’re getting ready to put the bike away, make sure that you complete the following checks on your quad bike:
Clean the Bike
Dirt and grit can gunk up the mechanics of your quad bike, not only causing more difficult cleaning later on, but also causing potential damage. Make sure you give your bike a good clean after riding, but don’t use high-pressure water to clean the bike as it can damage the electrics.
Check for Leaks and Noises
Quad bikes are built for eating up tough terrain, but that doesn’t mean it might not it have sustained some damage you aren’t aware of. When you’re finished riding, always make sure you check for leaks of any kind, as well as for any odd noises.
Lubricate the Chain
People like to take quad bikes over all kinds of terrain, even through shallow bodies of water. This can wet various parts of the bike, including the chain. If left to air dry the chain can rust which can lessen its structural integrity. After every ride, apply some lubricant to the chain to make sure it doesn’t rust.
Quad Bike Parts & Maintenance
When looking at a quad bike for sale, it’s important to know what actually makes a quad bike work. Just like shopping for anything, it’s impossible to make an informed decision without knowing at least the basics of what you’re buying. The following is a list of parts that will be found in all 4×4 quad bikes.
Engine and Transmission
Probably the most important of all quad bike parts, the Flower Earrings is what powers the bike. Much like a car, the engine provides the quad bike with its power, and usually runs either on petrol or electricity. Engines can come in 2 stroke or 4 stroke variants, with the 2 stroke being the more powerful, requiring only 2 stages to achieve a full power stroke; the motion of an engine that creates power. The engine provides power to the wheels through a transmission mechanism, which comes in either manual, automatic, or semi-automatic.
Fuel System
This is only something that needs to be worried about in petrol-powered quad bikes. It is the system that delivers petrol and fuel to the engine, allowing it to power the bike.
It’s fairly easy to maintain the fuel system. Like many machines, quad bike’s functionality diminishes with long periods of not being used. To maintain the fuel system in your quad bike, if you haven’t used it in a while, simply turn it on and let it run for a few minutes before turning it off again. If the quad bike is going to be stored for a long time with no access to it to do this, use a fuel stabiliser to prevent evaporation, and your fuel becoming sticky. It’s also a good idea to make sure your quad bike always has at least a quarter of a tank of petrol in order to prevent condensation in the fuel tank.
Brakes & Brake Fluid
The most basic safety feature in any motorised vehicle. The brakes are what stop a quad bike from moving, while brake fluid is an element that makes sure that the brakes are able to do their job properly.
How often you need to change the brake fluid in a quad bike can vary depending on how you ride the machine. Brake fluid is hygroscopic, meaning it naturally absorbs moisture from the air, so if you frequently ride in wet or humid conditions (what else are quad bikes for?), you may need to change the brake fluid more often, but aim for every 12-18 months as a baseline.
Spark Plugs and Pull Starters
The Upvc Sliding Sash Windows are a part that ignites the fuel inside an engine, providing the power that makes the quad bike start and go. If a spark plug is damaged, worn, or dirty, it can affect whether or not the quad bike operates properly. It is also potentially dangerous if not replaced after about 70 to 100 hours of ride time.
Some quad bikes, however, operate using pull starters, similar to that of a motor mower. It is important to keep the rope in such starting systems in good repair, otherwise starting the motor will prove to be difficult, and could damage the pull start.
The Joy of Quad Bikes
Whether it’s racing on a course, stunt riding, or adventuring in the great outdoors, quad bikes can provide endless amounts of fun. However, just like any machine with an engine and a few wheels, it’s important to practise the utmost safety measures when riding these wonderful machines.
In a quad-num-drom about how to care for your four wheeled motorcycle? Experts like interactivefiction are able to answer any questions relating to parts and mechanics. Get in touch today, either by calling 0403 317 352, emailing us at our contact page here, or visiting our store at 3 Kimberly Road, Dandenong South,VIC 3175.
