Cruiser Motorcycle Maintenance Tips

Your cruiser motorcycle is your pride and joy. There’s nothing better than taking it out on a nice day and going for a ride that turns heads and helps you get some fresh air. Whether you just ride around the neighborhood or you travel a little farther, the time you spend on your cruiser is probably your favorite time of the day or week.

That is, if the cruiser’s moving. Make sure you’re properly caring for your bike so you can ensure it’ll start, stop, and cruise when you want it to. To help you out, Heartland Honda has provided some basic maintenance tips. We also offer a wide range of Honda® cruiser motorcycles for sale, so stop by our location in Springdale, Arkansas, if you’re still looking for the perfect set of wheels. We welcome all riders from Fayetteville and Rogers.

Grab Your Manual

While we can give you some general tips on how to care for your Honda cruiser, the best information will come from your owner’s manual. That’s where you’ll find important maintenance specifics and even a servicing timeline to help you and your preferred service department keep track of all your visits.

Brakes

You’ll need to regularly check the brake fluid in the rear and front brake reservoirs and top off as needed. Make sure they don’t fall too low, based on measurement lines provided in the reservoir. You’ll also want to inspect the brake pads, to ensure they’re wearing evenly, smoothly, and that there’s still plenty of material left.

Tires

Your tires are the foundation of your bike. If they’re not working, you’ll be in serious trouble. Always check tire pressure before every ride (following psi guidelines from your owner’s manual). You’ll also want to check the tread for signs of excessive or uneven wear. This will indicate if you need to change your tires, or if there’s a mechanical issue that’s causing your tires to wear down at an uneven rate.

Fuel

Your fuel filter won’t need to be replaced all the time, but if you notice your engine struggles to start or you burn through fuel fairly quickly, consider checking to see if yours needs to be replaced. Also keep in mind that if you don’t ride that often, you might want to start filling up with a higher octane fuel to avoid corrosion.

Chains, Shafts, and Belts

Your cruiser comes with a system of chains, shafts, or belts to transfer the power from the engine to the wheels, so caring for these parts is crucial. Chains and belts should have the right tightness, snug but not too loose. You can also lubricate these parts as needed and check the belts for tears. 

Oil

Just like your commuter vehicle, your motorcycles regularly needs fresh oil, once every six months or every 2,000 miles. You can also monitor the levels and condition of your oil between changes, looking for low levels and a dark or sludgy product, in the event you need to top off your oil or change it. 

Battery

If your motorcycle doesn’t start, you might want to check out your battery. A drained battery needs to be charged, but if you feel you do this more often than you should, you might be looking at an alternator issue. That, or you simply need to replace an old battery. If your cruiser is going into storage for a while, you’ll want to disconnect your battery from your bike and hook it up to a trickle charge, so the bike doesn’t drain it when you’re not riding around.

With the right diligence and dedication, you’ll be able to enjoy riding around on your cruiser for years to come. In other words, work hard...play hard. If you run into a maintenance problem too big for you to solve, or if it’s time to get your Honda motorcycle checked by a professional, you can contact our service department at Heartland Honda. We’re conveniently in Springdale, Arkansas, serving Fayetteville and Rogers.