Having problems in your bike?? let troubleshoot it.

We all love our bikes as a girlfriend. watching them in a bad situation we can't bear.
some troubleshooting tips for the bike lovers.

Low Mileage

This is really what a lot of people really complain about; it has quite a bit of reasons to why it happens, I explain the most common reasons below.


Low pressure in tyres can greatly reduce fuel efficiency, Tyres require air to stay in proper shape or else all they will do is create rolling resistance, this makes it harder for the wheels to move and hence decreases mileage. The first thing to do is to check your check your tyre pressure, I do that by kicking the tyres or by trying to push the rubber in using the thumb, if it goes in, get it checked. The manual will have the recommended tyre pressure ratings, you may also find a sticker on the swing arm or on the tank with the same ratings as there was on my bike. You can find air pumps at petrol pumps and at the nearest tyre works. Depending on your riding, check pressure once every month or whenever you experience sluggish engine response.

Dirty engine oil can also reduce efficiency, dirty oil can become thick and resistive to movements of parts in the engine, the most obvious sign of dirty oil is when the gear shift lever becomes too hard or noisy during shifts. If you have a bike that has been ridden for over 2,500 Km’s without an oil change or if you notice smoke coming out of the tailpipes, check the engine oil, you can do that by removing the oil gauge, which is basically the oil cap. If the oil on the tip of the gauge is black in colour, it’s about time you changed it, also remember, having good oil in the engine is really important for the engine to last long without any troubles. Servicing in recommended intervals is what you should always do. Check the manual (usually the end) to find service information and intervals. 

Tight Brakes: When the brakes are too tight, it can increase the effort needed by the engine to turn the wheels, place the bike in neutral and on the centre stand and manually rotate the wheels, they must be able to rotate freely and without much effort, If the front or the rear tyres are hard to rotate, loosen the brakes by a notch and try again, if it’s a disc brake unit, take it to the company workshop to check them.

Driving styles can also affect efficiency, It may seem silly to go on at 40Km/h or something but that’s not what you should be doing unless it is indicated to do so, travel at a speed where the engine sounds relaxed, somewhere at 5,000 Rpm would be fine and avoid late braking. If you see an obstacle in front, brake early and slow down gently, also accelerate gently until you reach the desired speed. These steps will help you be safer and more efficient.

Carbon Deposits: If you happen to own a bike that has been ridden for over 30,000 Km’s a possible reason for low efficiency would be carbon deposits on the piston and other components, I felt a decrease in performance and efficiency after about 30,000 Km’s and got it in for service, the mechanic advised that I do a decarbonisation of the engine, when the engine was opened, I was shocked to see that the piston was coated with a 5mm thick carbon layer, it was fully covered in it. He promptly scrubbed it off and cleaned the engine. Later I noticed that the performance and efficiency was back to what it was like in the early days, It was awesome. The reason for this carbon deposition is the low quality of fuel and although I had used premium fuels for about 10,000Km’s It hasn’t helped too much. Most people notice low performance after 25,000 to 30,000 Km’s and decide to sell off the machine; they could just follow these steps and continue using it for a longer period.

Improper Break-In: All single cylinder bikes need to be ridden well within a specified speed and engine RPM, usually, it in the first 1000 Kilometers, it may be hard to do so when you have already waited a while to get your hands on the machine but if you want it to deliver the claimed mileage figures, you must do so. Also avoid giving the bike to others during this period as they may not be aware of this. If you have ridden it so and do get low efficiency, try warming up the engine every time you start the bike in the morning, preferably for about 5 minutes, then be gentle with your riding styles. This can help you make up for lost grounds and hopefully can help regain the efficiency.

Electric Starter Fails

This is a useful feature that can save us the embarrassment of causing a traffic jam after stalling the engine. You may find it not working on some fine morning. Check for the following signs:

Battery level: The battery may have run out of acid which must have reduced its efficiency, if you notice that the starter works once you start riding for a long time, but doesn’t when you try in the morning, get the battery acid levels checked. Your bike charges the battery as you ride so just keep it filled up at the first signs of trouble.

Starter Relay: This is part of the electric system that provides current to the starter, sometimes a failure of this component can stop the starter from working, if you hear just a “tick” noise from the starter every time you press the starter button, it may be either because of a low battery or a failing starter relay.

Things to Remember

Your bike needs a little bit of care and attention if you would want it to last long just the way you like, so here are a few tips that can help you keep the bike and eventually yourself happy:

1. Warm Ups: Warm up the engine well in the mornings before you head out for a journey, this can help a lot in extending engine life and performance.
2. Check Tyre Pressure: Once a month, inspect the tires for signs of low pressure, keep them topped up for the best.
3. Chains: If you notice chain noise or looseness, simply get the chain tightened, its just a matter of 10 minutes at the most.
4. Periodic Service: Note that most bikes have a service interval of around 2,500 Kilometers, be sure to visit the service station in the specified intervals, check the manual to know more about the intervals.
5. Avoid Cheap Parts: If in case, a part does go bad, avoid replacing it with cheap alternatives or quick fixes, all manufacturers test parts for durability and quality and that is the way you should be going.