Kawasaki Motorcycle :

Keeping your Kawasaki Maintenance Costs Down

By Hiroshi Paterson

Instituting regular maintenance is key to keeping your Kawasaki motorcycle running at optimum performance. Many owners choose to take their bikes into a shop for a check up every six months to a year. Others save money by completing the work at home themselves. Working at home can keep the maintenance costs of your Kawasaki motorcycle down, and you can start by doing these five steps right now.

Lets start with the brakes. Step number 1 is to replace the brake pads. It might sound like a hard place to start, but it only takes 45 minutes and tools that you already own. If your brakes feel a little soft, or are making a squealing noise, replacing the brake pads might fix the problem. Kawasaki motorcycles use EBC/HH brake pads, and any reputable dealer can find the correct model numbers for your bike. A better choice when replacing the brake pads is to go with Kawasaki's own brand, the OEM pads. Kawasaki's website has a listing of brake pads for each model of motorcycle.

Step number 2, check the levels of brake fluid on your Kawasaki motorcycle. Kawasaki includes a level window with a marker near the master cylinder. There should be a maximum, and minimum level noted on the window, to show you when the fluids are high and low. If the levels are too low, you will need to add more fluid. You may discover that the brake fluids are too high, in which case you'll need to siphon out some of the fluid. Too much fluid can overflow from the tanks, even when sitting in place.

Since you're already working on the brakes, you can work on step number 3, which is to bleed the brakes. Most motorcycle owners have their own way of bleeding the brakes, and Kawasaki owners are no exception. There are dozens of ways to bleed brakes, but only one that the Kawasaki manufacturer recommends.

Start by filling a pump oil can with new brake fluid, and attaching it to the brake bleeder valve via a hose. Pump the oil can slowly, to get the fluid moving through the bike. It will slowly push out the old fluid, and let the new fluid flow through your motorcycle. Be careful not to get any fluid on the exterior of the bike, as it can strip the paint. Then slowly pump the brakes until you get the air out. It may take a few minutes of pumping the brakes for the air to squeeze out, so be patient.

Step number 4 is to check the oil filter. The oil filter is used to catch any dirt or debris from entering into the engine. Many riders, and even some shops stop short of checking the filter, which isn't necessarily a good thing. Certain items can poke holes in the filter, allowing larger items to slip inside. Clean out the debris, and if there's any damage, replace the filter immediately. A Filter can befound at any store specializing in aftermarket kawasaki motorcycle parts.

Step number 5 is to check the U-joint. You might notice a vibration in your Kawasaki motorcycle, that starts out light but gets progressively worse. This can be the result of damage to the U-joint, or a lack of lubrication. Try using a small amount of lubrication on the joint, and taking the bike out for a small drive. If the problem persists, its time for a new U-joint.

Kawasaki dealers carry the part in stock, or can order it for your bike for around $60-70.

If you are looking at keeping your Kawasaki motorcycle costs down, start with these five easy steps you can do right now. Most take only a small amount of money now, but can save you expensive repairs in the future.

About the author:

Hiroshi Paterson is a senior writer for MotorcyclePartsandApparel.com -- Visit them online for a wide selection of leather motorcycle accessories and more.