How-to maintenance advice from MCN: Look after or improve your bike

Get the latest advice on jobs you can do yourself to keep your motorbike running. Our experts offer hints and tips for maintenance, including the tools you'll need and what to avoid.

Year: ALL

If you haven't ridden your motorbike for a while then use this guide to getting it back on the road

17 January 2025 by Bruce Dunn

Plenty of riders lay a bike up over winter. Whether you’ve got a minter you wouldn’t dream of exposing to gritted roads, you don’t enjoy riding in the cold or even if you’ve been injured, ill or...

How to fix a flat tyre fast | Don’t get left stranded, here’s how to tackle a puncture with MCN

19 August 2024 by Bruce Dunn

Discovering you have a flat tyre is one of the worst feelings in biking. If you’re lucky, you’ll discover that you have a puncture in your garage or driveway rather than out and about where your...

Stay connected! Wire in a motorcycle USB port and phone cradle for navigation and more

12 August 2024 by Bruce Dunn

Plenty of bikers enjoy time on two wheels precisely because it’s time that we can’t be reached, distracted or hassled by our phones. The time spent ‘off-grid’ in the saddle can be a sacred break from...

How to unseize your stoppers | Learn to overhaul your brake calipers with MCN's expert mechanic

06 August 2024 by Bruce Dunn

Just like every moving part on your motorbike, your brake calipers need servicing to keep them in proper working order. Swapping the fluid and replacing the brake pads is important but giving them a...

Save yourself money by following MCN's guide to looking after your motorbike chain

01 August 2024 by Bruce Dunn

A motorbike chain is a vitally important bit of kit. It’s essentially the part that connects your motor to your back wheel in most cases, so careful maintenance is key to keeping your bike...

How to replace your own motorbike fork seals | Save money with this guide from MCN's expert mechanic

01 August 2024 by Bruce Dunn

A weeping fork seal is never a welcome sight on your bike, particularly in the run-up to your next MoT test, but it doesn’t have to mean an expensive trip to the mechanic. With the right tools and...

Here's your guide to preparing your bike for winter storage so it's good to go in spring

01 August 2024 by Bruce Dunn

Plenty of bikers in the UK prefer not to ride through the winter months – whether that’s because they don’t want to expose their pride and joy to road salt, they ride focused sportsbikes that wouldn’t...

Save your energy: How to look after your motorcycle battery

01 August 2024 by Jim Blackstock

Motorcycle battery maintenance is a key element to ensuring you can enjoy your riding as much as possible. There is nothing worse than excitedly approaching your bike only to find the starter won’t...

Power play: How to hard-wire heated motorcycle gloves into your bike

01 August 2024 by Jim Blackstock

Heated kit is a brilliant addition to your winter riding kit. It allows you to wear less insulating clothing and instead, generate heat to maintain your body temperature while remaining comfortable...

How to fit a Scottoiler or other automatic motorbike chain oiler at home

01 August 2024 by Bruce Dunn

An automatic oiler can take a lot of the work out of looking after your chain and sprockets and can actually extend its life. It’s especially useful in the winter months when salt, dirt and water from...

How to deep clean your motorcycle's wheels and get them looking like new with MCN's expert mechanic

01 August 2024 by Bruce Dunn

You motorbike’s wheels can be one of the trickiest areas to clean, but they’re also prone to getting absolutely filthy. Related Best products for cleaning your motorbike Best deals on...

MCN's expert guide on removing bug splats, tar or any other stubborn stains from your motorcycle

01 August 2024 by Bruce Dunn

Summer in the UK brings with it lots of positives for bikers. Bright mornings, long evenings, warm sunshine and sticky tarmac are all positives but the downside is that your fairing, headlamp and...

How to check your motorcycle cooling system and have a fun-packed summer in 2025!

01 August 2024 by Bruce Dunn and Jim Blackstock

Checking your motorcycle cooling system is important whenever you plan to ride, but it’s a particularly big deal in the summer when the ambient temperature is high. Motorcycle engines are designed...

Save money and learn how to do basic oil and filter servicing on your motorcycle with MCN's expert

31 July 2024 by Bruce Dunn

The oil in your motorbike’s engine plays an incredibly important role. It acts as a cushion between moving parts, such as between camshaft and head, reducing friction and wear. Jump to: The right...

How to change your motorbike's brake pads at home and boost both safety and performance

31 July 2024 by Bruce Dunn

However hard you ride and however many miles you cover, eventually your motorbike will need new brake pads fitted. Brake pads only have a certain lifespan as the friction material on them gradually...

Plug and play: How check and change your motorcycle spark plugs

31 July 2024 by Jim Blackstock

Unless you own a diesel motorcycle, then the spark plug in your petrol engine is probably one of the most key components if you want to operate your bike. Of course, there are others – tyres, brakes...