There’s almost nothing worse than getting ready to take your bike out on the open road, only to discover that your bike isn’t working properly. At best, it’s inconvenient. At worst, it puts you and other drivers in jeopardy.

In today’s post, we’ll provide you with a brief overview of some of the most common motorcycle problems riders experience at home and on the road. While this guide is meant to serve as a helpful resource for commonly experienced problems, it’s no substitute for the advice of a professional motorcycle expert. Please consult with a certified technician if you are experiencing any of these problems. When you’ve finished reading this post, be sure to shop our selection of custom motorcycle wheels, custom exhaust pipes, and more!

Halting While Riding

Feeling your bike slow down beneath you on a busy road is one of the scariest moments things you can experience during a ride. This problem is fairly common during the winter, especially if your motorcycle has been sitting in the cold for a few days. If your bike is halting while you ride, you should check to ensure that your carburetor is transferring enough fuel to the engine during your ride. Pull over when it is safe to do so and check t the fuel line for damage. Call for help if you discover that your fuel line is in fact damaged, as you could easily get into an accident without a properly functioning fuel system.

Increased Fuel Consumption 

Is your bike consuming more fuel than it used to? While newer models are fairly efficient, you don’t want to unnecessarily spend your hard-earned money filling up more frequently than is necessary. If you find that filling up your motorcycle is costing you more than you expected when you initially purchased it, the first thing you should consider is how you ride your bike. Braking and accelerating quickly will decrease your fuel efficiency. While it’s certainly fun to take off like a rocket as soon as the light turns green, you’ll have to stop to gas up more frequently. Take off and stop more evenly to save on gas. (Plus, slowing down earlier will give other drivers enough time to see your new custom motorcycle wheels)

In cases where you’re already conscious of your riding habits and your fuel consumption seems to be increasing without an explanation, you should consider bringing your bike to a professional for an inspection and/or cleaning. In many cases, the problem is that your engine has become dirty and clogged with low-quality fuel and simply needs to be cleaned out. Dirty spark plugs are one of the most common causes of poor performance, so be proactive about checking the parts of your bike that can become dirty or less efficient as they age. Using the proper octane will help keep your engine cleaner and may also improve your MPG!

Dead Batteries

A dead battery isn’t the most expensive problem you can have with your bike, but it can be incredibly inconvenient. Just like cars that sit in garages for long periods of time, a motorcycle that you only ride on the weekend will probably lose its charge over time. If you plan on storing your bike for the winter, or if you’re not sure when your next ride will be, disconnect your battery and charge it before you plan to hit the road. You may want to invest in an automatic battery charger, as many older chargers will not stop charging your battery when it’s full. As a general rule of thumb, plan to maintain your battery if you ride your bike fewer than 25 miles or less than five hours each week.

Your battery may keep dying even after you’ve charged it, and in most cases, the cause of this problem is simply that the battery has reached the end of its lifespan, or that the alternator isn’t completely charging the battery.

It’s important to note that faulty wiring can also cause your battery to drain over time, so it’s always a good idea to have your bike inspected by a professional when your battery is acting up.

These are just a few of the most common problems we’ve experienced with our motorcycles over the years. Keep an eye on our blog page for future posts, as we’ll continue to explore this topic in the coming weeks and months.

RC Components is proud to be your go-to supplier of custom motorcycle wheels, exhaust pipes, and more! Browse our extensive catalog online, and don’t hesitate to reach out to us if you would like assistance with your order.