So. There I was. Essential tire and battery care tips…. Fully geared up. Helmet on, gloves snug, earbuds in, soundtrack blasting — “Born to Be Wild” if you’re curious (yes, I know it’s cliché). I pressed the starter.
Click.
…And nothing. Not even a cough from the engine. Just the sound of my weekend slowly circling the drain. My battery had decided that today was the perfect day to quit life. And the tire? Flat. Because of course it was. It was like my bike had staged a quiet little mutiny.
That’s when I swore I’d never again ignore the essential tire and battery care tips that every motorcycle rider — even the slightly careless ones like me — really should follow. So if you’ve ever found yourself stuck in your driveway cursing at your handlebars, this one’s for you.
Tires and Batteries: The Overlooked Duo of Doom
Let’s be real — we spend a lot of time talking about mods and performance and shiny new gear. But you know what gets forgotten faster than your buddy’s ex’s name?
Tires and batteries.
They’re not flashy. They’re not sexy. But when they fail? Ohhhh, they fail hard. Like, “why do I smell burning rubber?” hard. Or “why is my bike a $5,000 paperweight right now?” kind of hard.
So let’s chat — just like two friends who’ve definitely both made dumb mistakes and survived to laugh about it.
Tire Talk: Don’t Wait Till You’re Skidding
🏍️ Check Your Pressure (Before Regret Checks You)
Look. I get it. The temptation to “just ride” is real. I’ve skipped tire checks because I was running late or just… lazy. But riding with low pressure is like wearing flip-flops to hike a mountain. You can, but should you? Absolutely not.
Your tires lose pressure over time — even if they’re just sitting in the garage being all innocent. Cold weather? They drop faster than your phone off the nightstand at 2am.
I keep a digital tire pressure gauge in my glove box now. It’s not fancy. It beeps and lies sometimes. But it gets the job done.
Pro tip: Check pressure when tires are cold, not after you’ve done donuts in the parking lot (don’t ask why I know that).
🔍 Inspect for Weird Stuff
- Tread depth: If you’re looking at your tires like “Hmm, this seems fine”, and you’re not sure — just do the penny test.
- Cracks: Little sidewall cracks are NOT just “character marks.” They’re red flags.
- Nails, screws, ancient chewing gum: My personal record is a stapler pin lodged sideways. I wish I was kidding.
⏳ Know Their Age (Even If You Don’t Know Their Backstory)
Tires age like milk, not wine. Even if the tread looks okay, that rubber breaks down. If yours are more than five years old, it’s time to start saving up. The last four digits of the DOT code on the tire tell you the week and year it was made. (Yeah, that code? Not just for nerds.)
Battery Basics: Treat It Like Your Bike’s Soul (Because It Kinda Is)
Batteries are like that friend who’s chill until they suddenly block your number. Everything’s fine… and then boom. Dead.
So here’s how I stopped letting my battery ruin my social life (and Saturdays).
🔌 Keep That Baby Charged
If your bike sits for more than a week or two? Get a battery tender. I finally got one after missing a group ride because my battery straight-up died of boredom. Now it’s always plugged in, like it’s napping with one eye open.
Some of them even have Bluetooth. (I’m not that fancy yet. But a man can dream.) https://bikelovezone.com/battery-maintenance-for-motorcycles/.
🧽 Clean the Gunk
Ever popped your seat and seen that fuzzy green science experiment on your terminals? Yeah, that’s corrosion, not a design feature.
Unhook the battery (negative first!), grab an old toothbrush, and scrub. Add baking soda and a little water if it’s really crusty.
“Hey man, is your battery… melting?” — my neighbor, after seeing my terminal mess once. I still haven’t recovered emotionally.
🔋 Know Your Voltage, Love Your Voltage
Get yourself a multimeter. You can find one for like $10 that’ll save you $200 in therapy. A healthy battery should read around 12.6 to 13 volts. If it’s under 12? It’s probably crying out for help.
If it dips below 10 while cranking? It’s ghosting you.
❄️ Winter? More Like Battery Exile Season for essential tire and battery care tips
Cold weather + no rides = dead battery.
Either plug it into a tender or remove it and keep it indoors. A buddy of mine leaves his battery next to his Keurig all winter — says it keeps the battery “socialized.” I have questions, but hey, it works.
Other Dumb Things I’ve Done (So You Don’t Have To)
Let’s just list a few greatest hits:
- Rode 80 miles with one tire under 20 PSI — felt like wrestling a shopping cart through gravel.
- Jumpstarted my bike using a truck battery without checking amps. Yeah, sparks happened.
- Let my battery sit unplugged for two months. It legit had a bulge. Batteries should NOT bulge.
Quick-Fix Checklist for the Forgetful Rider
Because we all need reminders that aren’t in Comic Sans:
Monthly Motorcycle Care Checklist
- Tire pressure (front & rear — check cold)
- Tread depth + check for wear/cracks
- Look for any embedded surprises
- Check battery voltage
- Wipe down terminals
- Plug in battery tender if not riding
Stick this on your fridge. Or tape it to your gas tank. Or tattoo it on your forearm. I won’t judge.
Final Thoughts
I used to think essential tire and battery care tips was for real bikers. Like the guys with matching leather and GoPros and opinions about fork oil.
But you know what? It’s for all of us. Because nothing kills the freedom of the open road faster than a dead battery or a wobbly tire. Ask me how I know (or just read the first paragraph again).
If you love your ride — or even like it a lot — show it some love. Check the pressure. Plug in the tender. Take five minutes now so you don’t lose five hours later waiting for a tow truck with a guy named Rick who smells like beef jerky and disappointment.
Need a Laugh or Some Wisdom? Try These:
- This hilarious battery tender review on RevZilla where the guy names his charger “Gerald” — it’s weirdly emotional and way too relatable. Also, the comments? Pure gold.
- Tire myths that seriously need to die by FortNine — Like, yes, you do need to warm up your tires, and no, slicks are not for the street. Trust me, this video cleared up stuff even the dudes at the bar get wrong.
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