Tire and battery maintenance……You ever have one of those days where your motorcycle just… quits on you? Not a dramatic Hollywood explosion or anything. Just silence. You push the starter button, and it’s like the bike looked at you and said, “Nah bro, not today.”
Yeah. That was me last summer, middle of July, sweat pouring off me like I was in a sauna hosted by Satan himself. And what was the problem? A dead battery and a bald rear tire. Double whammy. I should’ve seen it coming, but let’s be real — I was too busy trying to look cool revving the engine at stoplights.
So now, whenever someone asks how to keep a motorcycle in peak condition, I say: “Man, just take care of your tires and battery. Seriously.” Everything else can fall in line after that. But those two? Ignore them and your bike will betray you like a cat you tried to bathe.
Let’s talk about it.
Why Tires & Battery? Why Not the Fancy Stuff?
Look, I love performance mods and fancy tech upgrades as much as the next guy. Give me a GPS dash with integrated Spotify and I’m a happy man. But none of that means jack if your tires are slicker than a bowling lane and your battery is more drained than me after a family reunion.
Tires and batteries are the silent heroes. The unsung backbone. The peanut butter to your jelly ride.
And they fail quietly. No fireworks. Just one day you’re on the side of the road staring at your dead bike wondering if this is karma for ignoring your ex’s texts.
Motorcycle Tire Maintenance (aka Don’t Be a Squid)
You’d be shocked how many people don’t check their tire pressure. Like, ever. I had a buddy who rode on 20 PSI for two weeks and couldn’t figure out why turning felt like wrestling a sea lion. I thought he was joking. He wasn’t.
Here’s what I learned (sometimes the hard way):
- Check your pressure every week or two. I do mine on Sundays — it’s my bike-and-coffee ritual.
- Get a decent pressure gauge, not one of those $1 gas station ones. I use a digital one I found on Amazon — not fancy, just reliable.
- Know your bike’s PSI sweet spot. Mine runs best at 36 front, 42 rear, but it’s in the manual — check yours.
Also, look at your tread. Like, with your actual eyes.
If your tire looks like a racing slick from the 1950s, it’s time. Don’t wait till you’re hydroplaning on a rainy Tuesday commute with regret in your heart.
Pro Tip: Stick a penny in the tread, Lincoln’s head first. If you see his entire noggin, your tire’s toast.
And yeah, tire age matters too. Even if the tread’s fine, rubber degrades. If they’re more than 5 years old? Replace ’em. Rubber cracks aren’t “vintage,” they’re death wishes.
Battery Maintenance (Don’t Let It Die a Slow, Boring Death)
Now. Batteries.
These little bricks of betrayal have left me stranded more than I care to admit. Sometimes it’s my fault. Sometimes the universe just wants to remind me I’m not in control.
Let me paint you a picture:
It’s fall. You’re ready for a weekend ride through the backroads with a GoPro strapped to your helmet like you’re starring in your own travel show. You hit the starter.
Click.
Nothing.
Just a little sad click like your bike is whispering, “lol, nope.”
Here’s how I avoid that now:
- Keep it charged. Get a battery tender (I use the Battery Tender Junior). It’s like life support for your bike when you’re not riding daily.
- Clean the terminals. Every few months. Corrosion builds up like bad vibes — slowly, then all at once.
- Check voltage. A healthy battery should read 12.6V or more. Anything under 12? It’s fading faster than your New Year’s resolution.
I had one battery die mid-ride because it had a loose terminal. The fix? Just tightening the bolt. Took 10 seconds. But first I had to push the bike half a mile in full gear because of that one tiny thing.
Don’t be me.
Bonus Tips from a Guy Who’s Learned Stuff the Stupid Way
Let’s rapid-fire this:
- Avoid tire shine spray — it makes them look cool, yes, but it also turns them into slip-n-slides. Ask me how I know.
- If your battery is bloated or smells funky — get rid of it. That’s not character, it’s danger.
- Cold kills batteries. Winterize, or at least pull the battery and keep it indoors if your garage gets Antarctica cold.
And if you’re feeling fancy, you can upgrade to lithium batteries. They’re lighter, last longer, and don’t lose charge as fast. But they’re also pricier, so weigh your options.
A Real Talk about tire and battery maintenance
You don’t need to be a mechanic to do this stuff. I’m not. I still mix up a torque wrench and a socket sometimes. (Don’t tell my uncle.)
But just giving a crap about your tires and battery can mean the difference between riding off into the sunset… and standing next to your dead bike googling “tow truck motorcycle near me.”
It’s not glamorous. No one’s gonna make a movie about tire pressure. But it matters.
And I get it — life’s busy. You’ve got emails and errands and probably a half-dead plant somewhere you swore you’d water. But motorcycles are freedom machines, and freedom doesn’t come cheap. It comes with a little effort, some dirty fingernails, and maybe a battery tender named Steve. (Yes, I named mine.)https://bikelovezone.com/battery-maintenance-for-motorcycles/.
Need More? Check These Out: Tire and battery maintenance
- This hilarious blog about motorcycle fails and lessons learned the hard way — worth a read even if you’re not riding today.
- Revzilla’s guide to tire choices — for when you’re ready to upgrade and don’t want to be overwhelmed by rubber jargon.
Final Thoughts about tire and battery maintenance
If you take anything away from this ramble of a blog post, let it be this:
Check your tires. Charge your battery. Don’t wait till you’re stranded.
And hey, if you screw it up once in a while? That’s okay too. We’ve all been there. Heck, I once zip-tied my rear fender on because I lost all the bolts and refused to Uber home. Was it safe? Debatable. Did it work? Absolutely.
Your motorcycle doesn’t need perfection. It just needs attention. Some care. Maybe a quick once-over before a ride. And a battery that doesn’t give up on you at the worst possible time.
Ride safe, stay messy, and if your bike ever clicks at you in rebellion — just remember this post and laugh.
