Troubleshooting Issues With Your Motorcycle

When you want to chase down that horizon, there’s no better way than on your motorcycle. But like any machine, a motorcycle may sometimes experience strange hiccups and require maintenance. We here at Langston Motorsports want to help you tackle any issues you come up against, so we’ve put together some ways to troubleshoot common problems with your motorcycle. To learn more, or to see the motorcycles we have for sale, contact our store in Perris, California, today!

Engine Won’t Turn Over

One of the most common issues with a motorcycle, like with most vehicles, is the engine not turning over. The best place to start your troubleshooting is the battery. You can use a multimeter or voltmeter to check the voltage on your battery, which will ideally read as 12.6-12.8 V. If the voltage is too low, the battery doesn’t have enough power to start the engine. 

In this case, you’ll want to charge the battery, but you might need to replace it entirely. Once the battery is fully charged, check the voltage. If a fully charged battery drops below 11.5 V, it’s time to get a new one.

Fuel Injector

Another source of engine-starting trouble can be a clogged fuel injector. If it tries to turn over but never fully starts, that’s the likely culprit. Regular riding can prevent this, since it keeps fuel flowing through the injector. Clogs occur when the bike is left sitting for long periods of time, causing the fuel in the injector to gel up. 

You can manually inspect your injectors yourself. If they look dirty or clogged, they’ll need to be cleaned or even replaced. There are cleaning solutions meant specifically for fuel injectors, and a tool made for the same purpose. However, these are inexpensive parts, so a replacement might be simpler.

Engine Cut-Off Switch

It can be easy to flip the kill switch off and forget about it, since the ignition key is what most folks tend to use to start and stop the engine. If your engine won’t start, check to make sure this is in the correct position.

Spark Plugs

Dying spark plugs can cause the engine to run poorly, but when they finally go out, they can prevent it from starting entirely. If the ceramic coating is intact, a simple cleaning might do the trick. If it’s cracked, however, you’ll need new plugs. 

Disc Brake Noise

Noisy brakes are an annoying thing to run into, and there are a number of potential causes. Your brake pads might be loose or worn out, or you might have brake dust in the drum. If there’s no visible issue with the pads and you think brake dust is possible, leave the fix to a professional. Brake dust can be immensely dangerous if inhaled.

We hope this guide helps keep you riding! To learn more, contact us at Langston Motorsports. We proudly serve Temecula and Orange County, California—let us serve you today!