Mini Moto Maintenance

As a continuation of our guide to mini motos, today's post will be dealing with the maintenance of your mini moto and how to keep it it in good working order.

Knowing what actions to take and how often to keep your bike running is essential to ownership. Some general pointers to mention first:

• Read the manual! This cannot be stressed enough. The manual will be your first port of call for diagnosing any problems with your bike. Using the manual, help to familiarise yourself with the locations of the parts of your bike. Take heed of any precautions or special routines you must do before first running your bike.
• Mini Motos will not run on straight petrol, you will need to make a mix of petrol with special two stroke engine oil at a ratio of 25:1. Failure to do so can cause a lot of damage to your engine. Have some pre-mixed to take with you when riding your moto.
• Having at least a basic working knowledge of your mini moto will help you to diagnose and prevent problems. If possible, have someone with experience on hand to help you work on your moto.
• Know how to properly start your mini moto. Not following the correct start up procedure could result in damage or premature wear to certain parts. Read your manual for the correct procedure.
  

Prevention is better than cure, as the saying goes. Therefore it makes sense to have regular check ups of certain parts and systems on your mini moto. We have outlines some maintenance checks below which you should find useful.

Very frequently, ideally before every ride, you should be checking the following:

• Check all cables, especially the brakes. Are there any signs of fraying or corrosion? Are they taught? If you suspect any problems replace the cable as soon as possible.
• Brakes; do they feel worn? Has any mud or other debris got onto the braking surface? Don't forget to check the brake leavers also, are they correctly adjusted according the manual.
• Are all the nuts and bolts sufficiently tight? A loose nut or bolt could be potentially dangerous. Do not over tighten.
  
• Check the tyre pressure. Under inflated tyres will wear the tread quickly. Mini moto tyres are very small and so wear qucikly and need to be monitored closely.
  
• Clean your air filter; dry it thoroughly again before use.
• Last but not least, wash your moto regularly. Debris, dirt and mud getting into mechanical parts can prevent them from working properly and decrease their working life.

Less frequently, but still on a regular basis:

• Clean your chain properly, then lube it with good quality oil. This will help keep your ride smooth and extend the working life your mini moto chain and sprockets.
• Remove and clean out any debris from the carburetta.
• Look at and check the steering and engine bolts, make sure they are tight and secure. Also, check your wheel and steering bearings to see if they are worn.
• Check the clutch pads, adjust the clutch accordingly if necessary.

These pointers along with any other specifics mentioned in the manual should help you to get the most out of your mini moto. If you need to replace any parts we stock a range of mini moto spares on our website.