Checking over your bike for potential issues before going riding is really important.
Not only will it save you from pushing your bike back to camp because of a breakdown, but regular bike maintenance is crucial to keeping your dirt bike healthy.
A healthy bike is a happy bike and that means it will operate better for you and it will also retain more value when or if it comes time to sell it (hell no!).
All it takes is one snapped chain or an empty radiator and your planned day of riding is all over.
By spending 30 minutes going over your bike and checking for loose or broken parts you will avoid this problem and your bike will last longer.
Also, if you want to start racing, then checking your bike over a few days before the race is absolutely essential if you ever want to even finish.
Bikes cop an absolute thrashing when racing so if something is going to fall off, you can bet that it will be half way through your race.
Do your bike inspection a few days before a race so you will be able to order and fit broken parts.
Over the years I have developed a formula for doing a full inspection on my bike.
The plan does deviate from time to time but the core inspection list is what I will be talking about in this blog post.
So here is my 21 point dirt bike maintenance checklist that I use to check my bike before going for a ride.
Summary
#1 Check your wheel bearings by using lateral movement.
#2 Check your steering head bearing by using lateral movement.
#3 Check your linkage, suspension and swing-arm Bearings.
#4 Check your spokes and tighten any loose spokes.
#5 Check the air pressure in your tires.
#6 Check your tread and replace worn tires.
#7 Check your rear axle nut and tighten if it is loose.
#8 Check your brake pads, calipers, rotors, lines and cables.
#9 Check the tension on your chain and tighten if necessary.
#10 Check your sprockets for wear. Replace if necessary.
#11 Clean out your air box and oil up the filter.
#12 Make sure you are using a fresh spark plug.
#13 Check your forks for leaks.
#14 Check your controls and make sure everything is working properly.
#15 Check your lights and battery if you ride a dual sport.
#16 Check your engine mounting bolts.
#17 Make sure the bike is completely lubed up in all areas.
#18 Check your bike for any leaks.
#19 Replace the fuel if it is old.
#20 Check all fluid levels.
#21 Replace worn and broken parts.
#22 Go over your bike and tighten everything.
#23 Make sure you run your bike before going riding.
#1 Wheel Bearings.
Wheel bearings take a beating and they get worn down from sand and grit over time.
#2 Steering Head Bearing.
While the bike is up on the stand, check for any movement on the steering head by using the same lateral movement.
If there is movement it means that you will need to replace the bearing in the steering head as well.
If you want to do it yourself check out this video that will show you how to do it step by step.
#3 Linkage, Suspension and Swingarm Bearings.
Your linkage and shock area takes the brunt of all the impact on a dirt bike and so these bearings wear out fast if you are a regular rider.
If you would like to do it yourself, check out this video here that will go thru it all step by step –
#4 Spokes.
It’s really important to keep your spokes tight so the rims don’t buckle while you are riding.
To tighten spokes, get yourself a spoke tightening tool and keep it in your dirt bike tool kit.
#5 Air Pressure.
Check the air pressure on the wheels. I keep my pressure at 14-16 psi.
Any more pressure than this and you will have a much bumpier ride.
Air pressure will reduce slowly over time even without punctures so make sure you keep your tire pressure at the right level.
#6 Rubber.
Make sure you have a decent amount of tread on the tires. If not, throw on a new set.
#7 Rear Axle Nut.
Always check to see that the rear axle nut is tight using a socket wrench.
If it’s loose it will easily spin off during a ride and you will never see it again.
Losing your axle nut means that your rear wheel floating around and you may even lose your axle which would be total disaster.
I use Nihilo nylock rear axle nuts. They are anodized aluminium so they won’t rust. They also have that aftermarket look that will impress your riding buddies. Nice.
#8 Brakes.
Make sure there’s enough meat on your brake pads to last the ride that you are about to go on.
Check the brake cables and make sure they are healthy and are not crunching or grinding. Any damage to the cables need to be replaced immediately.
#9 Chain.
Check your chain tension and re-lube the chain.
Check your bike manual to know what the correct chain tension is for your bike.
Changing the tension on your chain is easy. This video will guide you through it step by step.
#10 Sprockets.
I always check the sprockets for wear and replace them immediately if the teeth are worn down. Worn down teeth means that the chain will slip.
Here’s a great video that explains the gearing ratios on a dirt bike –
#11 Air box.
Clean out the air box and wash and re-oil the air filter. Clean out all the dirt that gets trapped in the bottom of the air box.
#12 Spark Plug.
This one is more important for 2 stroke riders but it still applies for the 4 strokes as well. Check your spark plug and replace it if it is starting to foul up.
The expensive racing plugs are built from expensive metals such as titanium & gold and they just work better and don’t foul up as much. They are also better for throttle response.
I Use NGK racing spark plugs. They cost about 30 bucks and last for ages. Worth every cent.

#13 Forks.
Release any air that has built up in the forks and check for leaks around the fork seals.
#14 Controls.
Activate all your controls to make sure they are working at 100% capacity.
- Front/rear brakes
- Clutch
- Throttle
#15 Electricals.
If you ride enduro, dual sport, adventure or road, check your electricals to make sure everything is working.
Check headlight for high and low beam, indicators, brake lights, horn and speedo gauge is all operational.
Check the charge on your battery, if it’s low, place it on the battery charger or replace it entirely if it has been consistently running low on charge.
#16 Engine Mounting Bolts.
Go over the engine mount bolts with a socket wrench to make sure they are tight.
Loose bolts can cause awful amounts of vibration though the bike and can even cause the mounts to break. Check these often.
#17 Lube up.
Lube your chain and lube up all other moving parts with lube spray.
Lube up your steering head bearings, linkage bearings and swing arm bearings.
If these aren’t properly lubed then they will seize up and break down really fast.
#18 Check for Leaks.
Check for leaks around the engine casing, oil drain bolt, forks, clutch or brake cables and fuel lines.
#19 Drain the Fuel.
If your bike has been sitting for a while with some gas in the tank, I always drain it and replace with fresh gas.
#20 Fluid Levels.
There are 3 fluid levels to check.
Engine oil level. Always keep an eye on this as if you lose your oil then you will blow your engine. Keep your engine oil full at all times and replace the oil frequently, as recommended by your owners manual. To check the oil, place your bike on an even, flat surface and check the oil window on your engine casing. If it is sitting below the recommended line, fill it up.
Coolant level. Twist the radiator cap off and check that coolant level. If it’s low, top it up using the right coolant.
Master cylinders. Check your hydraulic fluid on your levers. If they are low give them a top up because you really don’t want these to fail when you need them the most.
#21 Replace Worn or Broken Parts.
Replacing worn or damaged parts will always save you from a much greater cost down the track so make sure you stay on top of this.
Over time you will accumulate dirt bike parts, don’t throw these away or sell them!
Store them away in drawers or boxes and you will find they will come in handy when you have to replace worn or broken parts down the track.
If you need to replace any parts, make sure you have given yourself plenty of time to order the parts, have them delivered or go pick them up, and installed with some time to spare.
#22 Fasten Everything.
I always go over my bike with a socket wrench and screwdriver and make sure all the nuts and bolts are fully fastened, including the faring bolts.
#23 Run the Bike!
The night before your ride, always run your bike until it gets hot and go for a short ride if you can. This will identify any engine, suspension, exhaust or any other problems that you haven’t spotted from the 21 point inspection.
Conclusion
If you want to get the most out of your dirt bike then regular maintenance is a must. Follow my 23 point program and you can’t go wrong. Have I missed anything? Let me know in the comments below and please like and share this post if you liked it.
Happy riding.
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