What are the maintenance costs associated with owning a motorcycle in South Africa?
Many riders want to be able to get on their bikes at any time and go for an extended ride. The only way to ensure this is by taking care of their motorcycles with regular maintenance. We look closer at the costs you can expect for essential maintenance.
Counting the cost
You have spent quite a bit of your hard-earned cash on a bike, and it only makes sense that you want to take care of your machine. There are essential maintenance tasks that need to be carried out on your bike throughout the year, and not everyone knows what these tasks are.
Related: What are the signs of motorbike engine problems and how do I troubleshoot them?
Below, we examine the 5 most important functions and what you can expect to pay for them. Naturally, the pricing does not always indicate your bike, as some costs might be much higher while others are lower. We highly advise checking with your local bike shop or dealer to find out what you will have to pay for your particular bike.
How do I perform basic motorbike maintenance tasks such as oil changes and chain adjustments?
1. Service interval
Most motorcycles require service every 10 000 km or once a year. These services usually encompass an oil and oil filter change, sparkplug/s, and air filter. A minor service should cost about R2 500, including labour and parts, while a major service, for more exacting work, can cost upwards of R6 500. Speak to your service advisor about your bike's service schedule and parts usage.
2. Brakes
A hydraulic system handles bringing your bike to a stop and needs to be maintained and serviced. Your braking system works incredibly hard and, therefore, needs a lot of attention. We'll require servicing more regularly than any other part on your bike. Pads and rotors can cost anywhere from R1 500 to R12 000, depending on your make and model and the complexity of the system, but this should never be left until it's too late.
3. Tyres
Your tyres are the only contact that you have with the road and at any given time that contact patch is no bigger than the palm of your hand so the right tyre and compound for your riding type and style is essential. There are hundreds of brands and compounds out there and finding the right one for you is about trial and error. A rule of thumb to follow here is the softer the compound, the better the grip and traction handling but the faster the wear will be. Harder compound tyres wear better but may not be that confidence-inspiring in wet or cold weather.
A good set of tyres, in a standard size like 17-inch, front and rear will set you back around R5 500 on average and will give a good balance of grip and wear life.
4. Sprockets and Chain
The vast majority of bikes on the road today make us of a sprocket and chain drive arrangement. Depending on the power output of your bike the chain and sprockets will wear at a predictable pace. The more power you put through the system the faster the parts will wear. The chain will stretch and the teeth on the sprocket will wear down and these will need to be replaced. Replacement kits can range between R2 200 and R9 500 depending on the bike model and source of the parts.
5. Shock absorbers
Your front and rear shocks do not wear as fast as the other parts of your bike, but when they are worn, they can lead to handling problems and comfort issues. Most often, the shock won't need to be replaced; rather, it will just need to be serviced with new seals and oil. Shock services can range from R2 800 to R8 500 per set, depending on the complexity of the shock and parts availability, but they are largely a labour-intensive operation.
