Bike care myths we hear in the workshop

Every week, customers tell us about habits they have followed for years because a friend, a father or an older mechanic said so. Some are harmless. Others cost money. Here are the five we hear most often in our workshop.

You must warm the engine up for ten minutes. Modern fuel-injected bikes need only 30 to 60 seconds of idling before you ride off gently. Ten minutes of idling wastes fuel and heats the engine unevenly. Ride gently for the first few kilometres instead, which warms the gearbox and tyres too.

Topping up the oil is as good as changing it. It is not. Topping up adds clean oil to old oil that has already broken down and collected dirt. It helps if the level is low between services, but the oil still needs changing on schedule.

Wash the chain with diesel or kerosene. Both strip away the grease inside the chain’s rollers and can damage the O-rings on sealed chains. Use a proper chain cleaner or mild soapy water and a brush, dry it, then apply chain lube. A new bike does not need a service until something goes wrong. The first service, usually at 500 to 1,000 km, is the most important one. It removes metal particles from the running-in period and checks bolts that settle after the first rides. High-octane petrol makes every bike faster. Higher-octane fuel helps only engines designed for it. In most commuter bikes, regular petrol is exactly what the manual asks for. Save the money for a good chain lube.