You want your motocross bike to be running like a top.
Every rider loves it when your bike fires up first thing before the race and sounds like a hungry lion.
The problem…
MOST riders completely RUIN their motocross maintenance program.
They either do too little or do way too much.
And this is costing them thousands in lost race time and money.
HERE’S what you will learn from this motocross maintenance guide.
- THE Pre-Race Motocross Maintenance Checklist
- Money-Saving Motocross Maintenance Hacks
- How To Diagnose Problems BEFORE they DESTROY your Bike
- Maintenance Schedules from Actual PROFESSIONALS
Motocross Maintenance Compared to Regular Bikes
Motocross DESTROYS bikes.
Whereas your neighbor with his sportbike to work every day is taking pretty good care of his bike, you are riding your motocross bike to the extreme.
We are talking, massive jumps, roost storms, and riding through water, mud, rocks, and other substances most street bikes will never see.
Here’s the REALITY of motocross maintenance.
The average motocross rider works two hours for every hour of riding time.
This means literally…working on your bike, not just riding it.
Sounds like a lot to you? It is.
But it’s FAR less than having to watch your bike being carted away after blowing up trackside during a race.
And the more serious you get about racing and traveling to different tracks to compete, the more important it is that you have a rock-solid motocross maintenance program that works.
You’ll be traveling to different tracks often, so your best bet is to invest in stress-free vehicle shipping so that while the pros handle shipping your race-ready bike safely from one track to the next, you are busy getting prepped for competition.
All of this is what motocross is. The sport tears apart your bike. Period.
This means, as much as you love to ride your bike, if you don’t have an a-1 motocross maintenance program, you are wasting your time.
And you will be sidelined much more than you ever want to be.
Thankfully…
Here’s exactly what you need to be doing in order to keep your bike race-ready without spending thousands of dollars or your entire weekends wrenching away in your garage.
The Essential 6-Point Pre-Race Maintenance Checklist
Look, these 6 items you MUST check before EVERY single ride. Do this and you’ll never be on the side of the track with a blown engine and everyone looking at you as they ride past to the starting grid.
- Air Filter
- Oil level and color
- Chain Tension
- Tire Pressure
- Brake Function
- Starter Battery
Pretty simple stuff, right?
Motocross Maintenance Hacks To Save You Money
Here’s the straight skinny on motocross maintenance costs.
The average motorcycle rider spends anywhere from $70 to $400 per year on regular maintenance.
Smart riders spend a lot less by doing it themselves.
Oil Change Frequency:
The average rider changes their oil after EVERY 3 hours of riding time.
Yep. They do it because it’s “safer.” Think about it for a second.
- NORMAL off-road conditions. Every 20 to 30 hours of riding time.
- DUSTY or MUDGY off-road conditions. Every 15 hours of riding time.
- RACING conditions. Every 10 hours of riding time.
Air Filter Rotation System:
Buy 3 air filters and rotate them in a system. While one is in the bike, one is drying and one is ready to go. It will extend the life of your air filter and save you money.
Chain Maintenance:
Clean and lube your chain after EVERY ride. A $8 bottle of chain lube lasts forever, but a new chain and sprocket set costs you $150+.
Preventive Over Reactive:
Fix small problems before they become BIG problems. A $20 seal costs a fraction of a $500 transmission rebuild.
How to Diagnose Problems BEFORE they DESTROY Your Bike
Listen to Your Bike:
Your bike is talking to you all the time. You just need to learn to listen.
- Knocking sounds. Engine problems. Stop riding the bike.
- Grinding Noises. Brake Pads or wheel bearings.
- Rattling. Loose bolts or worn components.
- Changes in engine note. Carburetor or fuel system.
Visual Inspection Saves you Money:
Walk around your bike BEFORE you ride every single ride.
- Fluid leaks. Oil, coolant or brake fluid on the ground?
- Tire wear. Check for even wear patterns on the tires. Uneven wear indicates suspension issues.
- Cable condition. Are any of your cables frayed? They WILL break at the worst possible time.
- Bolt tightness. Look for any loose bolts. Vibration loosens every bolt over time.
Performance Changes:
- Hard starting. Usually a carburetor or electrical problem.
- Loss of power. Air filter, fuel system or engine wear.
- Poor handling. Suspension settings or tires.
- Overheating. Cooling system maintenance is needed.
Maintenance Schedules From Real Professional Racers
HERE ARE some actual professional motocross maintenance schedules that work. Pretty simple and if you can follow this, your bike will always be in tip-top shape.
Maintenance every ride (5 minutes):
- Air filter
- Oil Level
- Chain lubrication
- Quick visual inspection
Maintenance every 3 rides (30 minutes):
- Wash the bike good.
- Chain adjustment
- Brake inspection
- Bolt tightness check
Maintenance every 10 hours (2 hours):
- Oil and filter change
- Air filter deep clean
- Check and adjust suspension settings
- Replace drive chain if needed
Maintenance every 20 hours (4 hours):
- Check valve clearance (only 4-strokes)
- Wheel bearing check
- Steering head bearing check
- Exhaust system inspection
Maintenance every 50 hours (Full day):
- Top-end inspection
- Suspension service
- Complete drivetrain service
- Complete electrical system check
The 4-Stroke versus the 2-Stroke Reality:
Let’s get this straight right now. 4-Stroke riders often believe their bikes require more maintenance than 2-strokes but this isn’t true.
A well-maintained 4-stroke will go 80+ hours before needing a top-end rebuild while 2-strokes need work after 50 hours on average.
The secret is adhering to a strict maintenance schedule.
Advanced Maintenance Tips For Serious Racers
Keep Detailed Records:
Track and record EVERY maintenance item along with the dates and hours. This will:
- Help you predict when parts will need replacement.
- Help you identify patterns in wear.
- Maintain your warranty coverage.
- Increase the resale value of your bike.
Seasonal Preparation:
- Spring: Fresh fluids, new spark plug, check suspension.
- Summer: Extra cooling system attention, air filter changes.
- Fall: Chain and sprocket inspection, bearing service.
- Winter: Storage preparation, deep cleaning, order parts.
Tools That Matter:
Don’t be cheap on your tools. A good torque wrench can help prevent over-tightening damage. Quality hex keys will never strip bolts. Professional air filter cleaning kits work better than aluminum foil.
Quality parts are well worth the extra expense.
It’s the difference between having to rework something to get it to fit or work properly or not.
Don’t cheap out here. OEM parts are more expensive upfront, but they last longer and fit perfectly.
Cheap aftermarket parts will usually give you more problems than they solve.
Wrapping it All Up
Motocross maintenance doesn’t need to be hard or expensive.
The key is CONSISTENCY.
Five minutes after every ride beats 5 hours every month.
Your bike will not only run better, it will last longer and keep you on the track rather than on the sidelines pushing your bike to the pits.
THE golden rule is to PREVENT problems rather than FIX them.
Focus on the basics. Oil, air filter, chain, and tires.
Master those four areas and you can prevent 90% of trackside breakdowns.
Treat your bike like the racing partner that it is and it will take care of you when it matters most.
Want to level up your maintenance game? Pick just one area from this list and focus on this for the next month. After a month, it becomes a habit and you can add another.
Before long, you’ll be the rider everyone asks for maintenance advice and more importantly, the rider that everyone else is watching on the side of the track pushing their bikes back to the pits.
