Dirt Bike Maintenance Schedule (Checklist for Overlooked & Common Items Included)

Motorcycle maintenance can be a funny thing. Some guys LOVE maintaining their bikes and keeping up on all of the scheduled to-dos. On the other hand, there are other guys who just want to ride… and that’s it. I’m somewhere in the middle. If I had to choose between working on a bike or riding a bike – easy choice. I’d choose to ride it. However, I also like to know that when I’m out riding, my bike is going to perform well and last as long as possible.

A good dirt bike maintenance schedule should include common items like washing, inspecting, and lubricating. It should also include some often-times overlooked items like changing the oil, cleaning the air filter, checking tire pressures, and other “not-so-common” items.

In the end, maintaining your bike is critical in keeping it running and performing the way it should. Not only does a well-maintained dirt bike ride better, but it also lasts longer and saves you money in the long run.

Pre-Ride Inspections

In addition to following a recommended dirt bike maintenance schedule, there are a couple quite a few things you should look over before each ride.

Of course, a manual is going to list EVERY thing you should look over. And to be fair, it certainly wouldn’t hurt to look these over but… if you’re not racing I doubt you actually look over each-and-every-item on this list. Shame on you! Okay, I don’t either.

• Engine oil
• Transmission oil
• Fuel line
• Coolant
• Cooling system and hoses
• Spark plug
• Air cleaner
• Clutch lever
• Breather drain
• Steering head bearing
• Steering damper
• Throttle
• Tires
• Spokes
• Rim locks
• Suspension
• Brakes
• Chain and sprockets
• Exhaust

… and my personal favorite (from the manual) thing you should check before riding:

• Every possible part for looseness (such as cylinder head bolts, engine mounting bolts/nuts, axle nuts, handlebar holder bolts, fork chain guide, wire harness connectors, kickstarter mounting bolt)

That last one is a doozy!

Doozy (duːzi)
Something that is extraordinary: often troublesome, difficult or problematic, but sometimes extraordinary in a positive sense. – Wikipedia

Yes, technically speaking, you should check those every time you ride. But honestly, unless you’ve got a mechanic and a team behind you, I doubt you will. However, it’s a good idea to keep those things in mind and check on them as you can/remember to.

Dirt Bike Maintenance Schedule

Keeping on the maintenance of your bike can seem daunting, but it gets easier the more you do it. For example, when I was a kid I thought changing the oil or cleaning the air filter was a serious job. Eventually, these items become routine.

Below is an example schedule taken from my Honda. I would imagine that most four-stroke MX bikes have very similar schedules.

Here are what the letters under the different riding times represent:

• I – Inspect and clean, lubricate or replace if necessary
• C – Clean
• A – Adjust
• L – Lubricate
• R – Replace

Here are what the “notes” in the schedule mean:

1. Clean after every moto (day riding) for dusty riding conditions
2. Replace every two years. (requires mechanical skill)
3. Replace after the first break-in.
4. Inspect after the first break-in.
5. Replace the transmission oil if the clutch discs and plates are replaced.
6. Replace every year.