Importance of choosing the right lubricant for your motorcycle

Aloha
3 min readJun 14, 2024

--

The riders are always thrilled to ride a finely tuned machine. “Lubricants” are the lifeblood of the motorcycle. It is essential to use lubricant for the motorcycle for the unstoppable ride. Motorcycle lubricants play a very crucial role. Taking care of your motorcycle with the right lubricants is significant for its smooth operation. Lubricants ensure smooth operation and enhanced performance. Motorcycle lubricants are made with a base oil which will be specified in the packaging. The base oil will be either mineral oil, semi-synthetic, or synthetic. *Mineral oil -Mineral oils are usually made with the by-products of petroleum processing. They are suitable for small engines. *Semi-synthetic oil- Semi-synthetic oil is a mixture of both mineral oil and synthetic oil. Synthetic oil is something that is chemically modified using either petroleum or any other raw materials. *Fully-synthetic oil- Fully-synthetic oil is made with pure polymer oils. It is widely used for racing motorcycles.

Lubricant is essential for the good performance of the motorcycle. It serves several purposes first and foremost, it helps reduce friction; secondly, it acts as a cooling agent. It also prevents corrosion and helps in maintaining the fuel efficiency. The prime purpose is to increase the life of the motorcycle engine. Several key parts should be lubricated regularly for proper functioning. Some of the parts are chains, cables, engine components, wheel bearings, suspension components, pivot points, levers, and pedals. It’s important to choose different types of lubricants for each key part. If the right type of lubricant is not used it will lead to damage and premature wear and tear. Primarily, there are three types of lubricants used in motorcycles. They are: 1)Engine oil — engine oil is the most significant lubricant in a motorcycle as it takes care of the different components of the engine. Certain factors should be considered when choosing the engine oil such as the viscosity, CC, additives, and compatibility with the engine type. It comes in various grades. 2)Transmission oil — transmission oil is also known as gear oil which is used to lubricate the gear and bearings in a motorcycle. Just like, engine oil it also comes in various grades and viscosity. 3)Chain lubricants -chain lubricants are used for the motorcycle chain to prevent premature wear and tear. It comes in various forms such as wax-based, synthetic, and traditional oil.

Why should we choose the right lubricant? It is a difficult task to choose the right lubricant for your motorcycle. Unlike car engines, motorcycle engines experience extreme temperatures. The chosen lubricant must be able to perform under these conditions along with other factors such as parts viscosity etc. Multigrade oils are the preferred choice for motorcycles under this extreme temperature as they can perform well under these conditions. As mentioned above different parts of the motorcycle like the engine, gear, chain, etc. require specific lubricants that can withstand the pressure and temperature changes. General purpose lubricant is not an apt choice as that could lead to increased wear and tear, reduced efficiency, corrosion, and potential breakdowns.

How to choose the right lubricant for your motorcycle? We might not be thinking much about what is happening to the engine while we are on a ride. Usually, we think about it when it’s time for maintenance and repair. Choosing the right lubricant is not an easy task, especially when there is a wide variety, of numbers and other parameters. Well, there are a few tips to choose the right lubricant for your vehicle.

1)Reading the manual; read the manufacturer’s manual to understand the requirements regarding the lubricants and their type, grade, etc. It is essential to understand the different oils available and their purpose.

2)checking the oil grade; the SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) scale measures the viscosity. The higher the number the thicker the oil should be. Conventional oil is categorized into two single-grade oils and multi-grade oils.

3) Understanding the riding condition of the motorcycle and budget.

In conclusion, it is important to understand the usage of lubricants as well choosing the right one for your lubricant. By understanding the lubricants their types, their functions, and also other factors the riders can choose the right lubricant for the motorcycles. Regular maintenance and proper lubrication is essential for the smooth performance. Motolab has the best two-wheeler spare parts and lubricant. It offers a wide range of lubricants for your motorcycle. They are of premium quality which will improve the performance and life of the motorcycle. Have a fun riding experience with Motolab.

--

--