4 Essential Checks For Your Moped

The maintenance costs for a moped are very small indeed, particularly when you compare it to a car or SUV. However, with any motorized vehicle it’s important to check four main areas before setting out on any journey on your moped. While you can fix and repair it for cheap, there is always the need to catch any potential problems and using these checks you can ensure that your next journey is safe:

Brakes

Take your moped off its side-stand or main stand and clamp on the back brake. Try and push the scooter forward and backwards. Any movement should only be the suspension compressing. If the wheels move then you need to adjust the rear drum brake by turning the adjustor which is near the rear hub.

The same goes for the front brake. If the wheels move when you have depressed the front brake lever then do not ride the scooter at all. You need to replace the brake pads and check for any brake fluid leaks or top up the reservoir which is next to the level. Be warned, if you take the cap of the reservoir you will need to bleed the brakes.

Oil

As the moped runs at high revs most of the time, this can burn oil faster than a car does and therefore it’s good practice to replace the oil every 2-3,000 miles. It sounds like a hassle but it give the engine the best life expectancy then it’s a cheap way to ensure that the engine remains in peak health.

Your moped might have an oil gauge or simply remove the dipstick and see what the color is as well as the level. If it’s low, top it up. If it’s dark brown or black then change it, even if it’s within 2,000 miles. Oil is the life blood of an engine and if you have tiny metal particles being thrown around the engine then it won’t last long.

Lights

Always have your lights running through the day or night. Carry spare bulbs with you in the underseat compartment. Test both dipped and main beam so you can assure yourself that the moped will be safe on your journey.

Before you first ride your new moped it’s important to know how to change the fuse and bulbs as you don’t want to be caught out if a bulb breaks and you have no idea on how to fix it. Mopeds are a little more hands on than cars but are easy to learn about and simple to fix.

Tires

The only things that are connecting you to the road are your tires. Ensure that you have plenty of tread depth, around 1.6mm is the minimum. You can use a tread depth gauge and it’s important to look after the pressures. Carry a tire pressure gauge around with you as any change, even a few pounds of pressure, can cause unruly handling and spit you off in no time.

Summary

Don’t forget, when you buy a moped you need to remember the acronym BOLT. Brakes, oil, lights and tires are the four main factors on keeping your moped on two wheels.

Darren Wentworth has been riding scooters and mopeds for more than 8 years. He wants to spread the word about scooter and motorcycle maintenance so that more riders can look after their bikes easily.

Published in Automotive