We all hope that when we embark on a long trip, absolutely nothing will go wrong along the way. This is especially true when we’ve taken the time to ensure that our vehicles are in great working order, and we’ve done all we can to prepare them for the upcoming voyage. Unfortunately, life doesn’t always go as we planned, and sometimes things can go wrong, and we might break down in the middle of nowhere.
One of the reasons for this is the wrong kind of preparation – we might make sure that nothing goes wrong with one part of the bike while ignoring another. Luckily, there are some extremely common reasons that bikes break down which we will look at here.
Alternator
The alternator is a device found in vehicles that’s responsible for taking the kinetic energy produced by the wheels and converts it into energy that can feed the battery, keeping it topped up. Alternators are also notorious for breaking down at a moment’s notice, often due to how complicated electricity systems can be in a vehicle. This is a part that needs to be checked regularly, as it’s something that a bike needs in order to work properly and finding the right one in the middle of nowhere can be nothing short of a nightmare. You don’t want to end up in the history books because it stopped working while out in the middle of nowhere.
Electronic Engine Unit
The electronic engine unit, more commonly known as the ECU or computer box, is a circuit board found on most modern bikes that acts as the brain of the vehicle. It controls almost everything and is completely vital to ensuring that it starts up and goes. ECUs tend to be fairly tough, and don’t go that often, but if they do, the bike essentially becomes a paperweight. This is a part that can be diagnosed by an auto-electrician to find if there are any problems, and while this can cost a bit of money to do, having a replacement put in is many, many times more expensive, especially out on the road, and it may mean having to hunker down and play on your mobile while waiting.
Spark Plugs
Spark plugs are usually changed when the bike undergoes any service, but many would be surprised to learn just how often a mechanic will not replace these to save costs. It’s imperative, then, that the bike’s owner take the time to check their spark plugs are in good order, as the bike won’t be able to start without them. These are also extremely easy to replace at any point, which is why it’s a good idea to keep a few spare spark plugs in a tool bag for the road.
Clutch
Regardless of whether it’s a two-wheeler or a four-wheeler, the clutch is one of those components that can bring a vehicle to a halt without any warning, and it can lead to expensive repairs. It’s an element that no rider wants to fail on them while on the open road, as it can be truly costly to have it fixed, so it’s best to have an experienced mechanic have a look at the clutch and make sure that there are no upcoming issues.
To read more on topics like this, check out the Travel category
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