A bike breakdown is one of the most unfortunate events that can happen while driving. It can leave you stranded in the middle of nowhere, and you must learn how to fix it if you have the basic tools to avoid any misfortune. Nevertheless, to avoid this unfortunate event, you must ensure that you service your bike regularly so that it can give you optimum performance.

While travelling, if you meet with adversity, here are a few things to do if your motorcycle breaks down –

1. Look For A Safe Place to Stop

If you realise that your bike might have a problem, you must find a safe place to stop before it breaks down completely. Some of the best places to stop include petrol pumps, bus stops, the emergency lane, popular commercial areas and rest stops. Now, you must focus on getting out of the traffic path safely. You can signal others using your hazard lights, blinkers or hand signals to get around the bike safely.

If the unfortunate incident happens at night, make sure that your bike is well-lit and is visible from a distance. Also, if possible, stop under a light source to make yourself visible so that you can ask for help. Additionally, avoid corner spots and shades to keep yourself safe.

2. Protect Yourself and Your Bike

After you have secured a safe place to halt and make yourself under maximum visibility, secure your bike, then shut down the engine, drop the stand and engage it in gear if you are on a gradient surface.

However, if your bike is unrideable, keep your essential belongings, such as your licence, road tax, and NRIC, with you, as you will need those while seeking help. Stay alert and be vigilant so that you never miss an opportunity to seek help from pedestrians and other travellers.

3. Keep Yourself Visible

Especially at night, if you are stranded, it is essential to keep yourself under the light all the time. This will increase the possibility of getting help and reduce the chances of encountering inimical activities. Also, engage the signal blinkers and all of the hazard lights if possible.

However, if your bike’s electric system has been hampered, then park under a light source or in a place where the light falls directly into your motorcycle. In case you are wearing a high visibility or bright jacket, use it to make flags to signal to others that you need help.

4. Call for Help

Now, after you parked your bike at a safe place and you ensured your maximum visibility, call for help. If you are near an automobile repair shop, request them for help at your location. Otherwise, you can call your insurance provider, preferred towing service provider or nearby relatives/friends to help in transport.

Note that leading insurance providers offer 24X7 road assistance along with their insurance plans to help in this type of unfortunate situation. They generally provide the towing facility, flat battery, fuel assistance etc., to help in unusual hours for policyholders.

5. Know Your Landmark

While stranded, ensure you know the exact location where you are stranded and where you can go nearby. This is important because, while calling for help, if you provide them with the exact location and nearest landmark, the help will likely arrive faster. Nevertheless, if you fail to seek assistance, don't waste time and start walking to the nearest locality for help, and while walking, make sure to look for assistance.

6. Calm Yourself

After making all the necessary efforts, keep yourself calm until the help arrives. Control your jittery and ensure the basic things are right. However, if you spot pedestrians or locals, ask them if there is any workshop in the area, and slowly walk towards the place.

Proper maintenance of your vehicle can ensure that it provides optimum performance and good health for your bike. Nevertheless, if you want to know how to avoid bike breakdown, here are a few tips –

1. Clean Regularly

Cleaning your bike regularly is an important task to accomplish to maintain the surface finish. But, before you clean, ensure that the ignition switch unit, silencer, and H.T. Coil are thoroughly covered. After washing, avoid keeping it in direct sunlight; rather, park it in the shade to dry the excess water.

2. Check Tyres Regularly

One of the primary things to keep your bike healthy and avoid breakdowns on the road is to check the tyre regularly. It is essential to maintain the optimum tyre pressure level as the auto manufacturer recommends to ensure smooth vehicle performance. Besides checking the tyre pressure at least once a week, check the wheel balance and alignment.

3. Clean Air Filter

The dusty and polluted air condition in India might cause frequent clogging of the air filter. So, it is vital to change your bike's air filter as per recommended intervals to enhance performance.

4. Check Engine Oil

Engine oil plays an important role in providing a smooth ride and optimum performance of your bike. So, checking its level regularly and looking for any possible signs of oil leakage is essential. Due to carbon, this oil will get thick and can create friction on the engine's internals. So, to avoid an unnecessary breakdown in the middle of nowhere, check and replace it as per requirement.

5. Maintain a Healthy Battery

A bike's battery is responsible for maintaining the longevity of your bike. Also, it is a major component of self-start and other electrical equipment to function properly. So, make sure that your bike's battery is devoid of any unnecessary leakage, and if required, replace it or top up it with distilled water.

6. Maintain a Healthy Engine

The engine is undoubtedly one of the major components of your bike and requires special attention to give high performance. It is essential to keep your bike's carburettor clean, and for every 1500 km, clean the carburettor float chamber and its allied parts. Also, give special attention to the spark plug and choke to maintain fuel efficiency.

7. Check Brake Pads

After long driving, brake pads usually get eroded, and a worn brake pad means poor brake. Hence, replace your bike’s brake pad as per the requirement to let your bike work effectively.

8. Schedule Routine Bike Servicing

Not everything can be done at a personal level when it comes to bike servicing. It would help if you opted for a routine bike servicing to get a comprehensive bike serving so that your bike stays in optimum condition all the time. Skipping health checkups can negatively affect the bike, leading to a bike breakdown at unusual hours.

It is not an obscure fact that a sudden bike breakdown is one of the most unfortunate situations that one can get into during an emergency. This also leads to unnecessary hassles, and if it happens at an unusual hour, it becomes more daunting.

Nevertheless, if you encounter an unfortunate situation like this, make yourself visible and seek help immediately. You can also call your insurance provider for prompt assistance. But, to avoid any breakdown in the first place, keep your bike healthy and schedule routine maintenance to boost its reliability.