Motorcycle spare parts

K&N offers a maintenance kit. An oil to lubricate your filter and a cleaner to clean it at every service. Steps to clean your air filter:

- Remember to wear gloves, as K&N's cleaning fluid is quite aggressive.

- Apply the cleaner to both sides ofthe filter

- Rinsethe filter with tap water in the opposite direction to the airflow, to remove impurities.

- Drain filter and leave to air dry for a few hours

- When dry,apply oil along the folds of the filter, about 8 to 10 cm from the filter. Your K&N air filter should turn red. If it's double-sided, remember to do both sides.

For cleaning, you can also use the dishwasher method. Tested and approved by yours truly :)

If your spark plug has reached the end of its life, you'll quickly notice. You'll notice a loss of engine power, and possibly higher fuel consumption. You may also have difficulty starting the engine. This is often one of the first symptoms.

To check the condition of a spark plug, remove the anti-parasite plug and dismantle the spark plug(s). You have one spark plug per cylinder.

The electrodes on your spark plug are wearing. They're eroding. The gap between the electrodes increases and the spark is no longer of good quality. The gap between the two electrodes is specified in your motorcycle's technical manual.

Spark plugs should be replaced between 20,000 and 60,000 km, depending on the motorcycle.

To find out more about spark plugs, we invite you to watch our video on the subject :)

There are 3 main types of motorcycle battery on the market today: conventional, maintenance-free and lithium.

- Conventional batteries

These are the batteries with the traditional yellow caps on top. The acid is supplied separately, and must be poured into the battery to activate it. The battery level should then be checked regularly and adjusted by adding distilled water. Do not use tap water. Ideally, the battery should be checked once a month. The battery is transparent white, making it easy to see the level.

They should be charged before first use.

This is an economical battery that lasts a long time if you maintain it regularly.

- Maintenance-free batteries

Same principle as conventional batteries, you just pour in the acid to activate them. But there's no need to top up the level. Once closed, it's all over. They last from 3 to 5 years.

As with conventional batteries, they should be charged before first use.

Maintenance-free motorcycle batteries include gel batteries. The electrolyte is no longer liquid acid, but a gel. This means you can position the battery horizontally without worrying about leaks. Ideal for off-road use, they are often found on trail bikes or high-end motorcycles. In the event of an accident, the risk of splashing is greatly reduced. They are, of course, maintenance-free and normally already charged, but don't hesitate to check their charge level, which depends on storage conditions at the manufacturer's or distributor's premises. They are, of course, more expensive than acid batteries. BS SLA batteries, for example, are gel batteries.

- Lithium batteries

Lithium batteries are the most efficient. They are more compact and lighter than traditional batteries. For a battery that generally weighs 4.4 kg without maintenance, it will weigh just over 1 kg with lithium. This is a significant gain, especially if you're a competitive rider looking to reduce the weight of your motorcycle. High-performance, they are recommended for large single-cylinder bikes and short trips where the traditional battery doesn't have time to recharge. They also withstand storage, so you can theoretically go through the winter without recharging. They are, of course, more expensive than traditional batteries. Skyrich batteries are original equipment on Ducatis and KTMs.

Professional advice

On older bikes, it's a good idea to check the charging circuit. A faulty regulator can damage a Lihium battery, or even cause a fire if it overheats.