Bike Chain Care: Clean, Lube & Adjust
A dry or slack chain wastes power, hurts mileage and wears out sprockets. Here is a 15-minute routine that keeps it smooth.
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Safety
Two-Wheeler Tyre Pressure: Why It Matters
Wrong tyre pressure hurts grip, mileage and tyre life. How to check it right and how often.
On a two-wheeler, the tyres are your entire contact with the road, and each one touches the ground with a patch about the size of a credit card. Correct pressure keeps that patch the right shape.
What wrong pressure does
- Under-inflated: heavy steering, more fuel use, faster wear on the tyre edges and a higher risk of a puncture or rim damage.
- Over-inflated: less grip, especially in rain, a harsh ride and faster wear in the centre of the tread.
How to check it right
- Find the recommended pressure on the sticker on the chain guard or swingarm, or in the owner's manual. Front and rear are usually different.
- Check when the tyres are cold, before riding or after the bike has stood for an hour.
- Use a good pressure gauge; petrol pump gauges are often inaccurate.
- Increase the rear pressure slightly when riding with a pillion or luggage, as the manual suggests.
- Look at the tyres while you are there: cuts, stuck nails and cracks are easy to spot.
How often
Check once a week, and always before a long ride. Tubeless tyres lose pressure slowly and can look fine even when they are 5–6 PSI low.