Moto Adventurer Unscripted: Real Conversations for Motorcyclists, Adventurers and Outdoor Explorers
Moto Adventurer Unscripted: Real Conversations for Motorcyclists, Adventurers and Outdoor Explorers
Moto Adventurer
EP177: Stop Paying the Shop: ADV Maintenance You Can Do Yourself
1 hour 2 minutes Posted Oct 5, 2026 at 5:00 am.
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Show notes

Motorcycle maintenance doesn't have to mean a trip to the dealership and you don't need a fully equipped workshop to start turning wrenches on your own adventure or dual-sport motorcycle. In this episode of Moto Adventurer Unscripted, Drew and Mark work their way through the basics of ADV motorcycle maintenance, from the simple jobs most riders can handle in the garage to the repairs that start getting a little more involved.

We talk about why the owner's manual and maintenance schedule should be your starting point, setting up motorcycle ergonomics, building a useful toolkit, chain cleaning and chain adjustment, checking battery voltage, changing motorcycle oil and filters, inspecting and replacing brake pads, and knowing when a maintenance job is simple enough to tackle yourself and when it's probably time to let somebody else do it.

If you've ever thought, "I'd like to work on my own motorcycle, but I don't know where to start," this one's for you.

Topics include:

  • DIY ADV motorcycle maintenance

  • Reading your motorcycle owner's manual

  • Motorcycle maintenance schedules

  • Motorcycle tools and torque wrenches

  • Chain cleaning and chain adjustment

  • Motorcycle battery maintenance

  • AGM vs. lithium motorcycle batteries

  • Motorcycle oil changes

  • Oil filter replacement

  • Air filter maintenance

  • Brake pad inspection and replacement

  • Motorcycle ergonomics and setup

  • Knowing when a repair is beyond your skill level

  • Building confidence working on your own motorcycle

The rabbit hole gets deeper in the subscriber hour.

Drew and Mark get into chain maintenance, including the good advice they follow, the advice they sometimes ignore, and what happens when maintenance gets neglected. Then they go considerably deeper into the jobs they're willing to tackle themselves — including valve checks, valve adjustments, top-end work, and engine disassembly — and the motorcycle repairs that even experienced riders would rather pay someone else to do.

The ride doesn't end when the episode does. Subscribers get ad-free listening and access to the Bonus Loop, our exclusive extended discussion recorded after the main show wraps up. If you enjoy the podcast, come along for a few extra miles.

https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/motoadvr/subscribe

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