Technically, the body of a motorcycle is exposed, and considering that a bike has no bodywork nor undertray is enough for a reality check. Yes, motorcycles are high maintenance vehicles.

Like it or not, you will need to service your bike more often than you do your car. As a friend once told me, failure to service your bike is equivalent to not feeding your 6000-pound tiger pet that sleeps in your house. Well, we all know the consequence to that one and so is a poorly maintained bike a death trap. If you’re not careful, you might find yourself under a truck due to a mechanical failure.

Becoming a biker is not just about pomp and riding down terrain in the wind. Ownership comes with its expenses from the one-time expenses such as the motorcycle itself, riding gears, and tools to the on-going costs such as fuel, insurance, and licensing fees, and maintenance.

But don’t remit your dream of becoming a biker yet, it is ultimately cheaper than a car. Well, if we’re being realistic, it all depends on the model and cost of your OEM motorcycle parts and again, some of the extra expenses can be put off when your wallet is tight but not for too long – and not for fuel though because you aren’t going anywhere without gas. Ha!

Simply put, maintenance will cost more than the beast. On the flip side, I’ll have an easy life-long journey with your bike. And lots of safety too! Here’s what will dig into your pockets during maintenance:

Oil – generally, you need to change your oil at least once a year. Each manual has the frequency clearly defined. Alternatively, riding dusty roads speed up the process as the oil burns faster.

Tires – any signs of wear and tear on your tires call for a replacement. Keeping tires at the correct air pressure increases their longevity.

Brakes – worn down brake pads have low efficacy. This is an absolute hazard so replacing them before they are worn to the metal is recommended. Also, the brake fluid should be changed as the manual directs.

Drive chain – I’m always super careful with the drive chain in checking its tension and frequent lubrication. This is because the chain conveys power from the engine to the rear wheel so a glitch can be pretty dangerous. Replacements due to wear are necessary over time.

Air filter – just like a car, a bike needs air filter replacement and frequent cleaning for the engine to work more efficiently.