To keep your Kawasaki and Harley Sportster motorcycles running at top performance, one of the most critical things you can do is to conduct a scheduled repair. DIY maintenance undoubtedly cuts down the costs of maintaining your Kawasaki and Harley Sportster. And it’s not that difficult as you think; as long as you are willing to get down on your knees and make your hands dirty. With a Kawasaki repair manual, it’s as easy as these five steps.

Step 1: Start with the brakes and replace the brake pads. Your repair manual can direct you through this. Provided that you have the correct tools ready, it just takes 45 minutes of your time to get this over with. If the brakes feel a little soft, or are making a noise, then [replacing the brake pads could fix the problem. Make sure you find the correct model numbers of the brake pads for your motorcycle.

Step 2: Check the levels of brake fluid on your motorcycles. If the levels are too low, add more fluid; if they’re too high, then you have to drain off some of the fluid since too much brake fluid can spill over from the tanks.

Step 3: Bleed the brakes. Go by the repair manual’s directions on how to do so. For Kawasaki owners, you can start by filling a pump oil can with the new brake fluid and attach it to the brake bleeder valve via a hose. To get the fluid moving through the bike, pump the oil gradually. Because it can strip the paint, be careful not to get the fluid on the exterior of the motorcycle. Then gradually pump the brakes till you get the air out.

Step 4: Examine the oil filter. The oil filter is utilized to filter or catch any dirt or debris from coming into the engine. Clean out the dirt and debris and if there is any damage or holes, replace the oil filter immediately.

Step 5: Check the U-joint. The U-joint could be damaged or could lack lubrication if you’d notice a vibration in the bike that start out lightly but gets worse in time. Make use of a little amount of lubrication on the joint, and take the bike out for a small drive. If there’s still a vibration, then change the U-joint with a new one.

If you want to save money on maintenance costs, your Kawasaki and Harley Sportster manual will surely guide you what to do. And don’t forget to start with these five simple steps to cut down the costs and expensive repairs in the future.

Jay Westercamp is the CEO of The Manual Store and the company is dedicated to ATV, Boat, Jet Ski, Motorcycle, and Snowmobile enthusiasts. Their repair manuals are the best source of information to fix your vehicle.