If you love your motorcycle, you'll want to keep it running as beautifully as possible. When the time comes, you'll definitely need an oil change to keep everything in order. Read on to learn how easy it is to do it yourself.

An oil change is a nice, quick and easy job that you can do by yourself for your motorcycle. It's a great way to bond with your beloved bike, and it also saves you money. It should be a part of your regular maintenance; remember that a regular oil change ensures the smooth running of your machine, and also makes that engine last longer. Here are the steps.

1. Park your bike and set the kickstand and whatever other stands you've got. Do your oil change in a place where a little spill isn't going to ruin anything. Put all the tools and things you're going to need right there within arms reach so you don't have to keep moving around. The best time to do it is when the engine's warm, but not hot. If it's too hot, you can get burned.

2. Remove bodywork if necessary. Don't be afraid to unscrew things and take them off; just keep track of all your fasteners, washers, screws and other little bits and pieces. You'll have to put it all back together again when you're through.

3. Unscrew the filler cap. This is usually a black plastic cap and it could be a little hard to reach, so use needle nose pliers or other tools if necessary. Next, unscrew the drain plug. As you get to the end, oil may come splashing out. You should have a pan underneath to catch it, and reposition the pan if it starts to splash in unexpected directions. If you use a flat piece of metal or something else to help it drain, this will control the flow a bit.

4. While the old stuff is draining out, change the filter. Unscrew it and be careful not to damage it while handling it. When you're unscrewing it, you'll probably have to use a specialized wrench that's made just for this task. Also remove the O ring, the rubber ring that keeps the seal on tightly.

5. Wipe the filter's mesh with a clean rag and use compressed air to blow off any little bits that remain. Before you replace it, wipe down the filter area. Put a little new oil on it before you replace it, and make sure to change the O ring and the crush washer. These should both be replaced with each oil change.

6. Screw the drain bolt back into place, but don't screw it in too tightly. Use your hand to screw it in instead of a tool. The same goes for the filter - screw it in by hand so that you don't overdo it.

7. Pour in the new oil. Your bike's owner's manual will tell you exactly how much to put in. You don't want to overfill it. Put a sufficient amount in there, and then close it all up.

8. Now you're done, but there are a few more things to do. Clean up the area and make sure everything's put back together right. You might want to refer to the manual. Another important clean-up consideration is what to do with the old stuff. You can't dump it anywhere; it's actually illegal to dispose of oil improperly. You can either take it to a garage, where they'll be happy to take it off your hands, or take it to your local recycling center. They'll know what to do with it.

If you're not 100 percent sure you can do your own oil change, take it to a garage and they'll do it for you cheaply. It's a quick and easy job, so they can have it done for you while you wait.