Searching for the appropriate Honda motorcycle part can be confusing, particularly because dealer sites often list their parts in cryptic, hard-to-follow catalogs. Let's demystify the Honda motorcycle part shopping experience. First off, you need to ascertain your bike's color label and code. For bikes built after 1979, you can locate this code under the seat, on the mudguard, or near the sub frame.

If you can't find the model code or if your bike was built prior to 1979, you can either contact the parts dealer or call Honda directly for further assistance. Bear in mind that most dealers won't display full pictures of parts--there are just too many. Even moderately large Honda motorcycle part warehouses carry tens of thousands of parts and accessories.

Honda also manufactures oils, lubes, and cleaners to help riders take care of their bikes. If you own a two valve bike, for instance, you can lube up with Pro-Honda GN2 Injector/Premix Oil, HP Trans Oil SAE, or HP2 Racing Oil. Alternatively, there are a number of fine four-valve oil and lube products.

Motorcycles which see regular road use may be more vulnerable to certain types of part wear, most notably brake pad and line wear. However, just because you don't ride your hog every day doesn't mean that you're entitled to a pass on servicing. Oils and fluids lose their viscoelastic properties over time, and you may not be aware of any problem until the engine and/or the transmission acts up.