What do the Fonz, Batman, and the Sons of Anarchy all have in common? They all love to ride motorcycles! We’re quickly approaching the time of the spring season where the weather is nice enough to dust off the old bike and take it out for a spin. Some of you diehard riders have most likely been riding through the cold winter season, while others have been patiently waiting for the weather to warm up. If you fall into the latter group, then don’t you worry! We’re here to help provide the necessary tips to help you prepare for riding season. Check out these handy motorcycle maintenance tips for spring!
Motorcycle Inspection Checklist
If your bike has been sitting in your garage untouched for the last 5 months, then it’s time to do some recommission work. Depending on how you winterized your bike and how much time has passed since last operated, there’s a good chance that you’ll need to address every single component of your vehicle. If your bike had gasoline sitting in its tank throughout its hibernation state, then it’s likely gone stale. This can cause your fuel lines, jets and injectors to clog due to deterioration of certain elements in the gasoline, which can cause major problems. This can be prevented if you installed fuel additive in your tank before storage, but if not, then you may have to replace your injectors, jets and filters.
Speaking of filters, don’t forget to replace any dirty air filters and go ahead and get the oil changed while you’re at it.
Even in storage, winter conditions and non-use can also create issues with your bike’s battery. If you didn’t take any pre-winter storage measures, then you need to see if yours can still hold a charge. Don’t take any chances though, if you feel that the battery struggles to start your engine, then you probably need to consider replacing it.
Time and weight pressure from sitting still for months can also heavily affect your tires. Having functional tires is essential to ensuring your safety on the road, so make sure that your tire pressure is replenished and that the tire wear doesn’t look too run down. If so, you might want to consider replacing them just in case.
Along with your tires, there’s also a chance that your brakes are in poor condition, so you may need to consider replacing your brake pads and fluids. It’s highly suggested that you do some extra inspection of your motorcycle to check and see everything is operating smoothly.
Make sure that your suspension and steering are aligned and steady before embarking on your first ride. You’ll want to be as comfortable as possible when getting back up on the seat for the first time in a while.
Also, don’t forget to check and see if all of your lights are working properly and replace any dead bulbs if needed.
Lastly, you’ll want to give your bike a good thorough cleaning so that it looks like it hasn’t been sitting in a dark damp garage for months. Scrub it down and finish it off with a good wax so that it’s ready to shine in that springtime sun!
Remember, not only does the bike need to be prepared for its return to the road, so does the rider. If you haven’t ridden in a while, it would be wise to ease back into things instead of hitting the ground running. Operating a motorcycle takes enormous care and concentration, so you need to get back into the mental state of riding to make sure you’re not a threat to yourself or others on the road. We hope you always remember to wear a helmet and drive defensively!
Before getting your motorcycle ready to ride, now is a great time to make sure that all of your motorcycle insurance is up-to-date. Give us a call to have an agent review your policy to confirm that your auto insurance has the right amount of coverage for your family and your needs. We can also ensure that you are getting the best rate for your policy. You might even qualify for additional discounts, especially if you have your home insured through us!