Motorcycle Maintenance - start of season

start of season motorcycle maintenance

Before taking your bike out for the first ride of the season, or after a long time of being in storage, there's a few things you must do before revving up the engine again.

change the oil and oil filter

Before changing the oil, fire up the engine and let it run for several minutes until it is warmed up - then shut it off before changing the oil. This helps to thin down the oil making it flow easier.

look for fluid leaks

A good time to do this is while your changing the oil. Make sure to not only check the floor that the bike is resting on but also around the connections of the fluid hoses as well in case they are loose or leaking and are not actually dripping to the ground.

check the tires

Worn down tires will decrease your handling and traction, low tire pressure will also cause you to have decreased steering and will cause sluggish performance. To check the tread depth, use the neat trick of taking a U.S. penny to measure tread depth and assess the condition of your treads. Insert a penny into the tread of your tire and point it downwards so Abraham Lincoln's head is pointing down. If the top of Abe's head is hidden, then you have enough tread, if you can see the top of his head then your treads are too worn and your tires need replacing. Check your tire pressure as well using a tire pressure gauge. The amount of PSI (pressure per square inch) should be in your owners manual as well as indicated on the tire itself. You also want to check the tires overall condition. Are there any punctures or foreign objects such as nails, tacks, in the tire? Are there any cracks in the tread or signs of dry-rot?

check your belt / chain

Adjust the tension to coincide with your manufacturers recommended tension. If you have a chain make sure it is well lubricated.

check nuts and bolts.

Look for rust and/or loose nuts. Trying to unscrew a nut with your fingers is not enough. Take a wrench and try to tighten each nut, ensuring not to adjust the nut too tight or else you or your mechanic will have problems getting it off when you actually want it to come off!

Check electronics

Check your electronics, such as lights and gauges. Are all the lights working? Are your indicators (temperature, rpm, odometer, neutral light, etc) in working order? Are the connectors and wires in good condition?

Practice your riding skills

When taking the bike out for a ride after an extended absence such as in between seasons, you need to conduct some maintenance on yourself as well. Before hitting the highway and blasting down the freeway at warp speed - take the bike out for an easy ride around some streets with light or no traffic. Even practicing in an empty parking lot for an hour or so will help your skills return to the level they were at before.

Update your insurance and license registration

Check to make sure your insurance policy is up to date and that your license has not expired and needs to be renewed. Driving will an expired license is an easily avoidable headache if you are to get caught.

Enjoy the Ride!

After having completed the above steps get out there and go for a good ride.