Tips for getting your motorcycle ready for spring

Man works on his motorcycle in his garage

April 24, 2019. Doing a few simple things will help you prepare for a safe and fun riding season.

Tune up your wheels

Check the pressure of your tires.

Make sure tire pressure matches the recommendation in your owner’s manual. You will probably need to top your tires up after a long winter.

Inspect your tires for wear and tear

Look for cracks or dry rot and check the tread. Are the tires still in good shape or should they be replaced?

Inspect the wheels

Look for bent, broken or missing spokes and replace any damaged parts

Controls

Check your controls to make sure everything is functioning properly.
Test your throttle, clutch and steering
If anything seems off, now is the time to take your motorcycle to the shop

Check your battery

Your battery may need to be charged after sitting all winter

Test your battery
Make sure the terminals are clean and the cables are connected securely.

Check your oils and fluids

Change your oil if you did not do it at the end of the last season

Check your owner’s manual for instructions and choosing the right oil.

Check and top off brake fluid, transmission oil, coolant, hydraulic clutch fluid, and fork oil.

You may need to flush and replace fluids you suspect have degraded over the winter. Check the owner’s manual for instructions and the recommended maintenance schedule.

Check your lights

Make sure your low and high beams, brake light, taillights, flashers, and turn signals are working and replace any burned out bulbs.

Check the brakes

Brakes need to be in perfect working order, especially your front brake, as that is where most of your stopping power comes from.

Check the brake pads for wear.
Squeeze the brakes and make sure your hand does not hit the handle bar and that they do not feel mushy.
Replace brake pads and fluid if needed

Check the chain

Clean off any rust
Oil it after a going for a short ride
Tighten the chain if it is too slack

Check your gear

Stay safe by making sure safety equipment is not damaged.

Check your helmet for cracks and replace it periodically

Replacing your helmet every 5 years is recommended by many manufacturers.

Check your gloves, boots, and visor

Replace them if there is excessive wear

Check your emergency kit

Make sure your emergency road kit has any items you may need and replace anything that is missing.

Review your insurance coverage every season to ensure it meets your needs

If you do not remember the details of your insurance policy or have not thought about updating it in a while, you should think about doing it at the start of the season.

Drop coverage you do not need

If the replacement value of your motorcycle is low, you may want to consider dropping collision or comprehensive coverage.

Make sure you have all the coverage you need

If you do not have collision or comprehensive coverage you may want to consider adding them if you have a newer or high-value motorcycle.

Think about whether your deductible would be affordable and whether your monthly premium is affordable

Find the right balance between the cost of your insurance payments and your deductible. Increase your deductible to save money on insurance or pay more for a lower deductible.