Get your bike ready for the first ride of spring by completing our motorcycle maintenance checklist. At Law Tigers Motorcycle Lawyers, we believe the best motorcycle insurance case is the one that never occurs in the first place. Ride safely and avoid legal issues this season by going over our list of motorcycle maintenance checks.
Pre-Season Walkaround
Give yourself an updated overview of your bike by performing a complete pre-season walkaround. Sometimes, things happen to our motorcycles even when we have not ridden them for months. Walk around your bike to look for any of the following signs of a potential problem:
● Drips or stains under your motorcycle
● Stiff moving parts in need of lubrication
● Lights, horn, and other electricals not working
Battery Checkup
Most motorcycle owners keep a close watch on the age of their batteries and how well they turn over their engines. However, you may wish to measure the output of your battery with a multimeter. For a 12-volt battery with a complete charge, you should get a reading somewhere between 12.6 and 13.4 volts, allowing for some variation based on your battery’s chemistry.
Wheels and Tires
Lift the wheels of the motorcycle off the ground with a jack or other device. Check for missing wheel weights that have fallen off and require replacement. Then, grab your wheel with both hands and shake it back and forth and side to side. If you notice excessive wiggle room, you may need to take a closer look at the bearings.
Check the tires for the date code to get an idea of how much life they might have left. You can locate it at the very end of a string of letters and numbers that begins with “DOT,” which stand for the Department of Transportation. At the end of the code, you’ll find four numbers. The first two of those numbers give you the week of manufacture. The last two give you the date.
Tires will last for years after the date of manufacture, so you will also need to check for loss of tread, cracks, dry rot, oxidation, and hardening.
Drivetrain Inspection
Begin your drivetrain inspection by rotating your rear wheel and watching your belt or chain. If you have a chain, look for any binding around the sprockets or stiff links. You may need to clean and realign your chain if the motion does not appear fluid.
If you have a belt drive, search for cracks, tears, and missing teeth. You should replace your belt if you encounter any signs of excessive wear.
Owners of motorcycles that possess a driveshaft should check and change the oil in the gears as directed by their manufacturer.
Fluids and Filters
Fluids and filters remain among the most skipped-over items on any motorcycle maintenance checklist. Make sure you check both before taking your first ride of the season.
Fluids
Be sure you check your oil, brake fluid, and coolant levels. While many motorcycle owners may overlook brake fluid, plenty of riders forget to check their coolant as well. Consider draining and flushing your radiator before refilling it. You may also wish to invest in new engine oil, radiator, and gas caps for your motorcycle.
Gasoline begins to degrade after three to five months, so you might want to siphon any fuel that you left in the tank and refill it with enough fresh gasoline to reach the nearest gas station.
Don’t forget to check your primary fluid and transmission fluid. In all likelihood, you will not run into a problem, but checking ensures that you will not have an issue early in the riding season.
Filters
Filters remain hidden for most of their lifespans, making them easy to forget about when performing your own maintenance. Some of the various filters that you will want to inspect, clean, or replace include:
● Oil
● Fuel
● Air
You should also review your manual for any additional screens in your fuel system.
Final Scan
After taking all that care to maintain your motorcycle, don’t forget to carry out basic tasks like checking your brake pads and spark plugs. You might also want to tighten every clamp, bolt, and mount. Then, double-check any item that sends up a red flag during your inspection. Check the electricals, warm up your engine, and take a slow, careful ride around the neighborhood.
Law Tigers: Your First Defense Against Motorcycle Legal Issues
We hope you enjoyed our motorcycle maintenance checklist and maybe even found something to add to your pre-season routine.
Have you been injured in a motorcycle accident? Get the compensation you deserve and get back on the road. Call Law Tigers Motorcycle Lawyers for a free case evaluation.
