It’s almost here—we’ve been waiting for spring to show up so we can get back to our regularly scheduled programming of riding as often as possible. A few months ago, we went over how to winterize your motorcycle, and that is always an unfortunate time of year. We’re much more excited to get our bikes ready for riding season…
But before we do all that, there are a few things we're going over that you should do when pull your bike out of winter storage.
A Visual Inspection
It’s simple, but it’s critical—give your bike a good walkaround. Make sure nothing looks out of the ordinary. Any oil or dirt accumulation? Any drips under the bike? If you’ve kept your bike outside, has anything made your bike it’s temporary lodging? Make sure pivot points are freely moving and clear of gunk and debris.
Check Your Gas
Did you treat your fuel before winterizing your bike, or has it just been sitting for months? If that’s the case, you might wanna take a peek in your gas tank and drain it if you see any grit or sediment.
Check Your Fluids
If you didn’t change your oil before winter hit, now’s the time to do so. A new filter and fresh oil is preferable—but at the very least, check your oil level and make sure you’ve got the proper amount in there before cranking it over for the first time. Oil should be changed once per season at the very least, and it never hurts to change it on the earlier side.
Now's the time to check your brake fluid and coolant, too.
Check Your Tires
Hopefully, you periodically rotated your bike’s wheels so your tires didn’t sit in the same spot for all of winter. Now’s the time to check for flat spots, cracks, and wear. Get out your pressure gauge and make sure they’re properly inflated before you roll out.
Check Your Controls
Check both your clutch and throttle to make sure they’re operating smoothly. Lube ‘em up if you need to—it’s not a bad idea to do so even if you don’t. Make sure your mirrors haven’t come loose. Double check that both brake and shift pedals are tight—you don’t want to find out they aren’t the hard way.
Lubricate your chain
This one’s simple and straightforward—lubricate your chain. Check your tension, and inspect your sprockets and chain for excessive wear.
Check your gear
Make sure everything is clean, free of damage, and in proper working order before you depend on it to keep you safe.
We quickly went over how to properly store your Brake Free through the winter—and if you followed that guide, you’ll be just fine. Either way, make sure all of your comms and peripherals are plugged in, charged up, and ready to go, so when you finally find that perfect half hour to get out there you’re already set.
When riding season starts, drivers are even less used to keeping an eye out for riders. Make sure you’re staying vigilant and aware of your surroundings, and make sure you’re doing what you can to stay seen on the road.
If you don’t have a Brake Free yet—now’s a great time to add a unit to your list of things you won’t leave without.
Order yours today, and get back out there. Enjoy riding season!
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