Spring Motorcycle Riding Tips
The weather is warm and it’s time to get out there and ride your motorcycle. However, if you’ve had your bike in storage for any period of time, spring is a good time to look your motorcycle over and make sure it’s ready to go. Here are some ways you can prepare your motorcycle for all of your spring and summer riding adventures.
Inspect For Pests
You may need to check the exhaust and other nooks and crannies on your motorcycle for signs of pest infestation. If your bike has been sitting idle for a while, there may be some small critters who have made it their home and you’ll want to clear them all out and remove evidence of their infestation before you ride.
Clean Your Bike
A good scrub will get your bike looking good and ready for warm-weather rides. Washing your bike also allows you to see whether anything is amiss or needs maintenance. You can use a simple car-wash soap to clean your bike and hose it off. Adding a protective polish can help keep your bike shiny once it’s dry.
Top Off Fluids
The fluids in your motorcycle’s engine should be checked and topped up before your first spring ride. Remove the dipstick to check your oil and change it or top it off. Change out the air and oil filters if it’s been a while. Refill your fuel tank with clean and fresh fuel that’s suitable for your make and model of motorcycle. You’ll also want to check the brake fluid reservoirs to make sure they’re sufficiently full of fluid to operate correctly.
Check Your Tires
Your tires will likely need to be reinflated to the correct psi levels after time in storage. Use your tire-pressure gauge to check each tire and air them up accordingly. Look for signs of excess wear like bald patches or sidewall cracks that could require you to replace one or both of your tires.
Take a Test Ride
If you’re going on some longer trips, it’s a good idea to take a short trip around the block first to make sure that nothing seems to be amiss with your bike. As you ride, test the signals and lights, try your brakes at varying speeds, and listen for any grinding or squealing noises that may indicate that something is wrong. A test ride now can spare you a headache later!
Interested in purchasing a new bike? Stop by our Lake City, FL, dealership location to check out our fine stock of new and used motorcycles for sale. Talk to our staff about our financing options if you wish. Interstate Cycles serves the greater Jacksonville metro as well as Gainesville, FL.