Getting your Bike Ready For Summer

The first ride of spring is a very exciting time. It can be even more exciting if you prepare your bike properly before that ride. In colder regions, it’s important to “unfreeze” your bike. The following suggestions are things to consider when you begin to get your bike ready for the road. Keep on mind; your owner’s manual will have a checklist for a standard service as well.

Check the Valves: Always refer to your manual when in doubt.  It’s usually standard procedure to adjust them when the engine is cold. Also, give the cam lobes a shot of oil when you are done because the old stuff has most definitely run off. Lastly, make sure to torque the cylinder head.

Check the Battery Health: You shouldn’t have anything to worry about if your bike spent the winter well charged.  But it’s a good idea to give it a regular service.  Check the fluid level and slow charge. If your bike was neglected all winter, then be sure to give it the same service and check it. Make sure the vent tube is connected and routed.  If it doesn’t look like it’s in good shape, replace it before it causes problems.

Check the Oil: If you changed the oil directly before you stored it then you probably don’t have much to worry about.  If you didn’t change oil before storage, replace it now. Lastly, change the filter and use a torque wrench on the drain plug.

Check the Fuel: As many of you may know, leaving your tank full before storage is a good way to avoid rust, but the fuel will probably stratified.  To avoid this, you can use a fuel stabilizer. Before turning on your petcock and letting fuel into the carb, make sure to disconnect the fuel line and drain the tank completely. Take this time to clean your fuel filter and look inside the tank for rust. If your carb float bowl(s) weren’t drained before storage, pull them off now and take a look. Varnished cottage cheese is a sign that you probably have clogged jets. Try using carb cleaner, but you may need to replace your jets and get a professional de-clogging done as well.

Check the Engine: To protect the cylinder walls and rings during those first few revolutions it’s a good idea to do a shot of oil in each spark plug hole followed by a couple of spins of the engine with the plugs. Check the gaps when you pull the plugs. Make sure to service the other engine items like the air filter, carb synch, drive-line fluids, etc.

Check the Brakes: Install fresh fluid and check the pads or shoes. Replace the pads if they are thin.

Additional Reminders:

·         Give your bike a deep coat of wax, and also treat your saddlebags and leather apparel with leather conditioner.

·         Check the suspension and steering. 

·         Check over all those normal pre-ride items: tire pressure and condition, wheel true, spoke tension, wheel bearing condition, control function, lubrication and adjustment, lights, sprocket and chain condition, etc.

·         Check for leaks.

·         Check the tightness of every fastener you can reach.

·         Check for working bulbs, smooth controls, and tight fasteners.

·         Pull things apart and thoroughly wax everything you can get your fingers and cotton swabs on.