Well, it’s getting to be that time of year again when the roads start being dry, the yellow thing in the sky starts to make regular appearances, and the bug bites you. Small voices in your head are demanding you ride. The voices must be obeyed (Postal workers: please click here for more info on YOUR voices.
Jokes aside, the spring bug bites us pretty hard. Everyone’s going for a ride… you’re meeting in one hour for the first "real" ride of the season. Are you ready? More importantly, is your bike ready? If you haven’t ridden more than five miles at a time in the past few months, your bike may be needing more than just a few minutes on the charger.
Before you go on that first ride of the season, you’d better do more than throw on the chaps and see if she starts up. You should check the following:
Battery - Water. Connections.
Oil level - Engine, primary (if applicable), and transmission.
Oil condition - If your ride has been sitting for a while in the garage, you should change your oil. For those that take things literally, you should change your oil filter also.
Tires. Check the treads as well as inflation pressure.
Lights - Do they work? Blinkers, emergency flashers, and hi-beam also.
Horn - Does it work? If you think you can get away with "Horn Broken - Watch for Finger", see my previous article.
Cables - check routing. Lubricate throttle and clutch cables. Check action of throttle, clutch.
Linkages - check linkages for integrity. This especially is important for those that have installed forward controls.
Spokes - check spoke tightness. Easiest way to do this is to take a small screwdriver or wrench and lightly tap each spoke. They should ring true. Tighten those that have a dull sound.
General cleanliness - clean her. Bikes do actually run better when they are clean.
Plugs - Check gap and clean them. When you’re done your ride, check them again for a good indication of how your engine is operating. If you need help diagnosing plug indications, go here.
Frame/Shocks - Check frame integrity, shock adjustment.
Brakes. Check hydraulic levels, condition of fluid. Check that brake engages/disengages.
Wires - Check for bad insulation/connectors.
Fasteners / Bolt ons - Ensure tightness of fasteners to manufacturer’s recommended torques. Some may sneer at this, but imagine if your footpeg or shifter decides to cut loose going down the road.
Drive Chain / Belt: Check tension on your final drive, whether it is belt or chain drive. When adjusting, remember the bike must be centered. Lubricate your chain and sprocket.
Buttoning it up - Make sure you’ve got all the parts back in when you’re done checking the bike. While you can joke about having it all back together and you still have parts left over, it’s not funny to your passenger if the part in your hand is your pea pad holddown bolt. (I’ve seen this happen… and it is funny to those behind you, as long as it’s at low speed).
OK… Your scoot is ready to go out there. If you have an Evo, do her a big favor and warm her up before you ride. Let her run until you’re ready to put the choke in a little. This gives the bike’s engine a few minutes to reach normal operating temperature. While riding, keep an ear open for abnormal noise. If it’s been a while since you rode last, you will think you are hearing things, especially if you did not warm up your engine prior to going anywhere. Therefore, it’s important that you pay particular attention to warning signs of larger problems. Listen to your belt, is it rubbing? This may be an indication of a bent frame or misalignment, or could just be that your belt is loose. Look at your exhaust fumes and ensure they are clear. You shouldn’t see anything.
After your ride, you will want to check your oil levels again to determine if you are leaking or burning oil. Check your tires for any visible decrease in pressure.
After the bike is cooled down from your first ride of the season, pull your plugs and take a look at them. For information on what your plugs indicate, click here.
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Copyright © 1998 Stephen W. McDermott