There are few things more frustrating for a winter weary motorcycle rider than discovering that their motorcycle won’t start on the first good riding day of spring. One thing that surely tops not starting is having a mechanical breakdown a few miles into that first ride. These frustrations, and the expensive repairs that can accompany them, can be avoided.
It might seem that nothing should break while a motorcycle sits parked. The ravages of time, the effects of winter cold and simply sitting still, however, can have a surprising impact on a motorcycle’s roadworthiness. Here is a partial list of some things that can go wrong.
Many of the possible ill effects of winter motorcycle storage can be minimized or avoided by proper preparations before storage. Whether you properly prepared your motorcycle for storage or just parked it after the last fall ride, it’s wise to perform a thorough preseason inspection before starting your motorcycle. Here’s a few things to check:
The last item on the list, the MSF T-CLOCS inspection, should be done before every ride. (T-CLOCS stands for tires and wheels, controls, lights and electrics, oil and other fluids, chassis, and stands.) After enjoying the first ride of the new season, consider treating your motorcycle to some preventive maintenance. Doing the basics of changing the oil, oil filter, fuel filter and air filter will go a long way toward keeping your motorcycle running smooth.
Till next time, ride safe!