Getting Your Bike Ready For Spring Riding
Now that the weather’s warmed up, many riders are getting ready for some rides out in the hot sunshine, and doing some spring bike maintenance is an essential part of that. Even if you rode your bike through our relatively mild winters here in California, it’s still going to be helpful to do some cleaning and perform a few basic upkeep tasks to ensure that you’re all ready for your upcoming rides.
Escondido Cycle Center is your California motorcycle dealer. Here are some tips to help you get your bike de-winterized and ready for spring riding.
Clean Your Bike
First things first, giving your bike a thorough cleaning will help make it easier to see what needs to be tuned up. Wash and dry your bike thoroughly, using brushes or sponges to get into every nook and cranny. You may even want to apply some protective wax or polish when you’re done; just make sure you don’t get any on the seat so it doesn’t become slippery. A nice, clean bike is also going to be more fun to ride!
Change Oil
The oil on your bike may be worse for wear, especially if it’s been in storage for a time. Remove the dipstick, wipe it on a soft cloth, re-insert it and remove it again to check the color and consistency. Clear, runny oil merely needs a top-off, but sludgy, opaque oil will need to be changed completely. When you do this, change out the oil filter as well.
Inspect Lights & Signals
Your lights and signals help to ensure that you can see and be seen on the road, and they come in handy particularly when you’re riding in cloudy or dark conditions. Ride around the block and test out your signals to make sure they function correctly. Test all your lights and replace any bulbs that have burned out.
Check Tires
The two wheels of your bike hold up its weight and yours on the highway and maintain constant contact with the road surface. That’s why keeping them in peak condition is so important. Take a tire-pressure gauge to check the pressure of each tire and air them up to the manufacturer’s recommended psi levels (found in your owner’s manual, on the tire sidewall or online). While you’re down there, examine each tire for worn treads, uneven wear, embedded objects and cracks in the sidewall. You never want to ride on bad tires, so make sure that you get any issues you find addressed immediately before your next ride.
Schedule a Service Appointment
Even the most seasoned biker can still benefit from some professional assistance from time to time. You’ll want to schedule a maintenance appointment with the mechanics here at Escondido Cycle Center so that we can help you to get your bike all tuned up and ready to go. And we’re always here to help you with any other issues you come across, like squeaky brakes or poor mileage.
Prepare Yourself
If you haven’t ridden in a few months, then you’re going to need to take some time to get yourself ready for the saddle! Don’t try to take a two-day touring trip on your first spring ride. Work your way up gradually to longer rides with a few shorter cruises first. If you’re brand-new to motorcycle riding, you may want to put in some practice at an empty lot or have a more experienced motorcycling friend help you learn the ropes. You can also always keep yourself in good shape by lifting weights and working the muscles you use to ride by doing some stretches and exercise.
We hope this guide proves helpful to you in getting ready for spring riding. Still need a motorcycle? Come see us at our Escondido location today to take a look at our full stock of new and used motorcycles for sale. Escondido Cycle Center proudly serves the greater San Diego metro area as well as our customers coming from Oceanside, California.
