Preparing Your Motorcycle for Spring

If your motorcycle has been in storage during the winter months, it's not yet ready for your spring excursions. Cold temperatures and the time spent in storage can take their toll on your bike. You don’t want to take your motorcycle straight from the garage and hit the road. Instead, go through the following de-winterization process first.

Consult the Owner's Manual

A great place to start is by scanning the owner’s manual of your motorcycle. There may be model-specific tasks you need to handle or certain products you should/should not be using. See what the manufacturer recommends for keeping your bike running well.

Do a Visual Inspection of Your Bike

Next, give your motorcycle a good glance over. Look for red flags such as cracks along the weld lines, pest infestation, low tire pressure, leaks, or rust. If you notice anything out of the ordinary, make a note. Then address it yourself or bring your bike to our service department. You'll want to get the problems fixed as soon as possible. Small issues can grow and turn into larger issues that can cost more to repair.

Washing

Your motorcycle may have accumulated a layer of dust and grime during its time in storage. Give it a quick wash before you take it out on the open road. That way, you can start spring riding on a great note.

Check the Fluids

Your engine fluids will also need to be checked and might have to be replaced. Make sure that the oil in your motorcycle is still fresh and full. Also, inspect your brake and transmission fluids to ensure there’s plenty of liquid to work with. Inspect your gas tank for cracks and other damage. If you added a fuel stabilizer at the beginning of winter, you won’t need to drain the tank before you can ride again.

Battery

The biggest concern you’ll face with your battery is whether or not it’s still completely charged. If you left your battery connected to the bike, it’s probably dead. No matter how you stored it, check the charge and make sure it’s still good to ride on. If not, you may need to get it recharged or, depending on how old it is, replaced altogether.

We hope you found this guide useful. If you need assistance with maintenance, the experts at Riderz Rocky in Rocky Mountain House, AB, are here to help. Bring your bike to our service department so we can fix it in no time. If you’re looking for motorcycles for sale near Red Deer, come check out our inventory. Our friendly staff looks forward to serving you!