Ready to Ride?

© Ken Bingenheimer / RumBum.com

Tune Up your bike for spring.

Spring is finally here and for many motorcyclists, at least in the northern climes, that means it’s time at last to roll out the bike and have some fun. But wait. If the bike has been sitting all winter it’s going to need some prepping, and so are you.

For the bike the basic list is obvious.

• Check tire pressure
• Change the oil if you didn’t do that when you put the bike up for the winter
• Charge the battery if it was not on a trickle-charger over the winter
• Put gas in the tank if you drained it for the winter
• Confirm that all your electrics work
• Check brake fluid, coolant, and hydraulic fluid

This is also a good time to take care of others needs. If your tires are shot, get them replaced. Inspect your brake pads and replace them if necessary.

OK, so the beast is in good working order. What about the master? You need a tune-up, too. Skills get rusty when they’re not used, and it’s an acknowledged fact among bikers that most motorcycle problems are caused by the nut that connects the handlebars to the saddle.

Your first ride should be to a parking lot where you can practice basic riding skills and work the kinks out. Take some plastic cups to use as cones and set up a riding course for yourself. The most important things to practice are braking, stopping on a curve, slow-speed turning in a tight space, and swerving.

Braking – Stop and go is the thing here. Set a point and accelerate to that point, then brake sharply, using both the front and rear brakes. Re-accustom yourself to how hard you can brake before the tire locks up.

Stopping on a curve – Stopping traction is limited, and when you’re in a lean you have less of it than when you’re straight up. Practice bringing the bike up before hitting the brakes.

Slow-speed turning in a tight space – Set up cones in a figure-eight pattern and ride around the pattern. Then reduce the size of the pattern progressively. Practice until you can confidently ride the pattern without touching down with your foot.

Swerving – Set up cones to mark the entry of the swerve and the points (imagine a car stopped in the road in front of you) you’ll want to swerve around. Accelerate to the entry point, then guide the bike to the left or right around the imaginary car.

Now you’re ready. Get on that bike and ride!