In the past we’ve talked about tips for putting your motorcycle away in storage for the winter. Now it’s summer finally, and it’s time to take that motorcycle out for a sweet ride. But just like for the winter, there is some preparation you should do to care for your motorcycle before jumping right on it when you pull it out from its storage unit.
Check the fuel inside the tank by looking for gunk inside the filler cap. If you used Sta-Bil or another brand of fuel stabilizer your fuel should be good to use as long as it’s been less than a year. If the fuel isn’t consistent and clean then you should drain out the tank, fuel lines, and carburetor before you the start the engine. Also consider removing the spark plugs and adding two tablespoons of oil into the ports of the spark plugs to lubricate top part of the cylinder walls.
Check the oil level of the engine before riding. If you haven’t done an oil and filter change before you put the motorcycle into storage, it makes sense to do so now. Oil degrades as it sits, so an oil and filter change will help before you start your motorcycle’s engine.
Check the battery, because motorcycle batteries tend to drain quickly in the cold weather. If you left your battery hooked up to a battery tender then it’s probably in good shape. Regardless, it’s smart to check the battery leads for corrosion.
Check the coolant, brake, and clutch levels to make sure there are no leaks. Check the tires for any unusual stress marks, cracks, or flat spots; especially if you left it resting on a kickstand. If you kept the weight off your tires then they should be in good shape along with the suspension. Make sure after you start the bike for the first time, to idle it and allow the fluids to circulate before taking off on it.
For more in depth ways to ensure your bike is ready to ride, check out the Motorcycle Safety Foundations website: http://motorcycles.about.com/gi/o.htm?zi=1/XJ&zTi=1&sdn=motorcycles&cdn=autos&tm=45&f=10&su=p284.9.336.ip_p706.20.336.ip_&tt=29&bt=1&bts=0&zu=http%3A//www.msf-usa.org/
