Getting Your Motorbike Ready for Spring

Do not rush the first ride

When the first dry, bright weekend arrives it is tempting to wheel the bike out and go. But a bike that has sat for a few months needs a proper look over before it is ready for the road.

Tyres lose pressure, batteries go flat, and brakes and chains can pick up corrosion while the bike is stood. Half an hour of checks now can save you a breakdown on your first ride out.

It is also worth remembering that you will be a little rusty too. Roads are often still damp and dirty in early spring, with gravel and mud washed onto the lanes, so take the first few rides gently while you and the bike get back into the swing of it.

Battery and electrics

A battery left on the bike all winter without a trickle charger will often be flat or weak by spring. Charge it fully before you try to start the bike, and if it will not hold a charge it is likely time for a new one.

Once it starts, check every light: headlight on dipped and main beam, tail light, brake light from both the front lever and the rear pedal, indicators and the horn.

Look over the wiring too. Mice and damp can both do damage to a bike stored in a shed or garage.

Tyres, brakes and chain

Check the tyre pressures cold and set them to the figures in your handbook. Look for cracking in the sidewalls, flat spots and the tread depth. Tyres age even when the bike is not ridden, so check the date code on older tyres.

Squeeze the front brake and press the rear. They should feel firm, not spongy. Check the pads have plenty of material left and the discs are not badly rusted or scored.

Give the chain a clean and lube, and check the tension. A chain that has dried out over winter can stiffen up, and a tight or loose chain wears the sprockets quickly.

Fluids and the fuel system

Check the engine oil level, and the coolant on a liquid-cooled bike. Brake fluid absorbs moisture over time, so if it looks dark it is worth having it changed.

Fuel left in the tank for months can go stale, especially modern petrol. If the bike is hard to start or runs roughly, old fuel is one of the first things we look at.

If the oil and filter were not changed before the bike was laid up, now is a good time to do it.

Before you set off, check the cables and controls too. The throttle should snap shut on its own when you let go, the clutch lever should pull smoothly, and the steering should turn freely from lock to lock without any notchy spots.

Let us give it a proper service

We have a motorbike lift in our workshop, and Mark has been working on bikes and cars for more than 30 years. We service and repair motorcycles of most makes, and we always give you a quote before any work starts.

We also carry out Class 2 MOTs on bikes over 200cc. Call us on 01922 682200 to book, and we can do the service and the MOT in the same visit.

Keep an eye out for our bike meets outside the garage on Pelsall High Street, with tea and coffee on. call us on 01922 682200 to book to get your bike in before the riding season gets going.