Getting Your Motorcycle Ready For The Spring

With the incredibly warm weather we’ve been having this winter it can be tempting to think about getting your motorcycle out early for the spring and hitting the road before the month is out.  (We promise, after we wrote that sentence we knocked on wood to keep the warm weather here.) If you’re seriously thinking about bringing your motorcycle out early there are some things you will want to do to prepare your bike for a nice, brisk, late winter/VERY early spring ride so you don’t find yourself getting into a New Haven motorcycle accident and getting injured.

It doesn’t matter where you store your motorcycle in the winter you will want to make sure you are taking the following steps once you get it out and get it ready to ride for the spring.  These steps will keep you safe and keep your motorcycle running for years to come without a whole lot of maintenance.

Step #1: Do a brake check.  Any experienced motorcycle rider knows that riding with brakes that are not configured perfectly can put you at a great risk.  When anything mechanical sits over the course of a few months it is likely that they will not be in the same shape they were in when you stored the bike a few months ago.  It is important to check your brakes out and make sure they are going to keep you safe while you ride.  If it is not in your skill set to check and adjust your brakes take it to someone who can do it for you to make sure you are riding with the best equipment this spring.

Step #2: Make sure your tires are inflated properly.  Even with the warmer weather it may be colder then it was when you stored your bike and certainly there is a possibility that bringing your bike out early this year your tires may not be properly inflated because the weather is colder, so you will need to make sure you are checking how well they are inflated before you hop on and ride.  In most cases, a simple, quick fill-up at a local service station will do the trick, but if your tires are not holding air you may need to seek out a repair for them before you head out.

Step #3: Check all the fluids for your bike, most importantly the oil.  If you did not change the oil at the end of the season you may want to do that now.  Oil that sits over the winter months may not be good to run your bike on in the spring.  Take the time to change the oil and make sure your engine is running at tip top shape so you can enjoy the extended season and ride well into the summer months without having to stop to tinker with your motorcycle.  An oil change can generally be easily done by yourself, but if that’s not your thing, get this done at a local shop so you can ride for days without worry.

Even if the weather is warmer and you are comfortable getting out and riding in the very early months of the season, you may still need some additional gear that you otherwise wouldn’t need if it was the middle of the spring or summer.  You may need a jacket that is comfortable and warm, gloves for riding and even some thermal undergarments so you can ride a long distance even as the cold wind blows across your body.  Staying warm and dry this time of year can be tough, even though when you are at a stand still you are comfortable.  As soon as you pick up any amount of speed you might find yourself feeling the chill.

There is a lot of excitement in the air for all of us who like to ride motorcycles because this year seems to be our year to get out and ride a few extra months, but we want to make sure we take the time to do it safely so we can avoid getting into a New Haven motorcycle accident and getting hurt.  If we follow the above steps we can be a lot closer to a safe ride, no matter what the weather is.

If you do end up getting into an accident you may need to speak with an attorney who has experience handling your type of situation.  Contact our office and one of our attorneys will speak with you and work to protect your long-term interests.