The peak of motorcycle season will soon be upon us, and with the uncharacteristic wet wintry weather Texas suffered this year—many motorcycle enthusiasts are anxious to get riding again. However after extended storage, y
our bike will need a little love and care. From much needed upkeep to an evaluation of your motorcycle insurance; it’s vital that you are adequately prepared.
Start your riding season off the right way with the T-CLOCS inspection routine, created by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF).
Image Via www.allaboutbikes.com
Below you will find an overview of the MSF’s pre-ride safety inspection checklist—it’s sure to help get you and your bike ready to ride:
T – Tires and Wheels
- Check the air pressure of your tires and inflate to the pressure specified in your owner’s manual. Look for wear-and-tear on the treads, cracks, bulges or embedded objects.
- Check your wheels for roundness, cracks and dents, and bent, broken or missing spokes.
C – Controls
- Review the levers and pedals to make sure they’re still lubricated, and adjusted and fitted properly.
- Inspect cables to make sure they are not frayed, kinked, or folded into sharp angles. Also, test to make sure your bike’s cables at no time interfere with your ability to steer.
- Check hoses for cuts, cracks, leaks, bulges, chafing or deterioration.
- Test that the throttle moves freely, does not stick and snaps closed when released.
L – Lights
- If you removed your battery over the winter months, install it-your owner’s manual should tell you how. Check the battery to make sure the terminals are clean and tight; it’s properly charged and secured. Check the vent tube to confirm it is not kinked or plugged, and is routed properly.
- Look over the lenses on the bike to make sure they are not cracked or broken, are securely mounted and do not have excessive condensation trapped within.
- Make sure the reflectors are not cracked, broken and are securely mounted.
- Review the bike’s headlamp for cracks. Confirm it points at the right height and direction. Test the operation of the high beam and low beam options.
- Test the tail lamp and brake lights to make sure they work when they should, and they are not cracked. Clean and ensure they are properly secured.
- Test both of the turn signals – left and right!
O- Oil and Other fluids
- Check the levels and quality of the engine oil, hypoid gear oil, shaft drive, hydraulic fluid, coolant and fuel. Replace or top-up fluids that need it.
- Check for leaks of these same fluids.
C – Chassis
- Review the condition of the frame, looking
for lifting paint, cracks, or dents.
- Make sure the front forks and rear shocks are properly adjusted.
- Check the tension of the belt or chain. Lubricate the chain if needed, and inspect the teeth of the sprockets confirming they are not hooked and are properly mounted.
- Replace broken or missing fasteners and tighten if loosened.
S- Stands
- For both center stands and side stands, make sure they are not cracked or bent and that it springs into place and has the required tension to hold the bike in position.
Finally, and what many believe is most important—review your Texas motorcycle insurance coverage. No matter what “level” of rider you are – or how often you ride – motorcycle insurance is absolutely crucial. Even if you have been riding the same bike for years, it’s a great idea to take a close look at your motorcycle insurance coverage. Things change, times change and chances are your policy may need to be updated to meet your changing lifestyle.
Have questions about your TX motorcycle insurance policy? Looking to upgrade your coverage? Interested in a free policy review? Contact Dagley Insurance and Financial Services, we’d be happy to help you secure the right motorcycle coverage at the best price.