May 20, 2008

It’s Spring!

…So now what??

TIME TO GO RIDING! Haha. Yes. It was a long winter, longer than usual since I had only owned my 2007 R6 for not even 3 weeks before I had to consider winter storage. I know, how unfair?! Believe me when I say I felt worse for my friends, haha, I think I wished for warmer days all too often.

And now they’re here! Time to celebrate! Dust off those motorcycles, get them road worthy, and go get lost somewhere. Being that this is my first motorcycle and the first time I’ve ever taken one out of storage, I asked a few experts what process I should be going through to ensure I’ve covered the basics. So I thought I’d share with you.

Charge the battery. If you followed storage advice, then you pulled your battery like I did in the fall when you put it away, keeping it charged over the winter months.

Check the tire pressure. Tires are in good condition? Free of cracks? How’s the pressure? Ensure they’re set to correct spec (don’t forget, there are 2 specs, one for solo and another for two-up riding, see your owners manual).

Adjust chain tension. Adjust, not tighten (always remember to check your owners manual for correct spec) and lube your chain. Spray chain lube on the inside of the chain so it can “fling” through!

Check the brakes. Make sure both your front and rear brakes are working properly to avoid any “dragging” after they have been applied and released. It’s also a good idea to wipe off the surface of disc brakes with contact/brake cleaner and a rag prior to testing.

Check all cables for smooth action, especially the throttle cable, prior to hopping on and riding off into parts unknown (or even the local gas station)!

Check the oil. So, you were clever and followed storage advice from your owners manual, sweet, so all you have to do is make sure the level is good! If you didn’t, then get cracking and change that oil. See your owners manual for how-to or take it your local Yamaha dealer. Take a look and ensure all other fluid levels are good; coolant level (if your engine is liquid cooled); brake fluid levels (if you have hydraulic disc brakes). If the fluid is very dark or “muddy” in appearance, it’s time to change it.

Check the fuel. You should have topped up and stabilized the fuel in the fall, and if you did, the carbs should be fine. If you didn’t then open the gas cap and take a sniff, if it smells like varnish your bike may be hard to start and may not respond to the throttle – which means they may need to be disassembled and cleaned. Make sure your fuel petcock is open, if you have one. And remove any tape or rags etc you may have used to cover your airbox, before attempting to start.

Finally, do a walk around and thoroughly inspect your bike, pay close attention to things like fork seals keeping an eye out for any leaks.

I know. A long list isn’t it? Well, it only felt that way at 9am last Friday when I went to pick up my bike. But I took my time and made sure I looked everything over. Knowing it was my first ride in 6 months I spent some time to get my “sea legs” back. I rode easy and only went out for an hour keeping a close eye on the road surface which still had loose sand in places from winter maintenance.

How about you? Got any good first ride stories yet?! Cal

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