Get Your Motorcycle Ready for Spring!
How to Prepare Your Motorcycle for Spring
Except in some parts of the Iberian Peninsula, motorcycling in Spain is primarily a seasonal activity. As the days grow shorter and the nights colder, many motorcycles are prepared for proper storage during the winter months.
But with spring officially here and summer just around the corner, we're already starting to notice the evenings getting longer and the weather milder. That's when the urge strikes us to bring our motorcycle out of its long hibernation and dust off our riding gear.
But before you head out to enjoy the bends this spring, we're going to offer some recommendations to ensure your motorcycle continues to run like new, and most importantly, that it does so with maximum safety.
Starting Your Motorcycle
How you get your motorcycle running again largely depends on what you did when you winterised it. If you took the time to prepare it for hibernation, it will be much quicker and easier to get your motorcycle back on the road.
Adding some fuel additives (often called preservatives or conditioners) such as a fuel stabiliser can prevent fuel degradation and blockages in injectors or carburetors. It is also highly recommended to perform an oil and filter change before winterising the motorcycle, ensuring the engine spends the long winter months with clean oil and nothing that could damage it, such as metal shavings that might remain in used oil.
Assuming you didn't do the latter, there's no better time than now to perform your motorcycle's oil and filter change. If you're a bit handy, you can do the maintenance yourself, but if you're unsure how to do it or don't have the time, it's best to put your motorcycle in the hands of a good mechanic, who can also check critical safety points such as brakes and tyres. If you don't need to perform maintenance, here are some key things to consider. This is not a definitive list, and many of these checks should be part of your daily routine before every ride.
Fuel Tank
Ideally, you should winterise the motorcycle with the tank as full as possible to prevent condensation, which can add water to the petrol and cause rust to appear in some parts of the tank. It is also highly recommended to add a fuel additive such as Motul Stabilizer, which is focused on petrol preservation and especially recommended as a preventative measure for engines used sporadically.
However, if you didn't do this, the fuel may have lost its properties and could cause injectors or carburetors to become blocked. In such cases, it is best to drain the tank and fill it with new fuel. It is also advisable to check the fuel filter and replace it if necessary.
Tyre Maintenance
Tyres are the only point of contact between the motorcycle and the road. That's why it's so important to check them every time we go out for a ride on our motorcycle. Check the tread depth of the tyres, which must be greater than 1.6 mm. To facilitate this check, tyres have a wear indicator that shows when their useful life is over and it's time to replace them with new ones. This will help us avoid serious grip problems. It is not advisable to wait until the wear indicator is fully reached. The greater the tread groove depth, the more water it can evacuate, reducing the risk of aquaplaning.
Correct pressure reduces the risk of losing control of your motorcycle and suffering premature wear. Tyre pressure can decrease during the time it has been hibernating; we should check the pressure regularly when the tyres are cold. If we have ridden for a long time with excessively low pressure or the motorcycle has been stationary for a long time with low pressure, the tyre may have been damaged, leading to a lack of grip and vibrations. Conversely, excessive pressure will reduce the tyre's lifespan and the contact patch with the road.
“Tyres are the only connection between the motorcycle and the road; they also support the entire weight of the motorcycle and absorb all road obstacles.”
Brake Inspection
It's possible that the brakes have seized up a little and the fluid has absorbed some moisture, making them feel spongy. At a minimum, a thorough visual inspection and a normal-pace brake test are required. We also recommend cleaning any corrosion from the surface of the brake discs or any additives we may have sprayed onto the disc for preservation.
Another thing we must check is the brake fluid level; this can be done through the reservoir window, which can be found next to the front brake lever or near the rear brake pedal. If in doubt, we strongly recommend changing the brake fluid and pads if necessary.
“Do not tamper with the brakes or top up the reservoir fluid without professional supervision.”
When brake pads are worn, the brake fluid level usually drops, leading us to believe it needs topping up. However, if we top it up and then change the brake pads, the level would be above its limit, and the brakes could lock up. That's why you should never tamper with the brakes unless you know what you're doing.
Battery Maintenance
If we haven't used a battery maintainer during the time the motorcycle has been hibernating, it's highly likely we'll need to perform a full charge with a motorcycle battery charger. If your battery is not a sealed battery, you'll need to check the water level (using distilled water to top up if necessary) and clean the terminals with a little battery terminal grease.
With a bit of luck and a slow charge, the battery will come back to life. Bear in mind that a battery that hasn't been used for a long period can lose its charge, which may mean the battery stops working. If the battery struggles to turn the starter motor or loses charge quickly, this indicates it's no longer performing at its best, and we should replace it with a new one.
Drive Chain
A well-maintained drivetrain will provide greater efficiency for the motorcycle, meaning better performance, less running noise, and lower fuel consumption. If you have a stand, it will make chain maintenance much easier.
“Ensure the motorcycle is switched off and the ignition is off before handling the motorcycle's drivetrain.”
Place the motorcycle on as level a surface as possible and check that the chain and sprocket are clean and lubricated. The front sprocket will be found behind a cover near the gear lever; you will need to remove this cover to check its condition and remove any grease that may have accumulated around it.
The chain should have correct tension and be well-lubricated but not excessively so. You can clean it with a cloth before applying new grease, but it's best to use a specific product for cleaning drive chains, along with a special motorcycle chain brush.
Engine Oil
If you changed the oil and filter before hibernation, you most likely won't have to worry about anything, although we will still check the levels and the underside of the engine to ensure there are no leaks or oil stains.
Coolant
If your motorcycle has liquid cooling, you'll need to check the level. Remove the radiator cap (with the engine stopped and cold) and verify that the coolant is clean and at the correct level. If the coolant is dirty, it can obstruct the radiator and damage the engine. Consequently, we will flush the entire coolant circuit and replace it with new antifreeze.
Lights and Electronics
Verify that all lights are working correctly and replace any faulty bulbs or fuses if necessary. It's also advisable to check that the dashboard lights are functioning. When you switch on your motorcycle's ignition, a test is performed on the instrument panel, allowing us to immediately check that all lights are working. It is especially recommended to pay attention to the most important ones, such as the engine check light, oil, temperature, and fuel reserve.
Final Checks
And even though we've given our motorcycle a thorough check, we mustn't forget the rider. Make sure your riding gear is in good condition and still fits well after a winter of indulgence.
If you've been out of the saddle for a few months, relax and start with a pleasant, conservative first ride, gradually getting back into the rhythm with your motorcycle and blowing away the cobwebs for both of you.