The First Motorcycle Ride of the Year
Spring time is here, and with it, comes the usual craving to climb on your motorcycle and hit the street. The weather is certainly getting nice; we are having some unseasonably warm spring days, and I can virtually hear my Honda Rebel asking to be taken out. I'm sure most of you are feeling the same way—but you must resist those urges until you take care of a few things.
First of all, you need to ensure that your motorcycle is drivable, and safe to ride. The beginning of riding season is an appropriate time to change the oil, spark plugs, and drain leftover gas from the tank. Establish that the lever action is smooth. Go through your brake parts to determine if any parts need replacing. Check all the fasteners, look over the tires for wear and air pressure, and see that all the lights are working.
Be sure to consider the road conditions. The nice weather doesn’t necessarily mean that all the roads are clear of ice and snow. Be on the lookout for potholes, which are rampant this time of year.
While the weather may seem nice after a frigid winter, but make sure you are ready to ride. Ensure that you are dressed for the occasion—get out your leather (jacket, chaps, gloves, and boots), and hopefully your helmet is equipped with a face mask to help safeguard you from the chill. Consider bringing along rain gear, sometimes nasty spring weather can come out of nowhere. 40-50 degrees might feel good as you step outside to get the mail, but getting on the highway with your motorcycle and driving down the highway is a completely different story.
When you and your bike are all set to go, climb on, rev it up, and feel the power of freedom . . .
Happy riding!