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Do it yourself "Inspection" 101

Whether your motorcycle has been stored for the winter or you have been riding on a regular basis, it is always a good idea to do a periodic inspection. This will ensure you bike is safe to ride as well as reliable (so you don't spend your day for riding sitting on the curb waiting for a friend with a trailer).

Note: These tips are an addition to your pre-ride inspection. (More to come on that.) I highly recommend that you walk through these steps to ensure a safe trouble free ride. If you are currently having your bike serviced at the dealer, most of these things are being checked. Check with your local service manager to make sure. Here are some tips to check out all the basic systems of your bike

1. Electrical

Check head light high/low beam, tail/brake light, turn signals, horn, instrument and driving lights.
Test Kill button/switch
Inspect overall wiring for chafe. Use wire ties to secure loose wires. A shot of WD-40 will keep switches & locks healthy.
Check battery levels and clean terminals. Baking soda & water will clean corrosion from the post (Don't get it inside the battery!), a little petrolatum or grease helps prevent future corrosion.
Inspect starter connections & mounting bolts. Check shaft for excessive wear if noisy. *If your bike has a fuse box, check 'em and get spares.

2. Engine Fluids

Check levels. If engine/trans. oil is very dark or black, smells burnt, change oil & filter.
Inspect fuel filter & screens for crud and check lines for chafe and dry rot.
Water cooled Engines: Check coolant/anti-freeze level, and check flow/pump/hoses.

3. Brakes

Check and adjust lever & pedal travel. Refer to your owners/shop manual for specs.
Check master cylinders for clean brake fluid & proper fluid levels.
Check all brake lines for wear, cracking & leaks. Any brake fluid on the lines or around any of the connections means the brake system is leaking and REQUIRES attention. Irregular or "jerky" stopping may mean a warped rotor or drum.
Inspect pads/liners and replace if needed. Don't let a front brake grab on wet pavement.
Brakes are possibly the most important component on a bike. If you are not sure on how to correctly inspect the brakes & brake system, take your bike to an authorized service center!

4. Tires & Wheels

Inspect tires for even wear, tread depth and dry rot (cracking) or cuts in side walls.
Inspect valve stems for dry rot (and rim cuts on tube stems).
Check air pressure. Do not over inflate especially in Hot conditions/climate.
Inspect rims for dents, cracks (alloy) and Carefully tighten loose spokes.
Check axles, axle nuts & hardware for tightness & wear and lube the bearings.
Inspect drive chain(& lube) or belt for excessive wear and adjust/replace as needed.

6. Engine & Transmission

Check spark plugs. Brown to grayish-tan is good. Black is probably from burning oil or a rich fuel/air mix., light gray or whitish can mean a lean fuel/air mix or an intake leak.
Check carb(s), adjust float level(s) & idle/fuel/air. Clean carbs are happy carbs... Aerosol Carb/Injector cleaner can work wonders on carburetor or fuel injected motors.
Inspect/adjust ignition components & replace old spark plugs & wires.
About every 500 miles, check nuts, bolts & screws for tightness.
Inspect oil lines for leaks, cracks or chafe & look for oil leaks from the engine/trans. case(s).
Inspect air filter(s) and if dirty, replace or clean depending on type.
Inspect exhaust for leaks (especially at the manifold) and check mounting brackets.
Adjust clutch, replace plates if slipping or dragging. Check primary drive chain/belt.

7. Frame & Suspension

Check/tighten/torque all nuts & bolts, & engine/trans. mounting hardware.
Look for hair line cracks around engine/transmission mounting brackets.
Check steering head/fork assembly for looseness/tightness and adjust if needed.
Lube steering(tree) bearings.
Check fork fluid level (refer to owners manual, use only approved hydraulic fluid).
Inspect rear shock(s), (replace if worn or soft) and check fender mounting brackets/hardware.
Inspect handle bars for cracks, check mounts and oil all cables.

As mention above, these are an addition to your pre-ride inspection. Some of these things need performed more often that others. I would suggest that that you print off this list and go over it every 30 days. Take care of your bike, and it will take care of you. Ride Safe!

If you have anything you would like to share, please reply. You can never learn to much! Thanks again.