By: By: xoprodox
Whether you have a Kawasaki, Yamaha, Honda, Suzuki, Victory, Big Dog, Custom or a Harley Davidson, your motorcycle requires proper maintenance and care in order function properly. Whenever your bike is placed in storage, particularly during the winter months, you should be prepared to perform the following maintenance checks and inspections before you begin riding again.
Battery - Winters can hard on batteries. Some riders recommend taking the batteries out of your motorcycles during the winter and storing it in a warmer place, while others advocate placing it in a battery charger until Spring time. Either way, a battery that has been allowed to sit idle for a while will need to be examined before use. Check carefully for leaks or anything else that seems unusual or problematic, and charge it in a battery charger before you use it.
Air Cleaner - During the winter months, small insects and other animals in your garage may just decide that your air cleaner is their new winter getaway. Be sure to clean your air cleaner, as well as oil it, at least once a year. .
Spark Plugs – Plugs can tell you a lot about how your motor is running, and it is relatively easy, and quick, to pull them out and check them before you leave the house, as opposed to while you're waiting for the tow truck on the side of the road.
Belts and Chains - Whether you have a belt drive, chain drive or shaft drive, you should make sure that all the parts appear in good order and everything that is properly tightened.
Tires and Wheels - Make sure that your tires don't have any cracks or worn spots and that the tire pressure is good. (You should do this regularly). As for your wheels: If you have solid wheels or mags or anything other than spokes, you only have to check for any corrosion, or dings. If you have spokes, check to make sure they are tight. Loose spokes can cause you to get a flat or even worse, the spokes can break unexpectedly.
Cables- During the winter you can get quite a bit of condensation in your cables. This can cause all kinds of problems. These might include rusting the cable or weakening the cable. Check them and lubricate them if necessary.
Lights - Make sure that all of your lights and other electrical components are in working order.
Chassis - Make sure that everything is properly tightened.
Safety Gear - Now that the bike is already to go make sure you are too. Check your eye protection, condition leathers, and protect your helmet with a new head wrap.
Bolts & Nuts - Check bolts and nuts and use Loc-Tite or other thread locking device.
Fluid Change - Check oil levels and change the oil filter. We are working on a washable replaceable oil filter with a pressure by-pass.
