wakeing the beast

[wrecker]

Waking the Beast

With spring fast approaching most of us it is hard to avoid the temptation of firing up the scooter and jumping out for a quick ride. This should be avoided until you have done a quick look over of your trusted steed. Whether you have done winter mods. or not this should be done, before riding.

1. Do you have your current license plate sticker on and insurance card in hand.
2. Have you checked your tire pressure front and rear
3. Have you checked your battery over tight connections, water if applicable, and state of charge. Tickle charger for 6 hours will help a great deal.
4. Recommend changing all fluids, even if they only had a few hundred miles on them when you put the bike up.
5. Check all lights for proper function as well as the horn.
6. Check throttle cables for free operation and lube if necessary
7. Check clutch cable for smooth operation and adjustment lube and adjust as needed
8. Start bike up and allow it to warm fully, then look for miscellaneous leaks mainly towards the engine base gasket and head gaskets.
9. This is one of my favorites, hand wash and dry the bike there is no better way that I can think of to fined a loose part or something that doesn’t seem right than a hand washing, plus it makes the bike look great.
10. Last but not least take off for a small parking lot, before hitting the highway and practice your riding skills for at least 15 minutes if not longer, call it what ever you want, reintroduction to your bike, or your skills, but some fast braking, a few figure eights and some take offs and stops could save you a mishap on the open highway.
11. Drive out whatever gas was left in the bike, before refueling.
12. Make sure you have all your riding gear that you will need and it’s not on the shelf in your garage.

This little checklist should get you started for an enjoyable riding season. Hopefully you have already taken care of your major items, such as replacing those bald tires, Servicing that slipping clutch, and so on. Pleasurable rides are achieved by having good maintenance this list can be completed in under an hour. Isn’t your life worth it?

Submitted by Wrecker

[Blackpearlultra]

Great Advise!

[CoolMaker]

Great post Wrecker, the hand washing part is good to use anytime. Checking air pressure should be a routine thing too. We had someone come down to visit, Squirrel looked at the tires and had to pump them up for him. It is very easy to get complacent and forget the simple things. :wink:

[Squirrel]

Originally Posted by CoolMaker

Great post Wrecker, the hand washing part is good to use anytime. Checking air pressure should be a routine thing too. We had someone come down to visit, Squirrel looked at the tires and had to pump them up for him. It is very easy to get complacent and forget the simple things. :wink:

Ain't that the truth! How easy we forget to check the simple things that could turn into huge problems down the road.