Motorcycle Pre-Ride Checklist

When you’re gearing up for a ride on your Harley-Davidson® motorcycle, it’s important to make sure that it’s in good working order. This can easily be done by performing a pre-ride inspection to check each part of your bike and tune it up as needed. If you fail to inspect your bike, then you’re putting yourself and those around you at risk because your motorcycle is liable to malfunction if something is amiss.

So what does a pre-ride inspection look like? St. Charles Harley-Davidson is your STL-area Harley-Davidson dealer. Here is a checklist you can follow when examining your motorcycle before a ride.

1. Check Tire Pressure & Condition

The tires on your motorcycle take a lot of abuse as you cruise down the highway, so it’s important that they always be in good shape before a ride. You should never ride on bad tires as you could suffer a blowout, which can cause you serious injury and wreck your bike. Use a tire-pressure gauge to check the psi level of each tire and air them up according to the psi levels established in your owner’s manual.

2. Examine Brakes, Clutch & Throttle

You need functional brakes to ride your bike safely. Check the brake fluid levels to make sure there’s enough fluid in each reservoir. You’ll also want to do a test-ride around the block to try your brakes at different speeds and make sure they activate as they should. If you hear any grinding or squealing, or if your brakes feel rough or don’t engage immediately, then take your bike into a mechanic to have it looked at before you ride again.

While you’re on that ride, watch for any weirdness from your throttle. If it fails to close completely, you may notice your bike idling at a high speed even when it’s not in gear and this also merits some professional attention. If you can’t switch between gears easily, then your clutch may not be fully engaging and you already know what we’re going to say here — get thee to a mechanic posthaste!

3. Fill Up Your Tank

Even if you’re just running errands in town, it’s a drag to run out of gas halfway through your journey. If your tank is less than half-full, it’s smart to fill it up so that you have enough fuel. Make sure you’re using the right fuel for your specific make and model so that you don’t do any damage to the engine.

4. Check Oil

Your bike’s oil should be clean and clear when you ride so that it can properly lubricate all the parts of your engine. Check it by removing the dipstick, wiping it on a soft cloth or paper towel, reinserting it into the reservoir and removing it again to compare the color and consistency to the sticker chart. If you have sludgy oil, change it or get it changed by a professional. If there are metallic shavings in the oil, you need to see a mechanic immediately because this means that parts of your engine are grinding together.

5. Test Lights & Signals

Turn on your motorcycle and make sure that the lights in the front and back are bright and functional. This is especially important if you’re riding in dim conditions like fog or after dark, but you should always have lights that function even if it’s bright and sunny outside. Your lights help you to see and be seen, and your signals alert other motorists to your intentions so they can avoid hitting you. 

Malfunctioning signals or broken lights are also a common reason why motorcyclists get pulled over and ticketed, so save yourself the embarrassment and expense!

Searching for Harley-Davidson motorcycles near St. Louis? Visit our website to see the full selection of new and used Harley bikes for sale at our St. Charles, MO, dealership. St. Charles Harley-Davidson proudly serves our Missouri customers throughout the greater St. Louis metropolitan area as well as the city of St. Peters, MO.