New York Chapter "W"

Gold Wing Road Riders Association

Rochester, NY

Spring Into The Riding Season Safely

Now is the time to look at our motorcycles to prepare them for our spring ride. We may have sneaked in a ride or two so far, but now it may finally be riding season, if you listen to the weather person! Last time you rode your bike, hopefully you stored it in such a way that it will take little to make it road ready. In any case, we should look at the following items to make sure we are really ready to ride. Bring your manual and let's head out to the garage to make sure everything is within specifications.

Tires:

Put the bike up on the center stand and spin the tires to check the tread and sidewalls for wear, cracks, or souvenirs left on the road. If the sidewalls have cracks, replace them, they are too old to be safe. When you replace your tires, replace the valve stems as well. Check the air pressure. During the winter it is normal to lose some air pressure. If the air pressure is very low, you may have a leak in the rim or the stem, so you need to find the source of the leak. Don't be so anxious to ride that you overlook a possible tire leak.

Brakes:

While the bike is still in the air, spin the wheels and listen for noises. If you hear a rubbing sound, it could be worn brakes dragging on the rotors. How old are the brakes? How thick are the brake pads on both front sets and the rear? Does the rotors show wear or look warped? Check your brakes regularly so you don't come to a grinding halt.

Brake Fluid:

Check the brake fluid level and add the correct type of brake fluid that your manual recommends. When was it changed last? Moisture accumulates in the brake fluid and may cause rust to form in the calipers causing less than effective brakes. Do the brakes feel hard to compress or do they feel spongy? It may be time for a brake fluid flush or other maintenance. Check for leaks in the brake lines or the fittings. Brakes, they do a body good.

Clutch Fluid:

Check the level and color of the clutch fluid and change it when you change the brake fluid. If either resembles your coffee, that should be a wake up call to flush them and refill to the proper levels.

Front Forks:

Inspect the front forks for any signs of leaking fluid; if so you may need fork seals. Leaking fork seals will affect handling. Make sure the fork sliders have no pitting, as that will cause the fork seals to be cut. Bugs or other accumulations on the forks will dry and possibly cause your forks seals to leak. Change the fork oil according to your manual. Check the air pressure in the forks.

Shocks:

Check the air settings in the rear shocks to match the type of riding you are planning to do. Incorrect air pressure in the shocks will cause handling problems. Adjust the pressure as needed, depending on the weight of the passenger and amount of luggage. As with tire pressure, the rear shocks may leak some air as well. Check them on a regular basis.

Battery:

How old is it? Is the water level correct? If your battery is low, add distilled water, nothing else. Are the cable connections free from corrosion? Brush them off and add battery coating to reduce rust at the connections. The newer types of gel batteries are maintenance free and will not leak battery acid in the event the bike is less than vertical.

Oil Levels:

Has your oil and oil filter been recently changed in the engine? Most of us like to drain the old oil out in the fall and store it with fresh oil and filter. Is the differential oil at the correct level and been changed recently? When was the rear spline lubricated with the recommended type of grease?

Cable Lubrication:

The throttle, brake, and clutch cable (non-Hydraulic type) need lubrication on a regular basis. Lack of lubrication will cause the clutch and brake cables to be harder to use and may break if not lubricated on a regular basis. If your speedometer is jumping, it may need lubrication, or you are accelerating too fast!

Center/Side Stand Lubrication:

The side and center stand need lubrication so they can retract all the way. They can hang down if not lubricated regularly.

Coolant:

How old is the coolant? Is the level in the overflow tank correct? Is it discolored? Use the correct silicate free type coolant that is required for aluminum engines. If you mix the coolant your self, use distilled water to minimize the contaminants in tap water. They may call it antifreeze, but it is also anti-hot as well.

Hoses:

Check the condition of the coolant hoses for leaks. Check the hose clamps to make sure they are tight. Inspect for coolant leaks at this time. Also check gas lines and vacuum lines for cracks and replace as needed.

Gold Book:

Keep the most current copy of the GWRRA Gold Book in your baggage to look for phone numbers if stranded. It also has informational articles on such topics as hand signals, maintenance items, trip items, how to tie down a Goldwing, and how to pick up a fallen Wing.

Goldwing Manual:

Now is the time to read through the manual for the recommended maintenance schedule. Whether we do the maintenance ourselves or not, we should be aware of what should be done on a regular basis. Maintaining your bike not only extends the life of the bike, but may extend yours as well. We should be confident that our bikes are in safe working order for the rest of the riding season.

Practice Safe Riding,

Gary Mandak, Chapter W Educator