New York Chapter "W"

Gold Wing Road Riders Association

Rochester, NY

Rider Education Information by Gary Mandak

Riding Educator, New York Chapter "W"

Winter and motorcycles do mix

February and we still walk by our bikes knowing winter has to end soon, right? So what can you do just before the roads welcome our two wheeled rides? Late winter/early spring is an ideal time to take a long hard look at our motorcycles to prepare them for our first spring ride.

Tires:

There are two things that keep you off the ground when you are moving, the tires. Put the bike up on the center stand and spin the tires to check the tread and sidewalls for wear, cracks or a newly acquired nail. How old are the tires? The DOT number on the tire sidewall indicates the month and year of manufacture. For some of us, the tires seldom wear out but are replaced due to age. How old are your valve stems? They also need to be replaced on a regular basis.

Brakes:

How old are the brakes? How thick are the brake pads on both front sets and the rear? Do the rotors show wear? Do the brakes feel hard to compress or do they feel spongy? It may be time for a brake fluid flush or other maintenance.

Brake fluid:

Is the fluid level at the correct level? 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. Are there any leaks in the brake lines or the fittings? If the fluid is dark, it is over due for changing.

Front Forks:

Do the front forks show any signs of leaking fluid; if so you may needs seals. Leaking forks can affect handling. When was the fork oil changed last? What is the air pressure in the forks?

Shocks:

Check the rear shocks for leaks. Is the air setting is where you want it to be? If you see fluid on the shocks, they may not be holding correct pressure. Faulty shocks can cause handling problems.

Battery:

How old is it? Is the water level correct? Did you trickle charge it throughout the winter to keep it up to capacity? Are the cable connections free from corrosion? A dead battery on a trip in the middle of nowhere can not only be frustrating but dangerous.

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 been lubricated?

Cable Lubrication:

The throttle, brake and clutch cable (non-Hydraulic) need lubrication on a regular basis. Keep them lubricated on a regular basis to prevent them breaking on a deserted road.

Center/Side Stand Lubrication:

The side and center stand need lubrication so they can retract all the way. A sticking stand can hang down enough to touch down when executing a left turn. This may cause the bike to lift slightly causing you to lose control.

Coolant:

How old is the coolant? How high is the level in the overflow tank? Is it discolored? Is it the correct silicate free coolant that is recommended for the engine?

Hoses:

Check the condition of the coolant hoses for leaks. Are the hose clamps tight? Leaking coolant can be very slippery and may cause you to lose control of your bike.

Lights:

Turn on the bike ignition and walk around and check all the lights to make sure they all work. Be sure to check before a long trip. Carry an extra bulb for the lights that you need the most.

Nuts and bolts:

Check the assorted nuts and bolts on your bike for correct tightness or worse yet, missing ones. Use a torque wrench, this will prevent over tightening the bolts.

Medical Information:

It is important to carry identification and a medical history of the rider and co-rider. Make sure you have current medical information easily accessible. This can be invaluable in the event medical information is needed quickly.

Best Book Reading:

When we got our bike, it probably came with a manual to introduce us to our bike. Ok, how many of us actually read it? Now is a great time to read through the manual and learn about our bike, it's safety features, and 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. These are some things that should be looked at during the winter, so when the snow finally fades to flowers, we are confident that our bikes are in safe working order for that first ride of the season.

Practice Safe Riding

Gary Mandak

Chapter W Educator

Winter and motorcycles do mix

February and we still walk by our bikes knowing winter has to end soon, right? So what can you do just before the roads welcome our two wheeled rides? Late winter/early spring is an ideal time to take a long hard look at our motorcycles to prepare them for our first spring ride.

Tires:

There are two things that keep you off the ground when you are moving, the tires. Put the bike up on the center stand and spin the tires to check the tread and sidewalls for wear, cracks or a newly acquired nail. How old are the tires? The DOT number on the tire sidewall indicates the month and year of manufacture. For some of us, the tires seldom wear out but are replaced due to age. How old are your valve stems? They also need to be replaced on a regular basis.

Brakes:

How old are the brakes? How thick are the brake pads on both front sets and the rear? Do the rotors show wear? Do the brakes feel hard to compress or do they feel spongy? It may be time for a brake fluid flush or other maintenance.

Brake fluid:

Is the fluid level at the correct level? 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. Are there any leaks in the brake lines or the fittings? If the fluid is dark, it is over due for changing.

Front Forks:

Do the front forks show any signs of leaking fluid; if so you may needs seals. Leaking forks can affect handling. When was the fork oil changed last? What is the air pressure in the forks?

Shocks:

Check the rear shocks for leaks. Is the air setting is where you want it to be? If you see fluid on the shocks, they may not be holding correct pressure. Faulty shocks can cause handling problems.

Battery:

How old is it? Is the water level correct? Did you trickle charge it throughout the winter to keep it up to capacity? Are the cable connections free from corrosion? A dead battery on a trip in the middle of nowhere can not only be frustrating but dangerous.

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 been lubricated?

Cable Lubrication:

The throttle, brake and clutch cable (non-Hydraulic) need lubrication on a regular basis. Keep them lubricated on a regular basis to prevent them breaking on a deserted road.

Center/Side Stand Lubrication:

The side and center stand need lubrication so they can retract all the way. A sticking stand can hang down enough to touch down when executing a left turn. This may cause the bike to lift slightly causing you to lose control.

Coolant:

How old is the coolant? How high is the level in the overflow tank? Is it discolored? Is it the correct silicate free coolant that is recommended for the engine?

Hoses:

Check the condition of the coolant hoses for leaks. Are the hose clamps tight? Leaking coolant can be very slippery and may cause you to lose control of your bike.

Lights:

Turn on the bike ignition and walk around and check all the lights to make sure they all work. Be sure to check before a long trip. Carry an extra bulb for the lights that you need the most.

Nuts and bolts:

Check the assorted nuts and bolts on your bike for correct tightness or worse yet, missing ones. Use a torque wrench, this will prevent over tightening the bolts.

Medical Information:

It is important to carry identification and a medical history of the rider and co-rider. Make sure you have current medical information easily accessible. This can be invaluable in the event medical information is needed quickly.

Best Book Reading:

When we got our bike, it probably came with a manual to introduce us to our bike. Ok, how many of us actually read it? Now is a great time to read through the manual and learn about our bike, it's safety features, and 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. These are some things that should be looked at during the winter, so when the snow finally fades to flowers, we are confident that our bikes are in safe working order for that first ride of the season.

Practice Safe Riding

Gary Mandak

Chapter W Educator