Motorcycle spring check – tips for a good start to the season

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The winter break is slowly coming to an end and for many, the season begins just in time for the start of spring. But a safe start to the motorcycle season requires more than just firing up the engine and putting on your helmet. A thorough spring check is essential to ensure a safe and carefree start to the new season after the winter break. You should definitely check your bike and equipment thoroughly before the first rides. After a long winter break, it is also particularly important to slowly get used to riding a motorcycle again. Even if the anticipation of the first ride after the winter is huge, safety should always be the top priority.

How to get your bike ready for the season

A safe start to the motorcycle season requires a thorough all-round check of your motorcycle in order to identify and rectify potential problems at an early stage.

Tip: Remember that some garages offer special spring checks that include a thorough inspection of your motorcycle. So if you want to be on the safe side, you should have the spring check carried out by a motorcycle workshop . If you decide to have a spring check carried out at a specialist motorcycle workshop, it is also advisable to make an appointment early, as they are often very busy closer to the season.


Deciding to do the spring check yourself?

Then here are ten steps you should take to make sure your bike is ready for the season:

  • Tire check: Check the air pressure, the tread depth (the tread must always have the legal minimum depth of 1.6 mm, but we recommend 2 mm or more) and look for signs of wear or damage.
  • Inspect the brakes: Check the brake pads for wear, the braking effect, the pressure point of the brakes and the freewheeling of the wheels.
  • Check the fluids: Check the oil level, brake fluid and coolant.
  • Chain maintenance: Clean, lubricate and tension the chain correctly.
  • Check lights and electrics: Check all lights, signals and the electrical equipment on your motorcycle.
  • Check battery condition: Batteries can lose power during the winter months. Make sure that the battery is fully charged and still working properly.
  • Clean frame & add-on parts thoroughly: After hibernation, it is important to clean your bike thoroughly again – so that dust, dirt and salt don’t stand a chance. At the same time, you can check the bike for defects and carry out a small all-round check.
  • Check the chassis: Check the chassis (fork, suspension struts, steering head bearings).
  • General check: Carry out a comprehensive check of your motorcycle. Check for loose bolts and check all fluid levels again. It doesn’t hurt to take a look at the MOT sticker either.
  • Better safe than sorry: Inspect the bike again after riding a few kilometers.

Drive defensively and expect other people to make mistakes

After a long winter break, other road users may no longer be used to the presence of motorcycles on the roads. It is therefore important that you as a motorcyclist take a proactive role and ride with consideration and foresight at all times and anticipate the mistakes of others.

Also, after a long winter break, the skills and reflexes you need for riding a motorcycle may be a little rusty. So give yourself time to get used to riding again and don’t overestimate yourself. But the roads can also be unpredictable at the start of the season. Remnants of dirt, snow or road salt can make the road slippery. Therefore, be attentive and always adapt your driving style and speed to the road conditions.

In addition to careful and prudent riding, there is another important component for a safe start to the motorcycle season: the right motorcycle clothing:

Firstly, you should protect yourself well from the weather. Wind, rain and cold play a particularly important role in spring. A weatherproof motorcycle jacket and trousers with integrated protectors offer protection from the elements and additional safety in the event of a fall. Visibility is also an important issue, especially in spring. Bright, reflective clothing and equipment as well as reflective stripes on helmets and motorcycles help to increase visibility.

From small round trips to big adventures

The start of the motorcycle season also offers the perfect opportunity to try out Kurviger ‘s round trip feature. Because instead of embarking on long and challenging tours straight away, it is advisable to start with smaller tours from home and then gradually increase the number.

  1. Select starting point: Select your starting point for the tour. This can be your home or any other place from which you would like to start your tour.
  2. Use the circular route option: After entering the starting point, simply click on the 3 points to the right of the location input field, then click on Create round trip.
  3. Customizethe route: You can then customize the route according to your preferences. Set the distance and compass direction, or determine the curves and avoidances. Then click on Create round trip and your route will be generated by Kurviger.
  4. Saving and navigation: As soon as you are happy with the planned route, you can save it and use it for navigation. Kurviger offers the option of exporting the route to your navigation device or simply driving it directly with the Kurviger app.

By starting with small, twisty tours at the beginning of the season and then gradually building up, you can not only improve your riding experience, but also ensure that you are ready for bigger tours.

Round trip planned with Kurviger

To summarize: When starting the motorcycle season, it is important to look out for each other and be careful, but also to check the technology thoroughly. Whether you are an experienced rider or a newcomer, safety always comes first.

Let’s all drive responsibly and show consideration for each other.