UK no-sign up Motorcycle Home Mechanic Guide - Manual / Resource - Page 4
What are the essential
motorcycle checks before
riding?
Tyres
We don’t need to remind you how vital your motorbike’s black circles
are for your safety, do we? Check your bike tyre pressures before you
ride, when the tyres are cold. The
correct PSI is listed on a factory
sticker on the bike somewhere.
Go over the sidewall on both sides
and look for bulges caused by
damage from potholes and curbs.
Also check how much tread is left
(wear can happen surprisingly
quickly in hot weather or under a heavy load) and look for any foreign
objects that you may have run over.
Wheels
Most motorcycle wheels are cast aluminium (with tubeless tyres) so you
no longer have to periodically test and true them by going over every
spoke by hand.
But if you do have spoked wheels, check for missing or loose spokes
before or after every ride; a loose or missing spoke can quickly lead to a
warped wheel if not fixed.
Look for signs that the wheels bearings are failing or that the grease
has leaked past the seals. Make sure there is no side to side play in the
bearings and that the wheels roll freely. While spinning look for flat
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