Springtime Motorcycle Riding Tips

While we don’t experience a lot of heavy winter weather here in southern California, it’s still nice when spring comes around. If you put your bike away for a few months because it was damp or chilly, then it’s time to pull it back out and get ready to ride in the warm sunshine again.

Indian Motorcycle® of Orange County in Westminster is your SoCal motorcycle dealer. Here are some springtime riding tips to help you get started.

Inspect Your Motorcycle

When you pull the cover off your motorcycle, it’s wise to give it a thorough inspection to make sure that nothing is amiss and that you don’t need any major repairs. This is also a good time to get out that owner’s manual to see whether there are any maintenance tasks that the manufacturer suggests you perform. Here are some things you’ll want to focus on:

• Use a tire-pressure gauge to check the psi levels of each tire and air them up according to the levels stipulated in your manual.
• Check your oil level and condition; sludgy oil needs a change, and it’s probably a good idea to change the oil after time in storage anyway.
• Fill up your fuel tank with fresh gas.
• Check your battery to make sure it holds a charge.
• Test lights and signals.

Brush Up On Your Riding Skills

If you haven’t ridden for a bit, you might not be prepared to go as hard as you usually do when you first hop on your motorcycle again. Give yourself the chance to ride around the block a few times to practice braking and turning, since your skills can be rusty even after a few weeks of not riding. Empty parking lots are another good place to hone your riding skills before you hit the highway. You can even use this ride as an opportunity to check your bike again by listening for any strange sounds or feeling for grinding or stalling, all of which could necessitate a trip to the shop.

Take a Class

Spring is a great time to learn a few new tricks by enrolling yourself in a motorcycle class. Plenty of places offer courses for all levels of riding expertise, from beginner to expert, so there’s always something else to master. A class might teach you some ways to ride more efficiently or take care of your bike better and it can help you shake off those cobwebs.

Remember: if you need some professional maintenance assistance before you begin your spring riding, contact the service department here at Indian Motorcycle® of Orange County. We’ll be happy to assist you however we can.

When it’s time to look for a new bike, visit our dealership in Westminster, CA, to take a look at our fine selection of new and used motorcycles for sale. Indian Motorcycle® of Orange County proudly serves the greater Los Angeles region and all of our Orange County customers.