CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
Is old man winter gone for South Carolinians? If he isn't, no one could tell by last week's spring temperatures. It was great to see so many riders out enjoying the weather. While it is still early for some fair weather riders, I know a lot of people are ready to saddle up and head out. Before blowing off the dust and cobwebs on the motorcycle, perhaps it is time to make sure it is road worthy.
Has the motorcycle been sitting in the garage for the whole winter? Does it have the same gasoline in it from back in November? Was there any "STA-BIL" put into the gasoline tank before it was put away? STA-BIL is a fuel stabilizer that can prevent fuel deterioration and the formation of gum and varnish as well as protect a motorcycle's fuel system while in storage. There are many things a rider should check before going out for the first time this year.
Make sure the stop cock was turned off like the Motorcycle Safety Foundation instructor suggested. If not, fuel could have filled the carbonators or worse, leaked down into the engine itself. If the engine was not cranked over every week, the heads could be dryer than the Afghanistan sand in mid-summer. Turn the engine over slowly a few times to get the oil up into the cylinder heads.
If the bike was not put in the garage for the winter, make sure to check the tires for any flat spotting. Better yet, make sure to check those tires. Tires dry out even when cared for, but let them sit out for a few months and you could find dry rot. Another item to check for is the front forks. Make sure the seals are still good because bad front form seals can cause a catastrophic failure of your front suspension.
If anything on this list is a concern, before taking off, maybe it is time to run the MSF T-CLOCS checklist. T-CLOCS stands for tires and wheels, controls, lights and electrics, oil and other fluids, chassis and sidestand, all of which are different itemized sections in the checklist.
After completing the checklist and getting the motorcycle in order the rider should think about getting themselves together. Take it from an older rider; it is better to get back in shape before going off on a joy ride. Motorcycle safety instructors would be happy to help knock off that rust on the training range. To find more information or schedule into a local course visit, http://www.navymotorcyclerider.com.