CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
Fall is finally here and, for me, it is time to climb on the bike and ride again. The cooler days and reduced number of evening storms mean it is time to get my Harley "Solitaire" out of the garage.
I know that most riders up north are starting to put their bikes away now. Not me ... and, from what I can see on the highways, I am not the only person who prefers to ride in cooler temperatures.
Before you go get your ride, there are a lot of things to check, but I want to focus on the two items that separate your bike from the pavement - your tires. Your tires are the two most important things on your bike. Yes, I know engine, brakes, lights and controls are all integral to safe riding; however, if you think about it, your tires are the only thing keeping your bike from being a 1,000-pound paperweight.
Check your tire pressure against the specified pounds-per-square-inch in your motorcycle owner manual. Colder weather can cause your tire pressure to drop five PSI. Even under ideal temperatures, your bike's tires will lose air pressure each month. Riding on under-inflated tires will cause your fuel efficiency to be reduced, the tires to wear unevenly and, most importantly, your bike to handle improperly.
Take 30 seconds each morning before you ride and check your tire pressure. If you check your tires every day and they lose a pound every month and suddenly you lose five PSI in one tire, you might have a serious issue like a nail in the tire, dry rot or even a bent wheel rim. If you don't check your tire pressure, you may be thumbing a ride or worse.
It is important to check your air pressure when your tires are cold. Tires are considered to be cold when you have ridden less than a mile or after your bike has been parked for three hours. If you are forced to check your tire pressure when hot, you will need to add four PSI to the recommended pressure specified in your owner's manual. Be sure to recheck the tire pressure again when the bike has cooled down.
What if you check the tires when they are hot and the pressure is too high? Don't worry about it. Normal riding will cause the tires to heat up and increase the tire pressure. When the tires cool down, you will probably find the tires are at the right cold air pressure.
If your tires consistently loose more than two PSI per month, the tire, valve or wheel rim may be damaged. If this is the case, put the bike in the bed of the truck and take it to a dealer to have it looked at.
Do you have spoke wheels? You probably have an inner tube and a leaking tube can rupture. Trust me, when the tube has catastrophic failure at even 45 mph, your riding skills will be put to the test.
One last parting thought - valve caps. Yes, valve caps ... those little 25-cent items keep the valve core clean and free of debris and help keep the pressure where it's wanted.
Yes, your tires are critical to safe riding, but with minor care you can keep the air in the tires and your bike off the ground.