If you are not a year-round rider, you will have sent your bike into hibernation in late fall. This is also the ideal time to carry out repairs or cosmetic work in the form of paintwork. Beautifully cleaned, rid of any rust, with fresh oil and changed brake fluid, the bike is waiting to be woken from hibernation at the start of the new motorcycle season.
The battery is removed for the winter and regularly connected to the charger to keep it charged. Brakes and tires are also prepared for the rest period. If spring beckons with rising temperatures, you should theoretically insert the battery and press the start button.
To avoid starting difficulties and other inconveniences, we will show you how to bring your bike out of hibernation.
The chain
You should carry out the following work on the chain the day before your first ride at the latest:
- Clean
- Adjust
- Grease
It is also essential to check for wear. Can you lift the chain off the sprocket? Do you see shark teeth on the sprocket or chain? In this case, it is necessary to replace them.
The chain slack is best removed by two people: One person, sitting on the saddle, compresses the vehicle, the other checks the chain. The lower part of the chain must not be under tension during compression, it must have sufficient slack. If there is tension, the sprocket and the transmission output shaft are loaded more than necessary.
The engine oil
If you did not change the oil at the end of the motorcycle season, this work should be carried out now. It is best to change the filter at the same time. You can find out which oil viscosity and filling quantity you need in the manual for your machine.
Our tip: Check the oil level every time you fill up. It's quick and better than being stranded due to a lack of oil and engine damage.
Too much oil affects performance. It can foam up. As a result, it loses its lubricating properties and this damages the entire system.
The brakes
If you want to bring your motorcycle out of hibernation, you need to check the brakes.
To do this, push the bike and apply the brakes. Does it respond quickly to the pedal and does it bite hard, do you pull the lever? do the brakes open again after actuation or is the piston perhaps stuck? You can tell by the increased resistance when you move the bike.
How thick are the brake pads? It must be significantly thicker than one millimeter. In comparison: New brake pads are about five to eight millimeters thick.
You can safely remove brake dust from the disc and caliper with brake cleaner. Next, check the brake lines. They must not be leaking or porous. This also applies to the connections to the calipers and brake cylinders. If you can only see black in the expansion tank, it is high time to replace the old fluid with fresh brake fluid.
Good tires for the motorcycle season
Intact tires with sufficient tread are vital for a safe ride. If the tire tread is less than 1.6 mm or if you see cracks or other damage in the carcass, you need new tires immediately.
If you suddenly experience unusual vibrations while riding or even feel the handlebars banging, you should also visit your trusted tire dealer for a tire change. These symptoms are often caused by a flat spot on the tread.
To counteract this, increase the air pressure in your tires by 0.5 to 1 bar above the recommended inflation pressure.
The tire pressure should be checked before the first ride of the new motorcycle season. If necessary, it must be adjusted. The air pressure often drops when the bike is stationary for a long time and in changing temperatures. To prevent a dangerous smear of dust on the tires, it is important to clean them before the first ride.
The battery
Your bike cannot start the motorcycle season without starter power. If you have not winterized the battery on the charger, it is time to charge it overnight. If a non-maintenance-free battery is installed, it is best to check the fluid level in it at the same time.
What is important when installing the battery?
To avoid arcing or even sparks, first connect the red cable to the positive terminal. Then connect the black cable to the negative terminal.
Before setting off, you should also check the vehicle lighting:
- Indicators
- Dipped beam
- High beam
- Parking lights
- Brake light
Now a quick check of the horn and the kill switch.
Bringing the motorcycle out of hibernation: the suspension
First check the fork and suspension struts for leaks and then carry out a functional check. Is the basic setting of the spring base correct and are the wheel, swingarm and steering head bearings in perfect condition and running smoothly?
How to check the steering head bearing
There should be two of you for this task. One person sits on the pillion seat of the bike. In a straight position, the fork legs are moved forwards and backwards in the direction of travel. This must work without any noticeable play.