Spring is upon us, and with the warmer weather comes time for more outdoor activities. One of the most popular activities is the beginning of motorcycle season. If your motorcycle has been hibernating in storage, you should follow some of these tips to make sure you’ll be all set for the new season. Dust off the bike and make sure you do a thorough checkup on not only the maintenance, but your insurance policy as well.
Maintenance That Will Save You
Follow these tips to ensure you’ll be all set for the new season.
Tires: Tires lose pressure slowly over time, especially in colder temperatures. Make sure to check if both tires need air. Also, check for cracks, good tread, and any other damage.
Brakes: Test your front and rear brakes separately to make sure they still run. You’ll need to listen for any scraping or squealing noises that indicate they might need to be replaced. By doing this it will let you know if the brake pad or brake lines need repair.
Fluids: Fluids such as brakes, hydraulic, oil, and gas that have been sitting for a couple months may worsen. This does not mean making sure all the reservoirs are full. Check for change in color and consistency. If any fluid looks dirty or different than what you put in, it’s time for a change.
Lights: Make sure turn signals, headlights, brake lights are all working properly and connected securely. Take the time to clean lenses as well.
Battery: Before you start your bike up, check both terminals for dirt, dust, and corrosion. Clean the terminals and make sure the cables are connected. If your bike has not been started at all during storage, you may need to charge the battery.
Other: Make sure the horn is still working and is loud. Check that the controls (such as steering, throttle, clutch), belts, and chains are not damaged, cracking, or tearing.
Are You Covered?
Motorcycle insurance is a must for any avid biker. You want an insurance policy that fits your needs, lifestyle, and budget. Like auto insurance, some coverages are required for motorcyclists.
Liability Coverage: It’s important to understand this coverage. This covers bodily injury and property damage caused to other people involved in an accident—this does not cover you and the bike.
Collision Coverage: This covers damage to your motorcycle if you happen to be involved in an accident with another vehicle or an object. It usually covers the book value of the motorcycle before the loss occurred.
Comprehensive Coverage: This covers damages caused by an event such as a fire, theft, flood, or vandalism. Like collision coverage, it will only pay for the book value of the motorcycle.
Uninsured Motorist Coverage: This covers costs for medical treatment, lost wages, and other damages if a driver with no insurance of their own hits you.
Underinsured Motorist Coverage: This is similar to uninsured coverage, except this applies when the other party has lower coverage than you do and damages exceed the other party’s limits.
Be cautious on your first ride of the season. Road surfaces will not be the same as they were in the fall. There will be plenty of sand and salt deposits that you should keep an eye out for. If you still have questions or concerns on what policy is right for you, contact our professionals at TJ Woods! Once you’ve completed your maintenance and checked your insurance policy, there’s only one thing left to do—go for a ride!
