ROKRmarc's Adventure Blog

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Hey, your ride has been sitting idle all winter…You are suffering from a serious case of Parked Motorcycle Syndrome (PMS).

Frankly, many of you are darn right sick of winter and are itching to get out and ride. I want you to know I understand. I feel your pain.

I too, before I moved to America’s Finest City, San Diego in southern California, suffered the hell of PMS so I want to help get you get ready for the upcoming riding season.

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Here’s my almost world famous springtime motorcycle preparation ritual. Feel free to share it with your friends.

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Step 1: Warm up your garage. Get a six pack of your favorite beer and some non-scratching cleaning cloths.

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Step 2: Take the cover off of your motorcycle.

Get your 1st beer and sit and admire your bike for about 30 minutes.

You may even sit on the bike to get a feel for it’s fine contours and comfortable seat.

You don’t want to rush this springtime cleaning ritual. Go slow…enjoy the moment. Ignore the cold winds and snow covered roads out there. Relax!

Now, sitting on your bike, grab the handlebars gently. Make believe for a moment that you are on your first roadtrip. Dream of riding into Monument Valley, Utah for example.

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Step 3: Clean your motorbike from front to back, top to bottom. Get it shining like new. Be gentle as your cleaning actions caress all around the painted areas. Use easy, soft strokes around the LED lights and cables. Say nice things to your bike. Admire it. Thank it for the freedom, confidence and the coolness factor it brings to your life.

Step 4: Get your 2nd beer. Review the following checklist as you admire your clean motorcycle and prepare to get your bike ready.

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Motorcycle Marc’s Mechanical Preparation Checklist:

1. Battery – Luckily, you had it on trickle charge all winter so good to go?
2. Fluids – Check for stale gas, oils and coolants. Change as needed.
3. Cables & Controls – Check brakes, clutch, throttle cables and grips.
4. Brakes – Any leaks? Check fluid level. Press levers for operation.
5. Tires – Wear and tear, note cracks and double-check air pressure.
6. Riding Gear – Clean helmets, goggles, leathers, boots and riding attire.
7. Lights – headlights, brake lights and turn-signals.

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Step 5: Let’s get into some detail…OK, go ahead and get your 3rd beer before we get started.

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OK, crack open that 3rd beer. We are getting into some key details now.

Check your gas tank and your gas.
Stale gasoline in your tank will ruin your first ride and your day. Unless you filled your tank to the max when you stored your bike…I highly recommend you drain the tank and fill it with clean, high-test fuel before you hit the road.

Double-check your tires and tire pressure.
Don’t screw around with your tires. Always run your ride with good quality rubber. Inspect your wheels for wear, cracks, and worn tread to determine if it’s time to get them replaced. Winter storage can cause flat spots. Flats spots will make your bike hard to handle.

Brakes…double-check your brakes. Get your 4th beer, pour it gently into your favorite craftbeer glass as you ponder…will my brakes be OK?

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Look closely for any damage, excessive wear or deep scratches on the brake pads and lines. Also, test both your front and back brakes to ensure they’re working properly. If you hear any pad squealing or scraping, get your bike to a dealership for a double-check. You may need new pads before taking off on your first summer roadtrip. If you find any parts that could do with replacing, you might want to head on over to a website similar to motorebor.com to see if you can source the part you’re in need of.

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Step 6: Riding Gear: Now, for the enjoyment of your…5th beer…Let’s check out your riding gear.

Riding gear is so important folks. Have your got your GPS navigation system ready? Check your helmet for cracks, dents and deep scratches. How’s your helmet lining? Manufacturers recommend replacing your helmet every five years whether you see visible damage or not and I follow their advice. You should too.

Try on your riding apparel…leathers, gloves, boots and rain gear to make sure they fit properly. Replace what is needed.

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Finally, it’s time to finish off that 6-pack.

Want a new motorcycle to ride this summer or maybe a second bike to add to your garage before the riding season begins? Consider a basic bagger.

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My suggestions…a used Roadking or the new 2019 Electra Glide Standard…both from the Motor Company, Harley-Davidson.

In my experience, any Roadking with less than 15,000 miles on it is basically new in my book and will cost you about $14,000 or less. A new 2019 Roadking will cost your around $19,300 MSRP plus various dealer fees and charges. That’s $24,000 out the dealership door in most parts of the U.S. Click on the image below to review the 2019 Roadking described on the Harley-Davidson website. A truly nice ride.

Then, there’s the new 2019 Electra Glide Standard from Harley-Davidson. Super cool, no fluff, a totally pure, great handling roadtrip bagger. My perfect type of ride as I don’t like gadgets and dashboard distractions on my rides. Click on the image below for details…a great value at MSRP $18,999 I tell yas.

Special Last Minute Note: Please inspect your motorcycle before that first spring ride. Look for any loose wires, bolts, connections and mechanical problems before starting your bike. Double check tire pressure. Review any notes you may of made before putting your bike up for the winter.

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Ride Safe Out There…

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Motorcycle Marc

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About Motorcycle Marc – I’m a motoblogger, some say a motorcycle evangelist, an industry influencer, ambassador and sponsor. I prefer to ride motorcycles but when I can’t ride I blog about it. Since 2009, I’ve developed a strong, dedicated following of thousands of gearheads, motorheads, biker-wannabes and 2-wheeled adventurers who love motorcycles and everything motorcycle-related. Welcome to my world – Marc J. Beaulieu (MJB)

Note: Copyrights and Trademarks are the property of their owners. No infringement ever intended. Some of the material for this blog was gathered from numerous articles and websites available in the public domain. Manufacturer Names, Logos, Photos/Images, Websites, Links and Model Information are Registered Trademarks of the Manufacturer and/or Organizations represented. Also, note that specifications and any information in this blog is subject to change without notice. No representation of accuracy is made. I have not been paid for my opinion in this blog post.