Ok…wake up sleepyheads and have a good long stretch. Here on the west coast it’s time to rise up from our of our winter slumber and get our bikes ready for a new and wonderful riding season!

Here are 5 essential tips to get ready.

1) Change oil and filter.
There’s a lot of discussion on using synthetic oil vs. non-synthetic oil. But I use synthetic. I always make sure I have a new oil filter too, when changing the oil. And remember to keep a record of oil changes.

2) Check tire pressure and wear patterns (you should do this before any ride!)
Garage gremlins seem to let out lots of air when your bike sits for a winter. Go with the recommended pressure on the tires, unless with your own personal ride experience you have discovered the perfect air pressure for the way you ride your machine. I have met plenty of people that tell me I should air up or down, but I tend to simply follow the tire recommended pressure.

3) Recharge the battery.
Best to simply keep a trickle charger on it, if you aren’t riding. They recommend charging it once or twice over the winter, if stored, but here in CA we are lucky enough to be able to ride most of the year. We rarely let the bikes sit for more than a few weeks. However many of you have a ton of snow to deal with, so you need to plug in!

4) Check brake pads and chain
Check chain tension according to your manual. But also check if the chain is worn and should be replaced. If you grab a link with two fingers on the rear sprocket and you can lift it from the teeth of the sprocket, the chain will need to be replaced soon. Check brake pads according to your manual. Usually there’s no need to remove the brake caliber. Most brake pads have slits cut into them. If you can still see the slits, you’re fine.

5) Clean and lube
It’s best to lube the chain while it’s hot. But if you just cleaned it with chain cleaner. Give it a light lube, go for a ride and lube again when you get back. Remember it’s best to lube more frequent than too much at one time. Now is also a good time to check your cables and give them a drop of lube as well.

I am sure others can add to this list and if you have some tips please add them via comments!

Now, have a cuppa joe and go out for a ride!