Basic Pre-Ride Inspection for Touring Motorcycles

Operating any vehicle requires a certain amount of mechanical care. But even more so, neglecting to take care of your touring motorcycle can lead to expensive breakdowns or, even worse, a safety hazard on the road. Unlike a passenger vehicle, a touring motorcycle relies on minimal components that are quite a bit smaller, which means every one of them needs to be in working order while you’re riding. A faulty clutch, braking system, or tire can have disastrous consequences when riding at highway speeds, so it’s obviously important that you keep an eye on all of these parts. 

Thankfully, the best way to keep your touring motorcycle in good shape is simple: just do a basic inspection before every ride. Keep reading for a pre-ride inspection guide. Then, when you need any parts or repairs, come visit us at our service department in Joplin, Missouri. We also proudly serve Springfield, Missorui, and Rogers, Arkansas.

Tire Pressure and Quality

Probably the quickest way to put a touring motorcycle in the ditch is with a blown out tire. Remember that you only have two wheels on your bike, so if one goes out, you’ll be lucky if you can control it long enough to safely pull off to the shoulder. That means you’ll have to keep an eye out for your tire pressure on both sides. 

You should buy a tire pressure gauge, which is cheap but extremely effective for determining exactly when you need to add some more air to the tires. 

If you do this before every ride, you’ll also be able to spot when the tire quality starts to wear down. If the tread is running low, or if you notice punctures or bulges, you need to get that tire replaced before taking it out on the road again. Severe tire damage like this is a blowout waiting to happen, and you don’t want to risk personal injury just to get one more ride in before changing the tire.

Fluid Levels

Engine fluids keep your motor healthy and performing well, so it makes sense to take a look at these before every ride. Leaks can cause your engine to deteriorate quickly without you even knowing. But if you check your oil regularly, you’ll see right away when you start losing too much fluid. 

To do this, take out the dipstick, wipe it down, put it back in, and then pull it out again to check the level. If you’re running low, you should replace it with as much oil as you need, but make sure you use fluid that’s compatible with your touring motorcycle. 

This will also help you see when the oil starts wearing down. When it gets too viscous or dark, you’ll need to take it in for an oil change before it wears down too much.

Simple Brake and Throttle Checks

Finally, it’s impossible to ride safely without a functioning braking system, so make sure you do a simple check on your brakes before hitting the highway. You can do this in your driveway or on a side street. All you need to do is ride at a slow speed, gradually apply the brake, and pay attention to how well you slow down. The brakes should stop your motorcycle smoothly. 

If there are vibrations or too much jerkiness in the process, you might have an issue with the rotors or brake pads. For either of these problems, you’ll need to bring the touring motorcycle into our shop before riding it again.

All it takes is a few minutes and a pre-ride inspection will save you a lot of money, stress, and might even help prevent an accident. There are plenty of maintenance practices you can do to keep your touring motorcycle in good shape, but with these simple inspections, you’ll avoid a lot of major issues while riding your motorcycle. If you need a more thorough inspection done, or just need maintenance on your touring motorcycle, bring it in to Hideout Harley-Davidson. We are located in Joplin, Missouri. We also serve Springfied, Missouri as well as Rogers, Arkansas.