Take Care of Her and Shell Do the Same ( How to start out the riding season)

Has your scoot been sitting in the garage all winter, just dying to be ridden? Or have you had the chance to only get her out a couple of times? If you answer yes to either of these questions, then this article will intrest you. This article lets you know what I do every year right before riding season starts.

Living in the lower midwest, there seems to be several chances to ride during the winter. Usually, a day here, and a day there. But for the most part the bike still sits on a pretty regular basis. Sitting, in and of itself doesn't do any harm to your bike but some of the less durable stuff has a tendancy to break down even when sitting. Another thing, in order to help you have a safer and problem free season it's just better to run the checks listed below.

  • Fuel - Gas tends to break down as it ages. If you've ever smelt a gas can that been sitting for awhile you know what I mean. If my bikes been sitting for a over a month, I will drain the gas and put new fuel in it.
  • Oil and Primary Drive Fluid - Now I don't know if oil breaks down by just sitting, but every March 1st I do an oil change regardless of the milage since the last one. One of the things that was suggested to me was that by doing an oil change after the bike has sat for awhile helps get more of the stuff that gathers in oil out.
  • Battery - Winters can be rough on batteries. I know some people who take theirs out during the winter and store it in a warmer place. I also know people who keep it on a battery charger all winter. I don't know what works best, but I do know that a battery that has sat for awhile might not have all of the kick it really needs. Before you go out for the first time, give the battery a good check. Look for leaks or anything that looks unusal. If you've got a battery charger, give it a good charge before you go out. It might just help keep you on the road.
  • Air Cleaner - During the winter the critters that live in your garage all scamper to find someplace to hide your air cleaner could be one of them. I pull out my air cleaner and clean it and oil it every year at the time that I do my winter oil change. By doing that I'm sure that my first ride will be a nicer day.
  • Spark Plugs - To me it just seems to easy to not pull the plugs and give them a quick once over. Plugs in general can tell you a lot about how your motor is running. Why not check them and replace them now, instead of on the side of the road.
  • Belts and Chains - Wheather you have belt drive, chain drive or shaft drive. Make sure all the parts appear in good order and everything that is supposed to be tight is tight.
  • Tires and Wheels - Make sure your tires look ok. That they don't have any cracks or worn spots and that tire pressure is good. (You should do this regularly). As for your wheels. If you have solid wheels or mags or anything other than spokes checking your wheels is pretty easy. You only have to check for any corrosion, or dings. If you have spokes, CHECK TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE TIGHT. Loose spokes can cause you to get a flat or even worse, have the spokes to break. Check them carfully.
  • Cables- During the winter you can get quite a bit of condensation in your cables. This can cause all kinds of problems. These might include rusting the cable or weakening the cable. Check them and lubricate them if necessary.
  • Lights - Make sure that all of your lights and other electrical components are in working order. Especially, at the beginning of the season, since the cagers aren't used to seeing us out there.
  • Chassis - Make sure that everything is tightened up. Some of us who ride bikes that have a tendancy to really loosen things up need to really check the bike over during this step.
  • Rider Gear - Now that the bike is already to go make sure you are too. Check your eye protection, condition leathers, and protect your helmet with a new headwrap. Also don't forget, you might still be wearing gloves so check those zipper pulls also.
All of these are important checks for starting out the season and during the riding season. You don't have to be a great wrench to be able to do these checks and there are several books available that can help you with these basic maintenance tasks.

Jeff "Tools" Sinason is an avid biker who rides year round. He has been riding Harley Davidsons for most of his riding career. He has a full time and a full time passion which is his web site Bikerwares.com

In The News:


Google News
Updated : Thu, 24 Jul 2008 18:51:58 GMT

Swimmer’s Positive Test Puts Olympic Berth Doubt - New York Times


New York Times
Swimmer’s Positive Test Puts Olympic Berth Doubt
New York Times - 30 minutes ago
By KAREN CROUSE The swimmer Jessica Hardy has not been penalized for a doping offense despite published reports that she tested positive for a banned substance.
Video: Source:Hardy Tests Positive for Banned Substance AssociatedPress
Sequence doesn't make Sense Los Angeles Times
Gay Wired - Palo Alto Online - The Wenatchee World Online - The Associated Press
all 750 news articles

Publ.Date : Thu, 24 Jul 2008 18:21:30 GMT

Would UN Security Council Postpone Any Prosecution of Sudanese Leader? - Voice of America


Voice of America
Would UN Security Council Postpone Any Prosecution of Sudanese Leader?
Voice of America - 1 hour ago
By Joe De Capua As the International Criminal Court (ICC) considers whether to issue arrest warrants for Sudanese President al-Bashir, some are calling on the UN Security Council to block the action.
Sudan's Beshir pledges peace as he leaves Darfur AFP
Jordan's lower house opposes charges against Sudanese president Xinhua
Hindu - Los Angeles Times - istockAnalyst.com - AllAfrica.com
all 1,823 news articles

Publ.Date : Thu, 24 Jul 2008 17:30:10 GMT

Arizona reports first West Nile death of 2008 - Bizjournals.com


TheMedGuru
Arizona reports first West Nile death of 2008
Bizjournals.com - 1 hour ago
Arizona has reported its first death from the West Nile virus this year. It also is the first West Nile death in the US this year.
First bird in Nassau tests positive for West Nile Newsday
Fighting West Nile Alexandria Gazette Packet
KTAR.com - AZFamily - FOXBusiness - Boston Globe
all 231 news articles

Publ.Date : Thu, 24 Jul 2008 17:45:00 GMT

Health Buzz: A $500 million Antismoking Campaign and Other Health News - U.S. News & World Report


BBC News
Health Buzz: A $500 million Antismoking Campaign and Other Health News
U.S. News & World Report - 3 hours ago
Billionaires Bill Gates and New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg announced yesterday that they'll contribute a combined $500 million to a worldwide antismoking campaign, the New York Times reports.
Video: Gates, Bloomberg Pool Riches to Fight Smoking AssociatedPress
The $500 million war on smoking Minneapolis Star Tribune
Reuters - Newsday - Economist - California Healthline
all 639 news articles

Publ.Date : Thu, 24 Jul 2008 15:43:30 GMT

South Texas begins cleanup after Hurricane Dolly - The Associated Press


Calgary Herald
South Texas begins cleanup after Hurricane Dolly
The Associated Press - 30 minutes ago
HARLINGEN, Texas (AP) - Residents across south Texas slogged through knee-deep muddy waters, tiptoed around downed power lines and dug through debris Thursday, but were thankful that Hurricane Dolly didn't pack the wallop they had feared.
Video: Tropical Storm Dolly Causes Flood Worries AssociatedPress
Dolly weakens, pushes inland USA Today
East Valley Tribune - AHN - KIII TV3 - KVIA
all 7,399 news articles

Publ.Date : Thu, 24 Jul 2008 18:21:14 GMT

Ford Has $8.7 Billion Loss, Shifts Away From Trucks (Update4) - Bloomberg

Ford Has $8.7 Billion Loss, Shifts Away From Trucks (Update4)
Bloomberg - 44 minutes ago
By Bill Koenig July 24 (Bloomberg) -- Ford Motor Co., the world's third- biggest automaker, posted a record quarterly loss of $8.7 billion and accelerated a conversion to fuel-efficient vehicles to wean itself from money-losing trucks.
Ford's Worst Quarter Ever BusinessWeek
Ford Posts Loss of $8.7 Billion on Asset Woes New York Times
Forbes - CNNMoney.com - Reuters - Los Angeles Times
all 1,181 news articles

Publ.Date : Thu, 24 Jul 2008 18:07:48 GMT

FOX News Poll: No Bounce for Obama From Overseas Trip - FOXNews


ABC News
FOX News Poll: No Bounce for Obama From Overseas Trip
FOXNews - 27 minutes ago
By Dana Blanton The significant news coverage Barack Obama is receiving on his foreign trip has not translated into a bounce in his numbers, a just-released FOX News poll shows.
Wanted: 2 million poll workers for November The Associated Press
google news commentComment by Leonard Steinhorn Prof, School of Communication, American University
New York Times - CNN - United Press International - PolitickerCA
all 689 news articles

Publ.Date : Thu, 24 Jul 2008 18:24:50 GMT

Increase Web Traffic
Make Money With Blogs


PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts, Websites, and more...

Adsense websites

So You Want To Be A Custom Bike Builder? Start With A Motorcycle Kit!

So you want to be a custom bike builder? Well... Read More

Necessity of Motorcycle Parts

If you are one of the many people who consider... Read More

Yamaha Motorcycles - Creativity and Spirit of Challenge

"If you are going to do something, be the best"... Read More

Mini Moto Tips

These are some quick adjustments and tips for the B1... Read More

A Great Motorcycle Ride in Mexico: Queretaro

A beautiful ride across cities and places named World Heritage... Read More

The Motorcycle Helmet You Want May Not Be As Safe As You Think!

Choosing the right Motorcycle helmet can make a difference?.?.literally between... Read More

Minimoto Dirt Bikes, Miniture Motards - The Next Step Up from Battery Powered Toys

As your child grows out of their little bicycle and... Read More

0 to 60 in 4.5 Seconds

Speeding is illegal, yet we sell racing motorcycles and cars... Read More

Motorcycle Helmets - Mind Your Head!

To most riders, motorcycle helmets do not fit into their... Read More

It?s One Thing for People to Buy Your Product or Service, but It?s Another for Them to Tattoo Your

William Harley and Arthur Davidson, both in their early twenties,... Read More

Honda Super Cub and 50cc Honda Cub - The Volkswagen Beetle of Motorcycles!

A very clever design: the Honda Super Cub was the... Read More

Trackdays - Get the Maximum Enjoyment from Your Time on the Track

Many motorcyclists want to take their bikes onto the track... Read More

Suzuki Motorcycles - From Fine Loom Manufacturers to Major Motorcycle Company

Started in a small warehouse by Michio Suzuki back in... Read More

Auctions and Car Transport: Everything You Need To Know

Everyone has wanted to sell a car at some point... Read More

Online Shopping for Motorcycle Accessories

When shopping for a certain item and material, the way... Read More

5 Steps To A Better Motorcycle Loan With A Better Credit Score

It is common knowledge that motorcycle lenders base high importance... Read More

How Do You Make Your Harley Davidson Look And Feel Like An Extension Of Yourself!

How do you make your Harley Davidson look and feel... Read More

Workings of a Motorcycle Muffler Suspension

Motorcycles are becoming more popular because of its convenience and... Read More

A Convenient Way to Slash Your Gas Bill

"With oil prices spiraling higher almost every day, people are... Read More

Do You Need a Part for Your Harley Davidson Motorcycle?

Need a Harley Davidson Part for your ride?Where do you... Read More

The Buzz is All About Mini-Motorcycles

Pocket bikes are miniature motorcycles -- powered, for the most... Read More

Motorcycle Parts - OEM or Aftermarket ?

This is always a difficult one to answer when shopping... Read More

Kawasaki Motorcycles - Independent in Thoughts and Actions

The story of Kawasaki Company goes back to 1924, at... Read More

Liquid Cooled Minimotos (PocketBikes), How Fast Are They and Are They Affordable?

As the latest craze of Minimoto Madness continues in the... Read More

Frame Slider Design and Selection

Call them crash protectors, crash bobbins, fairing protectors or frame... Read More