There may be various reasons why bikers might have to stay away from their beloved two-wheelers. It can be a long vacation, heavy rains, preference for a car or another mode of transport. It could also be that they simply didn’t step out of their homes and hence, had to leave their bikes in the building’s parking lot or garage for ages. Not using your bike for a long duration of time can have negative consequences. Therefore, it is always suggested to start your bike every once in a while, even if you are not riding it frequently.
However, if you are someone who has stayed away from their bike for a long time, there are certain pointers which one must keep in mind.
5 Things to Check If You Haven’t Used Your Bike For a Long Time
When you restart your mobile or laptop after a long time, it takes some time to respond. Similarly, your bike will also take some time before it hits the full-throttle since it has remained immobile for a considerable amount of time. Given below is a list of 5 things you must check if you are using your bike after a long time:
- Documentations
It is possible that the documents required for your bike got outdated when it was resting for months in the garage. Before you take your bike outside, you need to have a valid driving license, a PUC (Pollution Under Control) Certificate and bike insurance. While a driving license has a long-term validity, PUC and bike insurance are valid for a relatively shorter period of time.
You can get a PUC at your nearest petrol pump station. Moreover, in today’s digital age, it has become very convenient to buy 2-wheeler insurance over the internet. Hence, if you do not have one yet, you can check for the bike insurance rate, compare and analyse prices and then apply for bike insurance online. In case your insurance has expired, there is also a facility for the online renewal of bike insurance.
- Battery
Depending upon how long you have left your bike unused, it is possible that the battery of your bike might be unresponsive. Bad battery indicates that your bike will not start. Even if it does start, it will fail to perform at an optimal level. In such a scenario, you must get the battery of your bike checked.
There are chances that the battery of your bike might work after you recharge it. If it does not, you do not have any other option than to replace the battery and purchase a new one. When you buy a new battery for your bike, ensure that you purchase it from a reputed company. Batteries from branded sellers usually last more and come with a warranty for a year, which would offer you value for money.
- Rusting
When you do not use your bike for a long time, there are chances that some metal parts on your bike will be rusted due to sitting idle in the garage or because of the prevailing weather conditions. Rusting can become a major concern for riders when trying to revive their bike, especially if it has affected the fuel tank or engine.
You must note that rusting does not happen only on a superficial level and can affect your bike on the inside as well. You can inspect your bike for any kind of rusting, and if detected, you must take your bike to a trusted mechanic on a priority basis. It is best to know you are driving safely on the road than to have an underlying issue and not know about it until its too late. Check out this guide for more tips on keeping your motorcycle appropriately maintained.
- Tires
Before you get your bike out and hit the road, one of the first things you need to check is the tires. You need to see if the tires have adequate air pressure. These days, tires have the accurate tire-pressure range mentioned on the sidewall. For the majority of road tires, the best pressure is around 110 to 120 pounds.
Not just the pressure, but you must also check for any nicks or cuts in the tread or sidewall of the tire where the inner tube could swell and lead to a flat tire. You need to replace your tires if the cross-section is no longer round. Also, consider a replacement if your tire is worn out and bears multiple cuts.
- Test the Brakes
The condition of your two-wheeler’s brakes is the most important part to avoid road mishaps. Hence, before you take your bike out for a ride, you can do some in-house testing. You can park your bike on the main stand, spin the wheels and test the front brake and rear brake. You can check the level of engagement of the brakes with the wheels and examine if they have enough stopping power.
Also, make it a point to inspect the brake pads which hit the rim of your wheels. They should make contact with both the wheels of your bike, equally on both sides and not rub the tire in any way which might lead to a flat tire.
Conclusion
The excitement of riding your two-wheeler after ages can be paramount, but you must be patient and wise to do a quick run-through of your bike’s most important parts as it will ensure the secure and smooth running of your vehicle. When you take good care of things, they last, and it is recommended that you do the same for your precious bike.