Spring shakedown: getting you and your bike ready to ride

The first ride is the riskiest one

The sun comes out, the salt is mostly washed off the roads, and every fibre of you wants to ride. Slow down for one weekend. After months parked, your bike has aged and your skills have gone stale. The first ride of the season is one of the most dangerous, and it is entirely avoidable.

A proper spring shakedown covers both machine and rider. Do both before you hit the road for real.

Run the bike through T-CLOCS

There is a simple checklist riders use, and after winter storage it matters more than ever. Go through it before that first ride.

• T is for Tires and wheels. Check pressure, which drops over winter, and inspect for cracks, flat spots, and tread depth. Old or damaged tires are the most common spring problem.
• C is for Controls. Levers, cables, throttle, and hoses. The throttle should snap back on its own. Make sure nothing is sticky or frayed.
• L is for Lights and electrics. Headlight, brake light, signals, and horn. Reconnect and test the battery. If it sat without a tender, it may be weak or dead.
• O is for Oil and fluids. Check oil, coolant, and brake fluid levels and condition. If you did not change the oil in fall, change it now before you ride.
• C is for Chassis. Chain tension and lubrication, suspension, and fasteners. A dry chain after winter needs cleaning and lubing.
• S is for Stands. Side stand and centre stand, springs intact, folding properly.

If your bike was not winterized properly, treat the first start with care. Stale fuel and a flat battery are the usual culprits. Do not just crank it and ride. Sort the basics first.

Don't forget what winter left behind

A Canadian spring has its own hazards beyond your bike.

• Wash off the salt. Road salt and winter grime cling to the frame and undercarriage and keep corroding into spring. Give the bike a thorough wash.
• Watch the roads themselves. Early spring roads are littered with leftover sand and gravel, fresh potholes, and patches of salt and grit, especially in corners and shaded spots. Grip is not what it was in October.
• Mind the cold mornings. Spring temperatures swing wildly. Tires and pavement are cold first thing, so grip is low until things warm up. Dress for it and ride accordingly.

Shake off your own rust too

Your bike is not the only thing that has been sitting. Your reflexes, your cornering, and your hazard awareness all dulled over the winter. Respect that.

1. 01Start easy. Make your first ride a quiet route you know well. No highway heroics, no group ride pace.
2. 02Practice the basics. Find an empty lot and run some braking, slow-speed turns, and emergency stops to wake up the muscle memory.
3. 03Rebuild your scan. Get back in the habit of reading traffic, checking mirrors, and looking through corners. It comes back fast, but give it a ride or two.
4. 04Check your gear. Inspect your helmet, look at the date, and make sure your gear is all serviceable before you trust it.

Start the season right

A spring inspection catches the small problems before they become roadside breakdowns or worse. If you would rather a professional go over the bike after its winter sleep, we run a full spring shakedown service: fluids, brakes, chain, tires, battery, and a safety check top to bottom.

Book a spring inspection at the shop, refresh any tired gear at the store, and ease into the season. A careful first weekend buys you a whole summer of riding.