Turner’s Top Ten Summer Tips
Added on Thursday, March 24th, 2011 by Carole Nash Editor | No Comments
Turner’s Top Ten Summer Tips
Summer is here! Well, sort of. Technically speaking, as it were. This Sunday March 27th the clocks go forward as we welcome British Summer Time. Of course as it doesn’t really do as it says on the tin – you do wonder whether the BS in BST stands for something quite different! Pavements are unlikely to be cracking, bikinis will not be waking from winter hibernation. But on the other hand BST does signal a whole new biking season joyously lying ahead. The worst of the weather is historically, behind us. So it’s time to dust down the leathers and get ready to ride. With that in mind Insidebikes grilled Paul Turner, head grease monkey at Carole Nash’s motorcycle Repair Centre, to get some top tips on how to ensure your return to the road is hassle free.
Tyresome but necessary
If your bike has been laid up over an unforgiving winter make sure you check your tyres. They may have suffered oxidation, which causes the rubber to degrade. Check for any perishing or cracking around the edges. You can minimise the risk of oxidation damage over future winters by storing your tyres out of sunlight and on blocks. Once you’ve confirmed your tyres are physically tickety-boo don’t forget to check they’re inflated to the correct pressure.
Brake time
Visually check your brake lines for integrity – they can suffer from perishing and the occasional nibble from curious garage-dwelling rodents! Then carry out physical brake operation check to ensure the levers are still firm and functional. Roll your bike and apply both front and rear brakes to check for binding and – this is the key one – confirm they do in fact successfully bring you to a timely halt!
Have a level head
Be sure to check both your engine and water levels as either could have fallen over the hibernation period. Top up if necessary to avoid painful damage – you want your first pit stop to be for a brew and a butty not to fix a seized up engine. The latter is significantly more expensive and less satisfying than the former.
Chain pro-action
A few quick checks can save you from a particularly unwanted chain reaction. Test its tension and overall condition, making sure it’s clean and, like Ollie Reed on a chat show, well lubricated.
No charge
Test your battery and if necessary give it a boost to make sure it’s fully charged. If you didn’t whip it off your machine for winter the chances are it’s suffered some drain. You can minimise that loss of power in future by removing your battery before a winter lay-off and keeping it safely stowed in a warm, dry place.
Make the right connections
If your electrical equipment isn’t working properly you could be in for a shock. Check all your lights are working as they should – unless your bike satisfies the complex requirements for what’s popularly known as a ‘daytime MOT‘ you could have some explaining to do if you get tugged by Her Majesty’s Constabulary. Give the horn a good old toot too. Put any electronic security you may have through its paces too – we don’t want you to become part of Carole Nash’s motorcycle theft statistics.
You could have SORN….
Following the government’s clampdown on uninsured riders with the launch of the continuous insurance scheme you may well have sensibly declared your bike off road using a Statutory Off Road Notice (SORN). Don’t forget then that you need to ensure that the SORN has expired – if you’re not sure you can check it on the DVLA website. Another legal pothole that riders can hit is MOT renewal – check your bike is still certificated and when the test is due for renewal. Remember if you ride on a public highway without a valid MOT not only are you breaking the law but your motorcycle insurance may be void.
Take cover
Perhaps an obvious piece of advice from the UK biggest motorcycle insurance specialist* but make sure you and your bike are protected by a current bike insurance policy that meets your needs. Don’t forget that through Carole Nash your policy includes a host of benefits with each and every one of our on-road motorcycle policies. Things like extensive UK and European breakdown and accident recovery assistance, up to 90 days foreign travel entitlement and motorcycle legal protection cover of up to £100,000 to help you recover uninsured losses.
Loading ...
No Comments