Spring is here, the sun’s hanging around longer, and I’m sure you’re itching to get riding!

But it’s important to have your bike in the proper condition before starting the season. If you were able to get all your winterizing done when you were forced to hang up your riding boots for the cold season, your bike should be almost ready to ride; but if not, getting your bike road-ready might take just a bit more effort.

Either way, it should only take a couple of hours to get your bike in tip-top shape for riding season if you follow this guide.

Check out that guide

Dust off your service manual and skim through it. Although this list has the most important points, your manual has all the specifics for your own bike. If you don’t know where you put it, check out this collection on MyBikeManuals.

Get fueled up

Gasoline is a very refined chemical composition, and it actually deteriorates very quickly. After a few months, the more combustible elements in gasoline will have already begun to evaporate, which can cause your bike to run rough (or not at all.) If your bike has a high compression engine, like in many sport bikes, old fuel will cause even bigger problems.

If you winterized your bike correctly, you will have either drained the fuel or added a fuel stabilizer to the fuel in the tank (fuel stabilizerscan extend the life of fuel to a year or more.) If you did drain your tank, check for any rust, gunk, or condensation that could cause problems later. Refill your tank with high-octane fuel before you start it up, to make sure the gas running through the system is as fresh as possible.

Driver chain/belt

Check the tension of the drive chain by pulling it away from the rear sprocket at the three o’clock position. (Nine o’clock if you’re left handed) you should not be able to pull it farther than about half way off the sprocket tooth.

Adjust the tension per your owner’s manual specs. You should be able to do this with the tools included in your gear, but there are special tools to make the job easier.

Get energized

The most common issue with bikes sitting all winter long tends to be the batteries. Smart riders will have kept their battery on a trickle charger while it was stored, but if you forgot this step, it’s not too late to order one and charge your battery back up for that first ride of the season.

I recommend getting a “smart” battery charger that automatically turns itself off so you don’t overcharge and damage it.No matter what charger you pick up, it’s still a good idea to check your battery fluid levels before hooking it up, and top off any low cells.

If you have a lithium battery (which is a great upgrade) you’ll need to treat it a little differently. You should still use a trickle charger, but you’ll need one that is lithium battery-specific.

Tires

Tires are a part of your bike that should really be checked before every ride. When checking tires after storage, you should be conscious of potential flat-spotting on the tires from sitting for a long time (especially on soft compound tires), and bringing tire pressure up to spec, as air will have undoubtedly seeped out after months of not being used. Check the tire wear too; it may be a good time to go ahead and replace tires before spring hits, so you know you have good rubber for the whole riding season.

Oil and filters

You may have changed your oil as part of your winterizing process, but if not, it’s a good idea to change it before starting a new riding season. Every motorcycle is different, so you’ll need to consult an owner’s manual for the exact procedure, but it’s a good practice to change your oil and filter at the same time.

Forgotten Fluids

At least top up, or go the extra mile and flush the break fluid and the coolant.

Spring Cleaning

That first time you hit the road again after a long hiatus, make sure your bike looks as good as you feel. Check out my guide how to properly get the bike in showroom condition.