SPRING CHECKLIST
Has your bike been sat up over winter, or sat for a long time? Always check a few things before you thrash it. We asked James Holland of JHS Racing what to look out for: “First thing’s first, has it been on a trickle charge? If not then your battery is the first port of call – is it dead, can it be revived? Then there’s obvious stuff like tyre pressures, your lights, your chain etc? In winter the little pixies get bored, so come out and wreck stuff, you may think I’mmad but these things happen more often than you’d expect. Then there’s bike servicing – do you have yours done on mileage or annually? Having one early can take care of all the safety aspects. Don’t expect to get your bike out on March 1 and be able to get a service on March 2, most places run up to six weeks in advance so book early. Many folk don’t realise bikes hate sitting still. They’re kept in all sorts of environments, be that a heated lounge or in the rain with a cover on, if it’s lucky. Out in the elements, things like lubricants dry out, steel expands/contracts and sweats, forming condensation and soon you have corrosion on a bike that had none. Surface rust on a chain can ruin it fast. Got a two-stroke? The weight of the crank sat on the seals can cause problems, and Ducatis with their belts can hate being static. If it’s been sat when you start your engine for the first time, crank it a few times first to get things churning before going flat out down your local bypass! Or, get it serviced and bish, bash, bosh, you’re all sorted.”