Tips For Springtime Motorcycle Rides

While some bikers have no problem riding during the winter months, many choose to put their motorcycle into storage until warmer weather comes. Now that spring is here, many bikers are gearing up for their first ride of the year. However, both you and your motorcycle might be a bit rusty after all those months spent without riding. Use this guide from Mad River Harley-Davidson® to prepare for your next spring motorcycle ride.

Gear Check 

If you’ve already de-winterized your motorcycle and it’s ready to ride, your next step is to check your gear. Make sure that your helmet, riding gloves, boots, and so on are all in good condition and ready to go. If any of these items are starting to look a bit worn out, it’s time for a replacement. 

Take a Class

Spring is the perfect time to take a motorcycle riding class. It’s the perfect opportunity to shake the rust off or learn new riding techniques. If you took a beginner course in the past, try an intermediate or advanced class. 

Warm Up

Even if you decide that you don’t need to take a refresher course, we still recommend that you start out slow and build up to a full ride. A short 5 to 10 minute warm-up ride around the neighborhood will help you better assess your readiness. Even if everything’s fine with you, your bike may have developed a snag while in storage.

Be Visible and Stay Alert

Since not as many people ride motorcycles during the winter, car and truck drivers can forget how to safely share the road with bikers during that time. This becomes a problem when the weather warms up and motorcycles start popping up on the roads again. The best way to counteract this is by making other motorists more aware of you by wearing bright clothing and using reflective strips. 

It’s also important that you remain aware of the ways in which spring conditions can make riding more difficult. For instance, spring is the rainy season in many regions, which means roads will often become slick from all the precipitation. Animals are also more active, so keep an eye out to better avoid collisions. 

Shop motorcycles at Mad River Harley-Davidson® in Sandusky, Ohio. We’re proud to serve cities like Toledo and Cleveland, Ohio. We also offer motorcycle parts, servicing, trade-ins, and financing.