Taking Your Bike Out of Storage

If you’ve decided it’s time to take your bike out of long-term storage, you’ve come to the right place. Indian® Motorcycle of Orange County has gathered some helpful tips for the process. Maybe you’ve been on vacation and can’t wait to get back on your bike. Whatever the case may be, there are some key steps you’ll need to take before you ride. Keep reading to learn more.

If you find yourself in need of parts or service, give us a call or swing by our dealership! We’re located near Los Angeles, CA and proudly serve the Inland Empire and Riverside County.

Full Inspection

The first thing you’ll need to do after taking your bike out of long-term storage is to give your bike a thorough inspection. You’ll be looking for any issues that might’ve appeared when your motorcycle wasn’t in use. Be sure to check for scratches, dings, excess dirt and grime, and any other concerns that might need to be addressed before you hit the road. For those who prefer storing motorcycles indoors, dirt and grime shouldn’t be an issue, especially if you used a cover. We recommend that you address any other issues before riding. Remember that small issues can come bigger ones when you let them go for too long.

Fluids

After your visual inspection is complete, it’s time to inspect the fluids. You can start with the oil. Remove the dipstick, wipe it off, reinsert it, and check the status. Your oil should fall within a specific range indicated on the dipstick. It should also be a gold-to-amber color. If you see that oil is black and sludgy, that’s not a good sign. If you see metallic shavings in the oil, it’s time to bring it in for service at Indian® Motorcycle of Orange County. You don’t want to leave this untreated as it can be a sign that there’s internal damage.

The next thing you’ll want to check is the brake fluid. Depending on your model, there might be two separate reservoirs in the front and the rear. Once you’re sure that your motorcycle is fully upright, check the brake fluid level. Last but not least, check the transmission fluid. Keep your bike upright and unthread the dipstick.

Chassis

Now that all the fluid levels have been addressed, it’s time to check the chassis. Refer to your owner’s manual and if it’s suggested, take some lubricant and lube up linkages or flex points, such as those that connect to the suspension. Inspect the chassis for any minor damage or cracks that could be occurring along weld lines. These likely won’t have occurred during long-term storage, but it’s worth checking it out anyway so you can catch any damage early.

Tires/Brakes

The tires and the brakes are the next items on your checklist. You can use a tire pressure gauge to determine the current pressure of your tires. It might be tempting to eyeball it, but this isn’t an efficient way of checking tire pressure, nor is the kick test. As a motorcycle owner, you should always have a pressure gauge on hand. Confirm the tire pressure is within recommended levels. You’ll also want to check the sidewalls of the tires. Be sure that the tread has worn evenly and that there aren’t any cracks or damage to the sidewalls. You need ample tread to maintain traction on the road, so be sure your tread is within the recommendations of your owner’s manual.

Take your bike out for a low-speed brake test. You can simply roll out of your driveway and allow yourself plenty of space to brake before you reach the next stop sign. Apply half pressure to the brakes to feel if they’re engaging. Then, apply a bit more pressure until you reach a complete stop. There might be a little bit of squeaking after sitting in long-term storage, but that’s normal. However, you shouldn’t feel any slipping or grinding.

Battery

Last but not least, check the battery. If you stored your battery on a tender, you should hook it up and be good to go. If you forgot to disconnect your battery before storage, it’s probably going to have zero charge. You’ll need to charge it up or replace it before you hit the road again.

Remember that Indian® Motorcycle of Orange County is here to help with your parts and service needs! Visit our dealership near Los Angeles, CA for assistance. We also proudly serve the Inland Empire and Riverside County.