Checks You Should Make

Pressure: Keep them pumped up to the correct pressure! Excessively low or high pressure in your tyres will decrease the bike's handling and braking, and may make it unpredictable. Tyre pressure should be checked at least once a week if riding daily or before every ride if riding less frequently. Service station gauges can often be inaccurate so it's a good idea to get your own trusted portable tyre gauge.

The bike type and usage affect what amount of pressure (usually measured in P.S.I.) you should fill the tyre to. Check the manufacturer's guidelines to suit the riding that you will do.

Tread: Tread depth determines how much rubber you have in contact with the road and how well water is moved away from the contact patch when it's wet. The less tread you have the less grip you have on the road and the less traction you have in the wet. Check the wear bar on the tyre tread. Replace the tyre when the tread is equal to the wear bar.

Damage: Check for nails, cracks or other imperfections on the tyre surface. Any damage could lead to a 'blowout' and could be extremely dangerous.

The chain needs to stay lubricated regularly to avoid excess wear and damage, which could become dangerous if not maintained. A rough rule of thumb is to do it every 600km but this can vary between bikes so make sure you get the right advice for your bike. Regular maintenance prolongs the life of your chain and sprocket, saving you dollars to spend on other things. Make sure you are careful not to get excessive lubricant on the tyres or on the brakes

Excessive chain slack caused by normal wear and tear will cause the sprockets to wear quickly and pose a big safety risk. Always check the user's manual for the correct tension of your chain. A quick check is to lift the chain with your boot before you ride. If it's too tight or loose then adjust it.

The sprocket teeth can be checked for wear visually (check for worn teeth), as well as the condition of the chain.

If the engine runs out of oil the engine may "seize", resulting in the back wheel locking up and loss of control, not to mention the possible catastrophic damage to the engine it would cause. Check the oil level regularly by following the manufacturer's directions.

Brakes: Try the front and rear brakes separately and make sure they work properly. It's important to regularly check that they activate the brake light.

Throttle and Clutch: Make sure these work smoothly and properly. They should quickly go back to the original position when released.

Cables and hoses: Check the brake, throttle and clutch cables for any imperfections, wear or kinks. Any of these could be extremely dangerous. Other things, like the throttle grip sticking, and not snapping back when released, can be hazardous.