Motorcyclists take a risk whenever they get on the back of their motorcycle. Due to the vulnerability of this type of vehicle, motorcyclists utilize strategies to help them avoid accidents when sharing the road with others, such as defensive driving. Another helpful strategy may start at home before setting out on a trip. Maintaining your motorcycle may be the difference between a devastating accident and another enjoyable adventure.
If you have been harmed in a motorcycle accident due to a negligent motorist, Attorney Frank P. Marsalisi of Marsalisi Law aggressively fights for the complete and fair monetary compensation you are owed for the injuries you have suffered. Motorcyclists are often less visible to other drivers on the road, and despite their due care to maintain their bikes and ride safely, accidents may occur due to motorist inattention, reckless driving, or other unlawful behaviors.
6 Tips for Maintaining Your Motorcycle
Motorcycle safety starts at home with regular maintenance of your motorcycle’s main systems. The Motorcycle Safety Foundation’s checklist utilized a helpful acronym, T-CLOCS, which stands for Tires, Controls, Lights, Oil, Chassis, and Stands to help riders remember how to prepare for every trip and prevent accidents caused by mechanical failure.
The following are six tips for properly maintaining your motorcycle:
1. Examine Controls and Electric System
Controls, such as pedals, cables, throttle, hoses, and handlebars, should be examined for any malfunctions before each ride. If you diagnose a problem at home, it may prevent an accident on the road. Take your bike to the shop for professional repairs, especially if anything is bent, cracked, or won’t turn easily. However, parts like cables and hoses may be able to be repaired at home.
Lights and the electric system may need to be checked before every ride to ensure your visibility. If a bulb is out, it is easily replaceable at home. Be vigilant of any electrical issues, such as frayed wires that disrupt connectivity.
2. Check Your Tire Pressure and Wheels Regularly
Checking your tire pressure and the condition of your wheels is easily managed at home. Evaluate tread depth and wear to avoid blowing out a tire or having to deal with the interruption of a flat tire in the middle of your trip. Add air to any deflated tires to manufacturer standards, if necessary. Regularly inspecting tires may help you avoid accidents on the road.
3. Routinely Inspect Your Battery
Routinely inspecting your battery health and condition may help avoid interruptions during long trips or help prevent dangerous situations on the road. You should use a trickle charger whenever possible to keep your battery in its best shape without worrying about running out of charge.
4. Check Fluid Levels Before Any Trip
Checking fluid levels before and after a ride is essential to maintaining your motorcycle in the best shape. Topping off oil, for example, may be easily done at home. Leaks may be noticed after a ride and may need to be professionally serviced if there are any cracks where fluid is escaping.
Ensure that you are changing your oil at a minimum of once a year unless you take your bike out frequently or take long trips. Depending on the terrain you ride on, such as off-road or in the desert, it will require you to change your oil more frequently as well.
Properly lubricating your drive chain is essential for motorcycle maintenance, as the drive chain transfers the power from your engine to the wheels. If this chain doesn’t have enough lubrication, it may be dangerous and increase the risk of an accident.
5. Inspect Your Frame and Suspension
Your motorcycle frame, suspension, chain or belt, and fasteners should be inspected before and after riding. Replacing parts like a chain or suspension is easily done at home, but if you do not have a good working knowledge of these parts, rely on motorcycle repair professionals to help restore them to working condition. Additionally, ensure your stands are straight and without cracks.
6. Simple Brake Checks Can Be Lifesaving
Simple brake checks, whether you are going across the country or down the street, may be lifesaving. Tapping each brake to ensure the bike stops properly on command is adequate to ensure your safety on the road. Routinely checking your brake fluid, such as the cleanliness and levels, can help you understand when it may need to be replaced, usually every couple of years.
Brake pads should also be inspected every so often to ensure that they are not worn all the way down to the metal, which may be unsafe and lead to accidents due to brake failure.
Speak With an Experienced Florida Motorcycle Accident Lawyer at Marsalisi Law
Despite your routine maintenance and thoughtful care on the road, you may still experience a Florida motorcycle accident due to motorist negligence. Attorney Frank P. Marsalisi of Marsalisi Law utilizes compassionate and aggressive representation to fight for the monetary compensation you deserve for the economic and non-economic losses you have suffered. We handle all aspects of your case, providing knowledgeable legal guidance so you may secure the justice and favorable outcome you deserve.
At Marsalisi Law, we are fluent in English and Spanish and offer no-cost consultations. Speak with a skilled Florida motorcycle accident lawyer today at (727) 800-5052 or fill out our contact form. Marsalisi Law is Where Law Gets Personal!
