Do you do your pre-flight checks?

[FlightRisk]

Do you actually do those pre-ride checks you get taught about in basic training?

I confess I thought 'Yeah, whatever... Keys in, ride.' when I was doing my training and didn't bother doing any the first handful of times out.
Then I found I'd been riding around with the oil lower than I'd have liked.

I found this guys bike DIY channel on youTube and watched this one about doing your checks (he's got some good ones about tyre pressures and tyre wear as well), thought 'Yeah, alright then', went outside and found I'd a slow puncture in the rear tyre!
Delboy's Garage - Pre Ride

Good thing 'cos as a newb I'm not sure how long it would have taken me to notice.
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Honda CB500S

[WindyMiller]

I try and check some stuff once a week, as I need to lube the chain about that often (+ check / adjust tension occasionally). Might have a quick look at tyres / oil level, check all the lights work. Kind of depends how enthusiastic I feel.

In wintery weather I have to clean the brakes weekly, or the salt corrosion gets too bad.
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YBR125 SV650S Triumph Sprint ST 1050

[J4mes]

I look at my chain to make sure its still there and check the brakes as I go up the road from the house.

Oil and coolant weekly, lights when it's dark.

[delsol]

[Baffler186]

I have a quick look at the bike before I ride, but I look more closely AFTER I've been on a long ride. Check oil once a week, I used to check tyre pressures every week but they have stayed the same for months so now only check once every couple weeks. I check fluid levels weekly, and lube my chain weekly, sometimes twice weekly
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Current: 2009 SV650 S, 1990 Kawasaki GT550
Previous: 2009 CBF125, 1998 GSF600, 2004 FZ6 Fazer, 1978 CB400a Hondamatic

[Boris the spider]

Like Rossi

Hanging to the left, shreddies not up ma arse.

All good
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Yes I'm a pig....And yes... The working public do pay my wages. Tho I contribute to your benefits you lazy c##t. You do not pay my wages. So go fcuk yourself.

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

Pre-ride checks. Do I shite.

A quick bounce to check it has air in the tyres, then a clutched up wheelie down my street.

O, and WD40 is crap for locks. Chain lube is far better.
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My Flickr

[Drax]

I usually give my bike a polish before I go out - Gives me the opportunity to clear off the flies & check out if there's any stone chips from the last ride.

(A clean bike is a faster bike IMO )

Also check tyre pressure /condition (any nails/ screws /glass etc) Squaring off!

Check that all my indicators /lights work.

Check oil level / coolant etc

After every ride I always oil my chain when it's warm.

I love my bike & look after it. And yes, I also ride it!

Not everybody does.

[yen_powell]

I tend to check oil level every day I ride, water level every other day or so, both when I get home in the evening and the bike is still hot.

Tyre pressures every few days, quick look to see if the chain is wet looking.

Will spin the back wheel and look for stuff stuck in it about once a week, whilst looking at the rear brake pads. Front pads get looked at about once a month. Chain tension really only gets checked every few months.
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Blackmail is a nasty word........but not as nasty as phlegm!
XT1200Z and a DR350 in bits

[Dave500]

I tend to do that stuff when it gets cleaned so 1-2 times a month and tyres maybe once a week.
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Bye bye Z hello Versys

[Dave70]

I'm pretty bad at checking tyre pressures, mainly because when I do they're usually fine. I do make sure one hasn't obviously got a puncture before each ride though. (I leant this the hard way).

I check the chain for tension and lube it at least once a week and lights every now and then. Although it's pretty obvious if the headlights aren't working and the dashboard light for the indicators flash like crazy if one isn't working, so it's mainly the brake light I need to make the effort to check.

Oil gets checked now and then, as does the coolant.

Tyre thread gets an eye kept on it too.

Everything else gets done at its service.
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There ain't no devil, there's just god when he's drunk.

2012: R125 killed by white van. 2016 R125 killed by 30,000 miles of redline. Current: 2016 Kawasaki ER6f.

[Hetzer]

I do in my 109.
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"There's the horizon! Ride hard, ride fast and cut down all who stand in your way!"

[Eddie Hitler]

Never do a pre-flight check, usually take 10 minutes when I'm free each week to lube/adjust the chain and check the pressures.

Do all my own servicing so have a good idea of the bikes condition.

[_Iain_]

Depends which bike.

The CR gets a full check of all fluids, tyre pressures, tyre tread, shocks bounced up and down a few times etc before firing it up. I'll then warm it up stationary, inspect for leaks and then go nuts.

YBR, Bandit, GS it was just keys in & go. If it felt weird after a few minuites then I'd pull up and check. Once every few days inspect chain tension & spray it but that's about it.
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Please be aware that the above post may be full of complete nonsense.
Riding: '07 KTM Duke II, Baotian BT49QT-20 Driving: '88 Volvo 340

[Llama-Farmer]

I can tell when the bike is in the garage if the headlight, tail light, brake light and indicators are working. So they're the pre-start checks, done every time.


After every ride... chain condition and tension are checked then cleaned & lubed as necessary. That way I know they'll be ok the next time I go to ride. Tyre tread condition is checked at the same time. Visual inspection of brake pad thickness usually confirms no visible change ever.



Then occasionally oil level/colour and tyre pressures get checked, fork seals and any hoses get looked at briefly to look for leaks, not inspected closely though, just a quick look. All that is somewhere between once a week to once every couple of months, depending on how often I've been riding.


I probably ought to check more things more often, but meh.
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Current Bike: 1999 Honda CB600 FX Hornet
Next Bike: I want a CBR-RR. And I want an F800 GS-A. And a VFR 800. Can I have all 3?
Dream Bikes: Honda VFR750R RC30, Honda NSR500, Ducati 996 R

[CaNsA]

[-Matt-]

Rarely.

Lights I can check in the garage whilst moving the bike. Tyres I glance at to make sure they aren't flat.

Lube and check chain maybe once every few rides. Oil level - probably not enough, but its never needed topping up really so far thankfully.

[kramdra]

Yes. I sit on bike, front brake on and bounce the front, then the rear. This tests air in tires, brakes work, suspension works adequately. A quick look down the each side, check it has oil. Often give chain a quick squirt of old engine oil before I set off from home as it only takes a few seconds.

[pinkyfloyd]

I never used to but since becoming an instructor I do every day now. Force of habit.
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illuminateTHEmind wrote: I am just more evolved than most of you guys... this allows me to pick of things quickly which would have normally taken the common man years to master
Hockeystorm65:.well there are childish arguments...there are very childish arguments.....there are really stupid childish arguments and now there are......Pinkfloyd arguments!
Teflon-Mike:I think I agree with just about all Pinky has said.

[RhynoCZ]

I just check the front brake, engine for suspicious noises, lights and that's about it on daily bases. Then, every now and then, I check the oil level, surprisingly the zxr haven't ate anything yet, chain and other bits.
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'87 Honda XBR 500, '96 Kawasaki ZX7R P1, '90 Honda CB-1, '88 Kawasaki GPz550, MZ 150 ETZ
'95 Mercedes-Benz w202 C200 CGI, '98 Mercedes-Benz w210 E200 Kompressor

[Slacker24seve...]

Lights when I turn the ignition on when I start it. Front brake and suspension by giving it a bounce with the front brake as I wheel it out. Ignore the back brake, it's for poofs.

Tyre pressures when I remember*, chain gets lubed when it starts to look dry or before a particularly long ride, chain gets cleaned when it looks black or orange.

*rode a fair distance to a bike meet with track pressures in the tyres. It felt awful.
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Triumph Daytona 675 track bike + girlfriend's Honda Hornet 600
Selling a hack/winter bike for less than a grand? PM me.
Banger rallies are ace

[iooi]

Only do one.....









IS BIKE THERE...

YES = Good to go
NO = Of Fuck someone nicked it
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Just because my bike was A DIVVY, does not mean i am......

[andys675]

when I want to ride it I get it out, fuel it and ride it

other days when I can only look at it are for cleaning, lubing and maintaining, don't waste riding time
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Some people feel the rain, others just get wet.

[WD Forte]

Pre flight checks?
of course
Apply Brylcream to stop the old hair flapping about then don aviator goggles
Check the service revolver is loaded in case I get any trouble from the lower classes or gypsies
Adjust tie (or cravat if I'm in mufti)
Top up pipe with old shag
Double knot the laces on my brogues
Put small change and keys in jacket pocket instead of hip pocket on the plus fours
as this can be uncomfy and cause possible spillage
Flat cap if its raining
Peak forward of course ! I've seen chaps wear them backwards, but it looks
rather common in my opinion .

Finally a swig or two from the hip flask to help the concentration and get me in the mood
then off we jolly well go

[FlightRisk]