With the changing conditions of the fall, you need to adapt how you treat and ride your motorcycle in order to stay safe. For tips on the matter, read this post by North American Wholesale in Corpus Christi, TX.
How to Be a Responsible Motorcycle Rider This Fall Season
For starters, you need to take a look at your motorcycle's tires, as they are the ones responsible for moving you from place to place, as well as keeping you balanced and safe while you're rolling.
Still, as the fall months start to come in, you need to take special care of your tires. This is because, the changing temperatures on the asphalt can deflate them. Moreover, the dead leaves on the road can cause them to slip.
Give them maintenance and replace them when needed, so that they won't fail on you this fall.
Maintain the Battery
Your motorcycle's battery needs to be in perfect shape so that you can ride it smoothly. However, after long periods of disuse, the battery can become depleted. That's why, if you don't ride your motorcycle as often during the colder months (which a lot of people choose not to do), you need to ensure that it's working effectively for when you want to ride it again. Doing so will prevent you being stranded on the side of the road because of a faulty battery.
Look After the Chain
For your motorcycle to get you places, the tires need to roll around. Enter, the chain, which powers the rear wheel and helps it (and you) move and cruise.
Nonetheless, for the chain to do its job effectively, it needs to be in proper shape (this means, well-lubricated and in mint condition).
Generally, you'll be advised to lubricate the chain two times each month. Still, as the temperatures drop, it'll become imperative that you do it more often, since the cold will cause it to lose lubrication.
Have the Motorcycle Professionally Inspected
Having your motorcycle professionally inspected on a regular basis is a requirement to guarantee that it will continue running safely and smoothly for years to come.
For that reason, now that the conditions outside are changing, it is the perfect opportunity to take your vehicle to a professional, so they can assess it properly. Moreover, during your visit, they will be able to find any problems with it, and will fix them promptly, so you can avoid a dire situation while you're riding around.
Staying safe on your motorcycle also means staying healthy while you're on it. To that end, it is recommended that you change your riding gear so it fits the cooler temperatures of the fall season.
For instance, it is necessary that you wear thicker impact-resistant clothing (like a motorcycle jacket), so that you can keep your body protected against other surfaces in a crash, and against the chilling winds of this time of year. If needed, you could add a scarf to your ensemble (just be sure your mobility isn't affected) to stay warm.
Be More Alert
Needless to say, you always need to be on high alert when you're cruising down the road with your motorcycle. However, there are some risks that are unique to the fall months, that you need to look out for.
For example, the dead leaves on the ground can make riding more dangerous, since you can slip with them. Avoid going over them at full speed, so you can prevent that. Moreover, as the major holidays of the year come closer (Thanksgiving, for instance), you can expect a lot more traffic on the road, and as a result, more accidents can happen.
Get Ready to Winterize It
Lastly, you may want to take this time to prepare to winterize your motorcycle. This way, you can put it away for the winter months and ensure that it will remain in top condition for when springs rolls around once again.
One of the things you will need, according to Bike Bandit, is a sturdy motorcycle cover that will keep it protected against the elements while it's being stored away. Prepare for the winterizing process little by little, so you don't have to rush through it later on.