If you bought a new motorcycle but haven’t ridden it in years, chances are you’ll run into some difficulties when it’s time to start riding again. So, what should you do if your motorcycle has been sitting for years?
If your motorcycle has been sitting for years, you should check the fluids, change the oil, check the brakes and tires, inspect the chain and sprocket, and clean the bike before taking it for a test ride. These steps ensure that your bike is in good working order and is safe to ride.
The rest of this article will go over the steps mentioned above in detail to help you get your bike up and running. Read on for in-depth information on what happens to your bike when you don’t use it for long.
How Do You Start a Motorcycle That Hasn’t Been Started in a While?
If your motorcycle has been sitting for weeks or months without being started, there’s a good chance that most of its parts are not in working order. If it has been sitting for years, then the parts may have corroded or rusted over time, so they will need repairs or replacement before you can even start it.
To start a motorcycle that has been sitting for a while, you need to do the following:
- Check the fluids and add new ones.
- Check the tires and brakes.
- Inspect the chain and sprocket.
- Clean the bike.
- Test ride the bike.
I’ll describe these steps in detail below:
1. Check the Fluids and Add New Ones
The fluids in your bike are what keep it running. So, if they haven’t been changed after the bike has been sitting for years, then they may have corroded and clogged up some parts, which will prevent you from starting the bike.
If the bike has been sitting for about two months or longer, it’s best to drain all fluids and replace them with fresh ones. If the bike has been sitting for years, you should also change the oil filter. I know that seems like extra work, but if you don’t want to replace parts left and right after riding your bike, it’s good to replace the oil filter.
2. Check the Tires and Brakes
If your bike has been sitting for a year or more, then you might want to get new tires. This ensures that, when you do take your motorcycle out, it rides smoothly and safely. You should check the pressure in the tires and make sure they are properly inflated before riding. If you don’t know how to check the pressure of your tires, you should look it up before going any further.
In addition to checking the tire pressure, you should ensure that both brakes are working properly and adjusted to the right height. If either brake isn’t working, you should get them fixed or replaced before riding your motorcycle.
3. Inspect the Chain and Sprocket
Motorcycle chains are made of several segments that link together to make one long chain. The links on a chain are very strong and held together tightly with pins called rivets.
These rivets can become loose over time due to friction between the metal parts rubbing against each other. This friction can wear out the rivets, which makes them too loose to keep the links of the chain together properly. When this happens, you need to tighten each of the pins with a special tool that pushes them snug against each side of the link they are in.
Note: You should also lubricate your motorcycle’s chain before taking it for a test ride to ensure it moves as smoothly as possible.
4. Clean the Bike
If your bike has been sitting for a while, you’ll want to clean it before riding it. Just because you’re not using gas doesn’t mean dirt and grime won’t build up on components of your bike or its engine. This can cause corrosion, preventing certain parts from working when you try starting up the motorcycle again.
You’ll likely need to use special solvents and degreasers to remove the dirt, grime, and corrosion from your motorcycle’s engine components, so be prepared to spend some time on this step.
5. Test Ride the Bike
Before you start your motorcycle after it has been sitting for a long time, you’ll want to take it for a test ride first. This will let you know whether or not there are any problems with the bike that didn’t arise during your inspection.
Note: Before taking your bike for a spin, ensure its battery is in good condition, and the electrolyte levels are high. Also, ensure you put on protective gear like this GLX GX11 Full Face Helmet from Amazon.com. It’s comfortable, thanks to the well-designed ventilation panels. Besides, this helmet is a full-face helmet, meaning it provides greater protection than a modular or open-face helmet.
What Happens if a Bike Is Not Used for a Long Time?
If a motorcycle is left unused long enough, its engine may corrode, and some of its parts can become so rusty that they won’t work anymore. Besides, the battery may die after a while, making it hard to start the bike up.
Therefore, I recommend inspecting your bike thoroughly and replacing all the damaged or worn-out parts before taking it out for a spin. If you run into any problems, you can take the bike to a professional mechanic for repairs.
Here’s an excellent tutorial on how to fix a motorcycle that has been sitting for years:
Tips on Storing Your Motorcycle for Years
To store a motorcycle for even two months without paying any attention is unwise. It can cause damage to the motorcycle, which you can’t necessarily see right now yet.
However, if you plan on storing your bike for a long period and need it to be in good condition when you ride it again, here’s what I recommend:
- Ensure you clean your motorcycle before storing it.
- Cover your bike with a protective tarp to keep it from getting dusty or wet.
- Run a dehumidifier to prevent moisture damage if you’re storing the bike indoors.
- Disconnect the battery and store it in a cool, dry place.
- Wrap the exhaust pipe in aluminum foil to prevent rusting.
- Fill up the gas tank to its capacity to prevent the formation of mold and damaging rust inside the tank (ensure to use a manufacturer-recommended fuel stabilizer as well).
- Periodically check on the bike to ensure it’s still in good condition.
Conclusion
If you take your motorcycle out for a ride after years of sitting idle, don’t be surprised if certain parts don’t work as expected. In most cases, you may need to replace or repair them first.
Therefore, if you want your motorcycle to look and ride like new when you take it out again, I recommend doing a thorough inspection and taking the bike to a professional for repairs if needed. Also, ensure you drain all old fluids and add new ones before test riding your motorcycle.