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Riding a motorcycle is fun and thrilling. But what happens when you mistakenly misjudge a corner, or a motorist drives you off the road leading you to a ditch? Well, not only will you have some injury, but so will your motorcycle.
Once you get into a crash, it is essential for you to analyze your bike to determine if you can continue riding it. Presuming your bike is in excellent condition can get you into serious trouble.
Plenty of riders have gotten into even worse accidents by not carefully inspecting their bikes for damages after a minor accident.
So, how do you avoid this?
A motorcycle can get damaged in areas not accessible to trace. You need to train your eye to find any hidden areas with impairments easily.
To make your work easier, information such as the cause of the accident, the speed of the motorcycle, and the area of impact can help narrow down the inspection area.
Other than that, it is best that you start analyzing your bike from the front working towards the back taking note of any small changes you notice.
Here are five essential motorcycle parts you need to inspect carefully before hopping back onto your ride:
Engine and Brake Fluids
Is your Motorcycle leaking? If you see any leak, it is imperative that you find its origin. Leaking engine oil may lead to your engine knocking if not attended to early.
Also if you detect it is the brake fluids, you may also need to get additional fluids to protect your motorcycle from brake failure.
Headlights and Taillights
Headlights and taillights are prone to breaking once you get into an accident. Always check to see if all of them are working correctly.
It is essential if you happen to be in a crash at night. With these motorcycle parts damaged you risk operating blind which is very unsafe.
Brakes
Whenever you get into an accident, and your motorcycle falls by its side, you risk bending a brake disk. If the brake disk has severe cracks and bends do not attempt to get back on the motorcycle.
Additionally, inspect the front brake calipers and check if there are any damages to the underside. Bent sliding pins will most necessarily mean that you require to get a new caliper.
Frame
Is your frame still upright and straight? If you get into a head-on collision, the impact may cause your motorcycle frame to bend or lead to the subframe breaking.
Your headstock is also at risk of damage since the make is of soft material. Riding a motorcycle with a bent frame is unsafe.
Brake and Clutch Levers
Apart from the brake fluid, and the brake disk, brakes and clutch levers are also important Motorcycle parts that require attention. You need to assess and find out if they did incur any damage when performing your inspection.
In case you notice the lever is shorter than the standard size, you can improvise and attach a pen to the lever temporarily. However, you have to get it fixed immediately.