If you’re planning any trip, whether long or short, it makes sense to get into a regular habit of carrying pre-departure checks on your bike. It’s easy to overlook such checks when we’re in a rush to head off or it simply skips our mind. However, if you want to ensure a carefree, happy ride and keep yourself and other road users safe, these pre-ride checks are essential. Here are five important things that could mean the difference between a great ride and a shocking one:

Tyres

The tyres on your motorcycle are one of the most important components, right up there with the brakes. The tyre pressure affects the handling so if you check this regularly, you won’t need to check it every time you ride but be sure to keep a regular eye on it. Checking the tread for foreign objects is another good idea, ideally rolling the tyre round so you can see the whole circumference. Remember that if you’re in a remote place without a tyre repair kit, don’t immediately pull the item out in case of puncture.

Brakes

Without effective brakes, you’re pretty much in a world of hurt. In fact, they are the most important system of your motorcycle as they are crucial to your safety. Check the brake-line junctions and squeeze your brakes a few times before starting the engine. Ideally, you want it to be as firm as you’re used to on previous rides. If you feel any softness or the lever has more give than usual, you might have air in the lines or a leak. Never chance it, get your motorcycle to a motorbike service and repair garage right away.

Lights

This is a quick and simple check but can save you the hassle of being caught out when the sun goes down or being pulled over by the police. Flick on your indicators and take a look and use your mirror to see the reflection of front and rear brake lights at the same time. Having a bulb fail on a single headlight motorcycle at night is not a pleasant experience.

Fuel and Oil

This one might seem so obvious as to not warrant a mention and if you reset your tripometer before every ride, you’ll have a good idea of how much fuel you have left. However, checking your fuel is important for planning your ride. You’ll want to know where you need to stop to refuel if you need to stop at all. Some bikes make it easy to check the oil, while others require a more physical check. You should check your oil levels at least once a week and definitely before a long ride. A visual check of the engine will also help you see if there are any leaks occurring.

Helmet

Another fairly obvious one but we can all admit to riding off without properly strapping on our helmets once or twice. Get into the habit of ritually checking your strap tightness before you pull off because if it’s not properly on your head, it’s not going to help you when you need it most.