Summer season: Motorcycle check for the perfect tour

Hanover, Germany, July 3, 2023. The holiday season has arrived and with it comes motorcycle summer tours. Regardless of whether trips last several days, the weekend or even a day trip – the right preparation is essential for comfortable and safe riding. Continental product manager for motorcycle tires Raphael Michels reveals what should be considered for your own bike to ensure the perfect tour.

Once the motorcycle has been cleaned of dirt and dust, the first thing to do is check the brakes, brake fluid, brake pad thickness, oil level, coolant, lighting system, battery, spark plugs, hoses, and pipes.

Before each tour, the quality of the tires should be checked thoroughly. Good tire quality shortens braking distances and thus significantly increases driving safety. To do this, first get an overall impression and check the valve flaps, tread pieces and the tire for possible cut damage. The tire pressure should be set to the motorcycle manufacturer's specification. Especially if the pressure was last adjusted to low outside temperatures in autumn, it should now be corrected again to the higher temperatures. "It is also important to check the tire tread depth, as properties such as braking distance, wet grip, dry grip, handling or warm-up deteriorate with decreasing tread depth," says Michels. The legal minimum tread depth is 1.6 mm. Continental recommends replacing the tire before the legal minimum tread depth is reached. In case of doubt, the specialist in the workshop or in the specialized trade can help.

Regardless of the luggage system, it is crucial to load the motorcycle evenly and in the correct sequence on both sides of the machine. For example, the side cases should be loaded before the top case. Heavy luggage should always be loaded downwards to keep the motorcycle's center of gravity as low as possible. This ensures riding stability and better handling.

Should a breakdown occur during the tour, Michels advises having tires changed by a professional workshop: "It is important to rely on the professional's expert work. Damaged motorcycle tires should not be patched up but replaced immediately."