The pre-ride check
Five minutes, the night before. Most group-ride hold-ups are a soft tyre, a dry chain or an empty tank — all of which this catches. Work top to bottom, the same order every time.
Tyres
- Pressure, cold, to the sticker on the swingarm or in the manual — not "looks fine". Carry a small pump or know where the nearest one is.
- Tread depth across the whole face, and no cuts, bulges, screws or cracking in the sidewall.
- For a long or loaded trip, drop pressure slightly for two-up and raise it for a heavy tail pack — check the manual.
Controls and brakes
- Front and rear brakes bite firmly with lever/pedal travel where it should be. No sponginess, no fluid weeping at the calipers or master cylinder.
- Brake pads have material left — look through the caliper.
- Throttle snaps shut on its own. Clutch takes up smoothly. Levers are not bent or cracked (carry a spare pair on longer trips).
Lights and electrics
- Headlight (low and high), tail light, brake light on both levers, both indicators, horn.
- Mirrors clean, tight and adjusted for you.
- Battery terminals tight; no warning lights staying on after start-up.
Oil, coolant, leaks
- Engine oil at the right level on the sight glass or dipstick, bike upright and cold.
- Coolant between min and max in the reservoir (liquid-cooled bikes).
- Nothing dripping on the floor overnight. A fresh puddle is a reason to stay home and fix it.
Chain, sprockets, fasteners
- Chain clean and lubed, with the slack the manual specifies — measured at the tightest point as you roll the wheel.
- Sprocket teeth not hooked or worn to points.
- Axle nuts, caliper bolts, engine mounts, handlebar clamps, rack and pannier bolts — a quick hand-check that nothing has backed off. Loctite the ones that keep loosening.
Fuel, kit, documents
- Full tank the night before. Turning up on reserve holds up everyone.
- Tool roll, tyre repair kit, first-aid kit, tow strap on longer trips. On a group ride the sweep carries a shared set — see the handbook.
- Licence, RC, insurance, PUC. Load and strap any luggage so nothing can shift or foul the wheel.
Do it at home, with light and tools.
The petrol-pump forecourt at 5 a.m. is the worst place to discover a soft tyre or a bolt you cannot reach. Run the check the evening before, when a problem is something you can actually fix.
Everything else you need
Gear, documents, and how the day runs are in the first-ride checklist.