ADVICE: Check list for the new season

Spring is in the air, the nights are drawing out, and the weather is getting warmer. For many motorcycle riders changing the clock signifies the start of the season, a time to dust off the bike and head back on the road. After months of not being used, its essential to make sure your maintenance is up to scratch, to ensure trouble-free riding. So before you strap on the helmet, thumb that starter and head up to Prescott Bike Festival (Sunday 12 April), our friends at Severn Freewheelers Blood Bike Group have provided some great practical advice to get back on the road in time for the biggest motorcycle event in the county. 

·    Check your tax disc is valid, MOT and insurance policy is current
·    Clean off any protective coating applied to body panels and check that wires, hoses and cables have not been nibbled by rodents. Remove the plugs or polythene bags you used to block air intakes and exhaust ends.
·    Check the engine oil and coolant levels and top up if necessary. Some owners like to perform a pre-season engine oil and filter change.
·    Refit the battery which you should've been trickle charging through the winter. If you didn't do this, get the battery checked – it may well need replacing.
·    If you squirted oil through each spark plug hole before the winter, check that the spark plug(s) is/are tightened to the correct torque.
·    Inflate the tyres to the correct pressures. Check the brake fluid levels, coolant level and engine oil levels. Make sure the brakes operate correctly and free off when released.
·    Lubricate the drive chain (when applicable) and the exposed parts of all control cables and linkages. Give the chain a good clean and apply fresh lube. Also make sure tension is correct.
·    Check the brake fluid level. Push the bike back and forth and check that the brakes work without sticking, dragging, or leaking fluid.
·    Petrol can go off in storage. If you didn't drain the tank, do so now and dispose of the old fuel properly. Fill the tank with freshly bought fuel
·    Start the engine and let it warm up while you check that there are no leaks. Take the bike for a short slow run to make sure that the clutch, gears and brakes are all working correctly. Also check that the lights, horn and indicators are all working properly.
·    Finally – Give it a good fun run, why not buy tickets and do a 'ride out' to Prescott Bike Festival! It's a 'Must Do' event for all motorcycling enthusiasts. What's more, all event proceeds of the event go to The Nationwide Association of Blood Bikes and Severn Freewheelers.

Prescott Bike Festival is often hailed as the 'Start of the Season' Motorcycle Festival and takes place on Sunday 12th April 2015 at Prescott Hill Climb, home of the Bugatti Owners Club, Cheltenham. This years event will feature a large displays of historic, modern and race bikes, plus a Paddock Specials Show 'n' Tell area, motorcycle manufacturers, dealer zone, motorcycle clubs, demo areas, passenger ride experiences, live music, stunt show, celebrity autograph sessions and hundreds of trade stands and a whole host of entertainment both on and off the track to keep the whole family amused. 

For the first time, the Festival is offering Test Rides featuring the KTM Adventure fleet. Kids under 16 years old go free! and there's plenty for them to get involved too from electric Go Karts, a giant inflatable slide, bouncy castle plus the popular UK Garrison 'Star Wars' characters.

Special guest appearances include: four times World Superbike Champion and 'King of the Jungle; Carl Fogarty (thanks to Oily Rag Clothing), former three times British Superbike Champion and Blood Bike ambassador John Reynolds, motorcycle adventurer Nick Sanders, who has motorcycled around the world seven times and adventurer Charley Boorman, best known for making an epic 20,000-mile journey across the globe by motorbike with close friend Ewan McGregor in the television series Long Way Round, plus former World Darts Champion Andy Fordham. For more information or to purchase advance tickets visit: www.prescottbikefestival.co.uk
About The Nationwide Association of Blood Bikes
The Nationwide Association of Blood Bikes is the umbrella organisation representing 24 regional blood bike charities, all providing a motorcycle based, free delivery service to the NHS; moving vital medical supplies, blood and pathology samples from medical centres and hospitals throughout the UK. NABB member groups are closely involved in the transport of frozen human milk from the donor to the milk processing banks. 

This has been a real lifesaver due to the necessity of very premature babies having intolerance to anything but human milk. 

Run entirely by volunteers, NABB member groups have over 1500 active members with a fleet of 120+ emergency response vehicles. All NABB riders are trained in the movement of medical essentials and operate from individual regional charities but with a common goal – to alleviate suffering and reduce the funding pressures on the NHS.

Severn Freewheelers is the regional Blood Bike group operating Gloucestershire, Hereford & Worcester and North Wiltshire. Over 70 volunteers help Severn Freewheelers carry out a much-needed service. Severn Freewheelers runs five BMW R1200RTs and a Honda ST1300; all are emergency response equipped and the members handle some 4,000 call outs per annum, covering 150,000 miles.

Media Contact: Rebecca Leppard, Eventageous PR on T: 01452 260063, email: Rebecca@eventspr.co.uk
Web & Social Media:
www.bikefestivals.co.uk
www.prescottbikefestival.co.uk
www.shelsleybikefestival.co.uk
On Twitter at https://twitter.com/bike_fest
On Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Prescott-Bike-Festival

Prescott Bike Festival is kindly sponsored by: Bikesure, Carole Nash, Blade Group and KTM




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