Motorcycle Trip Checklist: What to Check Before You Leave, From Two Weeks Out to the Morning You Ride

Before a motorcycle trip, check four things: the bike, the load, yourself and your paperwork. Start two weeks out with anything that needs a shop or a phone call. Finish on departure morning with the Motorcycle Safety Foundation's T-CLOCS walk-around: tires, controls, lights, oil, chassis and stands.

This page covers checks, not packing. For what to bring, see the motorcycle trip packing list. It's part of our motorcycle trip planning hub.

Key takeaways- Check tire pressure cold and adjust it to the load. The recommended cold pressure is on the label near your steering head.- Loaded bikes wobble when loading, accessories or tire pressure are wrong.- Plan riding days in hours. Experienced riders seldom ride more than about six hours a day.- Call your insurer about coverage before the trip.

The checklist at a glance

The timing in this table is our planning suggestion. The checks come from the sources cited.

Two weeks before: the bike

Look at the service schedule in your owner's manual. If oil, brakes or tires are due during the trip, do them before you leave and ride a few days on the new parts.

• Tires: tread depth and wear, weathering, bulges and anything stuck in the tread. If they won't last the trip, replace them now.
• Brakes: check pads and discs for wear. Each brake on its own should keep the bike from rolling.
• Chain or belt: check tension at the tightest point and look at the sprocket teeth.
• Leaks: engine oil, hydraulic fluid, coolant and fuel lines.
• Recalls: ask your dealer whether the bike has any open recall work, so it can be done before you leave.

Two weeks before: papers and money

• License with motorcycle endorsement, registration and proof of insurance. Ask your insurer what the policy covers on this trip.
• Crossing into Canada? The border agency recommends a valid passport.
• Riding overseas? AAA issues International Driving Permits for $20, no more than six months before the start date.
• Renting the bike? Plan time at pickup for the same checks you'd do on your own bike, and learn where every control is before you ride away.

One week before: route and contacts

• Save offline maps that cover the whole route. They only guide you inside the saved area and must be updated before they expire.
• Carry a paper map or printed turn list as backup. See choosing a map for a motorcycle trip.
• Send your route and nightly stops to someone at home, with a check-in time.
• Riding in a group? Brief the route and hand signals, and split groups larger than four or five riders.

Not sure which app to plan in? Read how to choose a motorcycle trip planning app.

The night before: load the bike and set it up

Load everything you're taking, exactly as you'll ride, then check:

1. Weight. The certification label near the steering head gives the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR). Bike, rider, passenger and luggage together must stay under it.
2. Tire pressure. Check it cold and adjust to the load. The recommended cold pressure is on the bike's label or in the owner's manual.
3. Suspension. With a heavy load, set suspension preload, air shocks and dampers to the settings recommended for the weight.
4. Load position. Heavy items low and over or in front of the rear axle, with both sides even.
5. Passenger. Check that the bike is built to carry one, adjust the shocks and check the chain slack for the extra weight.

Step-by-step loading is in how to pack a motorcycle for a trip.

Departure morning: T-CLOCS

This is your pre-ride inspection. Walk around the loaded motorcycle before you ride. The Motorcycle Safety Foundation's T-CLOCS checklist runs in this order:

The California DMV handbook's pre-ride check covers the same ground: tires, fluids, lights, battery, chain or belt, kickstand, clutch, throttle and mirrors. Then tug the luggage. Loads work loose, so check them again at every stop.

Departure morning: the rider

• Rested? Plan rest breaks and get off the bike at least every two hours.
• No alcohol. As little as one drink can significantly affect performance.
• No stimulants to push on. They often lead to extreme fatigue as they wear off.
• Dressed for the worst weather on the route. Long cold rides can cause chill, dehydration and fatigue.

Gear check

Check your gloves for worn seams and thin palms. If yours won't last the trip, Leather Collection motorcycle gloves come in 0.8-0.9 mm cowhide, from retro styles to race and summer gloves. Order early enough to break them in before you leave.

FAQ

What should I check on my motorcycle before riding? Use T-CLOCS: tires and wheels, controls, lights and electrics, oil and other fluids, chassis, and stands.

Is 200 miles a long motorcycle ride? It depends on the road. Measure your day in hours instead: experienced riders seldom ride more than about six hours a day. Two hundred miles of interstate is a short day. Two hundred miles of slow back roads can fill one.

What is the 70/30 brake rule for motorcycles? Riders use it to mean that the front brake does most of the stopping. We haven't read a primary source for the 70/30 split, so we don't give a number. Before the trip, check that each brake on its own keeps the bike from rolling.

How do I map out a motorcycle trip? Fix the start, end and overnight stops, then cut the route into daily legs by hours. The method is in how to plan a motorcycle road trip.

For a printable version, see the motorcycle trip checklist for download and printing. For the wider plan, see how to plan a motorcycle trip.