Nothing ruins a great touring ride or highway cruise faster than a rattling noise, a flat tire or some other unforeseen breakdown that forces a rider to take an unexpected pit stop. While it’s essential to keep up with regular motorcycle maintenance and perform a thorough pre-ride inspection, sometimes there’s simply nothing you could have done in advance to prepare for a particular breakdown.

So what do you do when you’re moored on the shoulder of the highway? Glad you asked! This guide to roadside motorcycle maintenance by CalMoto should help take some of the stress out of a breakdown and get you back on the move in no time. We have locations in Mountain View and Livermore, California, so you can come to us with any questions you might still have after you’re done reading.

Should You Stay Or Should You Go?

Once you feel your bike begin to act up, your priority is to get yourself off the road as quickly and safely as possible. You may need to immediately pull over onto a shoulder or highway median if the issue is very severe, or your bike may give you enough time to get to the next exit and pull off in a parking lot instead.

As you’re doing this, signal your intent to surrounding traffic, watching carefully before making any sudden moves since drivers may not immediately see your distress. Park your bike as far from moving cars as you can.

Your first decision will be whether you can stay and repair your bike where it is, or whether it would be safer to leave the area and bring help back. If you can see where the problem is and you’re prepared to fix it, then you can simply address it where you are and get moving again, although you’ll probably want to bring your bike into a mechanic like the ones here at CalMoto when you’ve finished your ride.

However, if high-speed traffic surrounds you on a narrow shoulder and you’re in danger, get off the road! Leave your bike where it is and hike to safety. Use your cell phone to make a call to whoever can serve you best in this moment: a friend with a truck who can haul your bike to the nearest mechanic, a roadside assistance team that can bring a repair person to you or your own local shop where you get your maintenance done, if you’re in town.

If you’re traveling far from home, then you should have some numbers or be able to look something up online to find a towing company or nearby mechanic to assist you.

Do You Have Your Tools?

The only way you’ll be able to adequately repair your bike is if you have the right tools to hand. A toolkit in your saddlebags or storage compartment should contain everything you need for most minor issues. Some examples include a portable air compressor, wrenches, screwdrivers, tire patches, pliers and a fuel siphon. You can find these kits pre-assembled for convenience or compile one yourself.

Prevention For Next Time

Once you’ve got your bike fixed, it’s important to keep it in good shape for future rides so this doesn’t happen again. Regular motorcycle maintenance like oil changes, tire pressure checks, examining your battery, tightening belts and chains, changing filters and adding coolant will all go a long way towards ensuring your bike is in peak condition for your next ride. If you’re due for an oil change or your tires are worn, make sure to replace these as soon as possible! Don’t ride on a bike that might let you down.

Drop into one of our dealerships located in Mountain View or Livermore to see our selection of new and used motorcycles for sale, including BMW motorcycles. CalMoto proudly serves the cities of San Jose, San Francisco and Tracy, California.