Unless you’re one of those tough-as-nails, year-round riders, more than likely your motorcycle has been in storage through the long winter. Now that the snow is finally starting to melt, it’s time to thaw out the bike and get everything in shape for the road again.

A good place to start is with the old T-CLOCS inspection (Tires, Controls, Lights, Oil, Chassis and Stand). The Motorcycle Safety Federation’s T-CLOCS inspection checklist can be downloaded here.

Once the bike has been properly inspected, it’s time to make sure all the paperwork is in order – registration, insurance and license plate stickers all need to be up-to-date before hitting the road, and of course, make sure that your motorcycle license has not expired.

Last but not least, don’t forget about ATGATT (All The Gear All The Time). Make sure you have all the necessary gear, and that it is still in good condition. Leather can get dried and cracked when neglected, sunglasses can get crooked when stored improperly, and well-used boots can fall apart surprisingly quickly.

Once you’re ready to hit the road, be sure to take it easy at first. Many riders get a little rusty over the winter, and a casual cruise away from heavy traffic is a better way to kick off the spring riding season anyhow.