{"version":"1.0.0","segments":[{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":0.101,"endTime":3.881,"body":"It was one of those March"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":0.101,"endTime":3.881,"body":"days when the sun shines hot and"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":3.881,"endTime":8.641,"body":"the wind blows cold, when it is"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":3.881,"endTime":8.641,"body":"summer in the light and winter"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":8.641,"endTime":9.421,"body":"in the shade."},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":19.424,"endTime":21.974,"body":"Welcome to the Throttle and"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":19.424,"endTime":21.974,"body":"Roast podcast. I'm your host,"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":21.974,"endTime":25.014,"body":"Niels Meersschaert. In today's"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":21.974,"endTime":25.014,"body":"episode, we'll be looking at"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":25.014,"endTime":29.428,"body":"dusting off the cobwebs and rust"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":25.014,"endTime":29.428,"body":"from your and yourself as we"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":29.428,"endTime":33.024,"body":"spring into 2026's riding here"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":29.428,"endTime":33.024,"body":"in the Northern Hemisphere."},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":33.254,"endTime":35.834,"body":"We'll look at getting your bike"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":33.254,"endTime":35.834,"body":"ready to ride and ensuring that"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":35.834,"endTime":40.354,"body":"you are both mentally and"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":35.834,"endTime":40.354,"body":"physically ready to ride. And"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":40.354,"endTime":43.154,"body":"I'll share some tips on what to"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":40.354,"endTime":43.154,"body":"do in your first few rides to"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":43.154,"endTime":44.734,"body":"ease you into the riding"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":44.734,"endTime":47.199,"body":"season. Now, if you've"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":44.734,"endTime":47.199,"body":"had your bike in storage over"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":47.199,"endTime":50.919,"body":"the winter months, it's time to"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":47.199,"endTime":50.919,"body":"check it over and ensure that"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":50.919,"endTime":55.059,"body":"everything is ready to go. So"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":50.919,"endTime":55.059,"body":"first thing, you probably had a"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":55.059,"endTime":57.759,"body":"cover on your bike, so let's"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":55.059,"endTime":57.759,"body":"remove that cover and we're"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":57.759,"endTime":60.259,"body":"going to check the bike over."},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":57.759,"endTime":60.259,"body":"First thing we're going to do is"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":60.259,"endTime":63.039,"body":"we're going to look in the"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":60.259,"endTime":63.039,"body":"exhaust. Sometimes rodents like"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":63.039,"endTime":65.799,"body":"to climb in there, create a"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":63.039,"endTime":65.799,"body":"little bit of a nest. We want to"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":65.799,"endTime":67.519,"body":"make sure that there's just"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":65.799,"endTime":67.519,"body":"nothing in there because when"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":67.519,"endTime":70.959,"body":"you fire up the bike and start"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":67.519,"endTime":70.959,"body":"it, if there's any sort of"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":70.959,"endTime":73.379,"body":"fibrous material that they've"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":70.959,"endTime":73.379,"body":"put in, that could cause a fire."},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":73.429,"endTime":77.139,"body":"So first thing is just take a"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":73.429,"endTime":77.139,"body":"look into the exhaust. Now look"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":77.139,"endTime":79.899,"body":"underneath the bike. Take a look"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":77.139,"endTime":79.899,"body":"and make sure that there's no"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":79.899,"endTime":83.119,"body":"leaks. You're not seeing any oil"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":79.899,"endTime":83.119,"body":"leaking. You're not seeing any"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":83.119,"endTime":85.859,"body":"fluids leak. Nothing that's"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":83.119,"endTime":85.859,"body":"coming down and showing that"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":85.859,"endTime":89.128,"body":"there's something to be worried"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":85.859,"endTime":89.128,"body":"about for the Now look over the"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":89.128,"endTime":92.768,"body":"fasteners. Is there anything"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":89.128,"endTime":92.768,"body":"that's missing or loose? Next,"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":92.768,"endTime":96.248,"body":"take a look at your tires and"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":92.768,"endTime":96.248,"body":"any of the hoses that you have"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":96.248,"endTime":99.288,"body":"on your bike. See if there's any"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":96.248,"endTime":99.288,"body":"dry rot. When the bike's been"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":99.288,"endTime":103.443,"body":"sitting for a while, sometimes"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":99.288,"endTime":103.443,"body":"these materials can start to"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":103.443,"endTime":107.558,"body":"crack and no longer are going be"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":103.443,"endTime":107.558,"body":"fit for purpose. We need to look"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":107.558,"endTime":109.858,"body":"at them and make sure that"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":107.558,"endTime":109.858,"body":"they're going to be worthy to"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":109.858,"endTime":113.127,"body":"use for this upcoming riding"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":109.858,"endTime":113.127,"body":"season. Next, let' take a look"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":113.127,"endTime":115.607,"body":"at some of our fluid levels. We"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":113.127,"endTime":115.607,"body":"want to make sure that our brake"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":115.607,"endTime":119.547,"body":"fluid, our coolant and our oil"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":115.607,"endTime":119.547,"body":"levels are all in the"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":119.547,"endTime":122.867,"body":"appropriate range specified in"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":119.547,"endTime":122.867,"body":"our owner's manual for our"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":122.867,"endTime":126.561,"body":"particular motorcycle. And if"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":122.867,"endTime":126.561,"body":"you followed our tips for"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":126.561,"endTime":129.221,"body":"prepping your bike for the"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":126.561,"endTime":129.221,"body":"winter, you've probably already"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":129.221,"endTime":132.941,"body":"done this and your bike is"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":129.221,"endTime":132.941,"body":"already ready to go. But if not,"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":132.941,"endTime":136.461,"body":"we're going to want to do any"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":132.941,"endTime":136.461,"body":"delayed maintenance that we did"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":136.461,"endTime":139.981,"body":"not do at the tail end of the"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":136.461,"endTime":139.981,"body":"riding season last year. So"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":139.981,"endTime":142.801,"body":"you're going to change any"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":139.981,"endTime":142.801,"body":"fluids that are needed, be these"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":142.801,"endTime":146.081,"body":"brake, coolant, oil,"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":142.801,"endTime":146.081,"body":"transmission, gear oil, etc."},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":146.593,"endTime":149.453,"body":"Next thing you're going to do is"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":146.593,"endTime":149.453,"body":"you're going to clean and lube"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":149.453,"endTime":152.793,"body":"the chain on your bike if it's a"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":149.453,"endTime":152.793,"body":"chain driven bike. This is just"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":152.793,"endTime":156.033,"body":"good because the bike's been"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":152.793,"endTime":156.033,"body":"sitting still for a while. Some"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":156.033,"endTime":158.593,"body":"of the lubrication that you"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":156.033,"endTime":158.593,"body":"might have put onto the chain as"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":158.593,"endTime":162.033,"body":"you ended the riding season may"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":158.593,"endTime":162.033,"body":"have dried off. It may have"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":162.033,"endTime":165.073,"body":"gotten corroded with any sort of"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":162.033,"endTime":165.073,"body":"material that we're just sitting"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":165.073,"endTime":167.513,"body":"around and wherever you're"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":165.073,"endTime":167.513,"body":"storing your bike. So just clean"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":167.513,"endTime":171.091,"body":"and lube the chain, get it ready"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":167.513,"endTime":171.091,"body":"to go. Now if you didn't already"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":171.091,"endTime":175.131,"body":"have your bike's battery on a"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":171.091,"endTime":175.131,"body":"tender of some sort, you want to"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":175.131,"endTime":177.411,"body":"make sure that you charge that"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":175.131,"endTime":177.411,"body":"battery. So put it onto the"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":177.411,"endTime":179.925,"body":"tender. battery is the thing"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":177.411,"endTime":179.925,"body":"that's going to allow you to"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":179.925,"endTime":182.445,"body":"start your bike. So let's make"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":179.925,"endTime":182.445,"body":"sure that it's as set and ready"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":182.445,"endTime":186.669,"body":"to go. And while we already"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":182.445,"endTime":186.669,"body":"checked the tires for dry rot,"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":186.669,"endTime":189.949,"body":"now what we want to do is we"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":186.669,"endTime":189.949,"body":"want to check the tire tread. We"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":189.949,"endTime":192.749,"body":"want to make sure that it is"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":189.949,"endTime":192.749,"body":"within the legal spec to make"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":192.749,"endTime":195.937,"body":"sure that we're going to be able"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":192.749,"endTime":195.937,"body":"to use it. In addition to the"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":195.937,"endTime":199.097,"body":"tire tread, just look over the"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":195.937,"endTime":199.097,"body":"tire. Is there any cupping of"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":199.097,"endTime":202.417,"body":"any kind? Is there any weird"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":199.097,"endTime":202.417,"body":"wear patterns that might"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":202.417,"endTime":205.301,"body":"indicate that you do need to"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":202.417,"endTime":205.301,"body":"replace the tire? So now we've"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":205.301,"endTime":209.441,"body":"handled any delayed maintenance."},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":205.301,"endTime":209.441,"body":"Let's just confirm that the bike"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":209.441,"endTime":213.001,"body":"is ready to go. We're going to"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":209.441,"endTime":213.001,"body":"move the handlebar through the"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":213.001,"endTime":216.141,"body":"entire sweep. Check for any"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":213.001,"endTime":216.141,"body":"sticking, which could be an"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":216.141,"endTime":219.101,"body":"indication that maybe some of"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":216.141,"endTime":219.101,"body":"your head bearings are damaged"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":219.101,"endTime":222.485,"body":"or need replacement. We're going"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":219.101,"endTime":222.485,"body":"to check for smooth operation of"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":222.485,"endTime":226.505,"body":"the brake and the clutch levers."},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":222.485,"endTime":226.505,"body":"We're going to check for smooth"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":226.505,"endTime":229.51,"body":"operation of the foot brake and"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":226.505,"endTime":229.51,"body":"the gear shift lever. We're"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":229.51,"endTime":232.35,"body":"going to ensure that our mirrors"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":229.51,"endTime":232.35,"body":"are set correctly. Sometimes as"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":232.35,"endTime":234.83,"body":"you're moving the bike around in"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":232.35,"endTime":234.83,"body":"storage or you have a cover on,"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":235.1,"endTime":238.19,"body":"you might bang into the mirror"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":235.1,"endTime":238.19,"body":"and it's going to get jostled"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":238.19,"endTime":240.67,"body":"out of position. So let's just"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":238.19,"endTime":240.67,"body":"make sure that those mirrors are"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":240.67,"endTime":243.962,"body":"set appropriately. And the next"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":240.67,"endTime":243.962,"body":"thing we're going to do is set"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":243.962,"endTime":247.882,"body":"the preload for your current"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":243.962,"endTime":247.882,"body":"weight. Now this is something"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":247.882,"endTime":251.682,"body":"that a lot of riders neglect to"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":247.882,"endTime":251.682,"body":"do. Some of them have never set"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":251.682,"endTime":256.545,"body":"the preload on their And this"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":251.682,"endTime":256.545,"body":"will have a very negative impact"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":256.545,"endTime":260.525,"body":"on to how the bike performs and"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":256.545,"endTime":260.525,"body":"handles. The other thing to"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":260.525,"endTime":263.745,"body":"remember is sometimes we do"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":260.525,"endTime":263.745,"body":"change our weight over the"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":263.745,"endTime":266.925,"body":"course of the winter months. And"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":263.745,"endTime":266.925,"body":"so the weight that you had for"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":266.925,"endTime":270.745,"body":"your bike, if you had properly"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":266.925,"endTime":270.745,"body":"set the preload before, may not"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":270.745,"endTime":275.92,"body":"be correct anymore. And most"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":270.745,"endTime":275.92,"body":"bikes will have either a"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":275.92,"endTime":279.45,"body":"suggested number of clicks or"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":275.92,"endTime":279.45,"body":"turns based on your riding"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":279.72,"endTime":284.14,"body":"weight or they'll ask you to use"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":279.72,"endTime":284.14,"body":"a sag measurement for setting"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":284.14,"endTime":287.84,"body":"the preload. And both of these"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":284.14,"endTime":287.84,"body":"are completely legitimate. If"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":287.84,"endTime":292.08,"body":"anything, the sag measurement is"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":287.84,"endTime":292.08,"body":"usually a little bit more"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":292.08,"endTime":294.74,"body":"consistent because you're"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":292.08,"endTime":294.74,"body":"actually measuring the actual"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":294.74,"endTime":298.09,"body":"sag as opposed to oh, here"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":294.74,"endTime":298.09,"body":"should get you roughly into it."},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":299.04,"endTime":301.73,"body":"But if you don't have a sag"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":299.04,"endTime":301.73,"body":"measurement tool and you do have"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":301.73,"endTime":305.31,"body":"the turns or clicks recommended"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":301.73,"endTime":305.31,"body":"in the manual, it's certainly"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":305.31,"endTime":308.804,"body":"perfectly fine. And if you do"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":305.31,"endTime":308.804,"body":"have in your get into your full"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":308.804,"endTime":313.004,"body":"riding gear and then check your"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":308.804,"endTime":313.004,"body":"riding weight. So get onto a"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":313.004,"endTime":316.924,"body":"scale, see how much you weigh"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":313.004,"endTime":316.924,"body":"fully geared up. So you're"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":316.924,"endTime":319.124,"body":"wearing your boots, you're"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":316.924,"endTime":319.124,"body":"wearing your riding pants, your"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":319.124,"endTime":322.584,"body":"riding jacket, you've got your"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":319.124,"endTime":322.584,"body":"gloves, you've got your helmet,"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":322.584,"endTime":324.444,"body":"everything that you would do"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":322.584,"endTime":324.444,"body":"when you're riding on a bike."},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":324.734,"endTime":328.164,"body":"Let's see what your weight is."},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":324.734,"endTime":328.164,"body":"It is not the weight when you're"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":328.164,"endTime":330.854,"body":"just sitting and measuring"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":328.164,"endTime":330.854,"body":"yourself to see how much do I"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":331.014,"endTime":334.804,"body":"weigh. You're measuring how much"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":331.014,"endTime":334.804,"body":"you weigh with your riding gear"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":334.804,"endTime":337.864,"body":"in place and the Delta can be"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":334.804,"endTime":337.864,"body":"quite significant. It's not"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":337.864,"endTime":341.664,"body":"unusual for it to be 20 or 30"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":337.864,"endTime":341.664,"body":"pounds more weight as you get"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":341.664,"endTime":344.704,"body":"everything on there. So you want"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":341.664,"endTime":344.704,"body":"to make sure you're measuring"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":344.704,"endTime":347.62,"body":"yourself in your full riding"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":344.704,"endTime":347.62,"body":"weight. Now once you've"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":347.62,"endTime":350.9,"body":"determined that, then you adjust"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":347.62,"endTime":350.9,"body":"the preload to match whatever"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":350.9,"endTime":353.42,"body":"your riding weight is. And every"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":350.9,"endTime":353.42,"body":"bike is going to be a little"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":353.42,"endTime":355.6,"body":"different, so look at your"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":353.42,"endTime":355.6,"body":"manual to see what is the"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":355.6,"endTime":358.717,"body":"appropriate way. Some will say"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":355.6,"endTime":358.717,"body":"to sort of release all of the"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":358.717,"endTime":361.377,"body":"preload to get you back to a"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":358.717,"endTime":361.377,"body":"starting point. And then you're"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":361.377,"endTime":364.037,"body":"going to turn in from there, so"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":361.377,"endTime":364.037,"body":"that might be the way to do it."},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":364.585,"endTime":366.925,"body":"Use whatever is appropriate on"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":364.585,"endTime":366.925,"body":"your particular owner's manual."},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":366.706,"endTime":369.526,"body":"Now, if you don't have a"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":366.706,"endTime":369.526,"body":"recommendation of number of"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":369.526,"endTime":372.366,"body":"turns or clicks for setting your"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":369.526,"endTime":372.366,"body":"preload, you're going to have to"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":372.366,"endTime":377.764,"body":"do what's called a sag"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":372.366,"endTime":377.764,"body":"measurement. in this case, bike"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":377.764,"endTime":381.694,"body":"will oftentimes give you a"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":377.764,"endTime":381.694,"body":"percentage recommendation for"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":381.694,"endTime":385.851,"body":"how much sag should have on your"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":381.694,"endTime":385.851,"body":"motorcycle. Now, sag is"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":385.851,"endTime":388.691,"body":"generally... The easiest way to"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":385.851,"endTime":388.691,"body":"think of it is when your bike is"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":388.691,"endTime":391.651,"body":"just sitting on its own, meaning"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":388.691,"endTime":391.651,"body":"it's perfectly vertically up"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":391.651,"endTime":395.125,"body":"straight. Both wheels are on the"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":391.651,"endTime":395.125,"body":"ground The bike is going to"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":395.125,"endTime":397.905,"body":"settle just from its natural"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":395.125,"endTime":397.905,"body":"weight of the bike to a certain"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":397.905,"endTime":402.506,"body":"position. When you get onto the"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":397.905,"endTime":402.506,"body":"bike, the suspension is going to"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":402.506,"endTime":406.126,"body":"go down a little bit, and this"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":402.506,"endTime":406.126,"body":"is just natural from your riding"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":406.126,"endTime":409.686,"body":"weight applying onto the bike."},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":406.126,"endTime":409.686,"body":"Most motorcycles will say that"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":409.686,"endTime":414.666,"body":"you want to have about 30 to 35%"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":409.686,"endTime":414.666,"body":"of your suspension travel used"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":414.666,"endTime":419.026,"body":"up for this static sag"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":414.666,"endTime":419.026,"body":"measurement. But look at your"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":419.026,"endTime":422.541,"body":"manual to see the requirements"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":419.026,"endTime":422.541,"body":"for your motorcycle. And what"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":422.541,"endTime":425.141,"body":"you're going to do is you're"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":422.541,"endTime":425.141,"body":"going to measure the distance"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":425.141,"endTime":429.181,"body":"from the wheel to a point on the"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":425.141,"endTime":429.181,"body":"motorcycle, usually in like"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":429.181,"endTime":432.161,"body":"maybe like the seat or the rear"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":429.181,"endTime":432.161,"body":"cowl. Let's say if you're doing"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":432.161,"endTime":435.294,"body":"the preload on the rear. as get"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":432.161,"endTime":435.294,"body":"onto the bike, you're going to"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":435.294,"endTime":437.614,"body":"probably need to have someone"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":435.294,"endTime":437.614,"body":"else with you. They're going to"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":437.614,"endTime":439.894,"body":"measure what it was originally,"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":437.614,"endTime":439.894,"body":"and now they're going to measure"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":439.894,"endTime":442.954,"body":"as you sit on the bike in your"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":439.894,"endTime":442.954,"body":"full riding gear. Really"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":442.954,"endTime":445.227,"body":"critical to make sure that"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":442.954,"endTime":445.227,"body":"you're doing it that way. by"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":445.227,"endTime":449.787,"body":"looking at that delta, you can"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":445.227,"endTime":449.787,"body":"see what percentage of your SAG"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":449.787,"endTime":453.007,"body":"has occurred, and then you can"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":449.787,"endTime":453.007,"body":"adjust the preload up or down"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":452.694,"endTime":456.634,"body":"this. Now, this is kind of a"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":452.694,"endTime":456.634,"body":"pain to do it in this way. It's"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":456.634,"endTime":459.134,"body":"a little bit less precise. Maybe"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":456.634,"endTime":459.134,"body":"you're using a ruler, you have"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":459.134,"endTime":461.714,"body":"to have someone else who's"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":459.134,"endTime":461.714,"body":"standing up next to you. I"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":461.714,"endTime":465.834,"body":"personally actually prefer to do"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":461.714,"endTime":465.834,"body":"this with one of the digital"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":465.834,"endTime":469.794,"body":"tools that are available. I use"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":465.834,"endTime":469.794,"body":"one called the Slacker SAG"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":469.794,"endTime":472.094,"body":"Measurement Tool, and what's"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":469.794,"endTime":472.094,"body":"really cool about this is it has"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":472.094,"endTime":475.814,"body":"a little magnet on it. You can"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":472.094,"endTime":475.814,"body":"click that onto the wheel, and"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":475.814,"endTime":479.634,"body":"now you can move a other sort of"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":475.814,"endTime":479.634,"body":"string that attaches to it, and"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":479.634,"endTime":482.874,"body":"you can attach that onto a"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":479.634,"endTime":482.874,"body":"position on the bike. And now"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":482.874,"endTime":486.254,"body":"you have a little remote display"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":482.874,"endTime":486.254,"body":"that you can just have on the"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":486.254,"endTime":490.374,"body":"handlebar. So, as you sit on the"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":486.254,"endTime":490.374,"body":"bike and settle it, you can"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":490.374,"endTime":493.689,"body":"actually see what your position"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":490.374,"endTime":493.689,"body":"is. Now, once you've figured out"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":493.689,"endTime":496.069,"body":"what your distance has been,"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":493.689,"endTime":496.069,"body":"you're going to adjust your"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":496.069,"endTime":501.089,"body":"preload either harder or softer"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":496.069,"endTime":501.089,"body":"to match what you need to do,"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":501.089,"endTime":503.669,"body":"and then you're going to retest"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":501.089,"endTime":503.669,"body":"this distance after each"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":503.669,"endTime":506.629,"body":"measurement until it matches the"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":503.669,"endTime":506.629,"body":"spec defined in your manual,"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":506.629,"endTime":509.925,"body":"which, as I said, it's usually"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":506.629,"endTime":509.925,"body":"around 30% to 35%. This is why I"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":509.925,"endTime":513.704,"body":"think the Slacker is the easier"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":509.925,"endTime":513.704,"body":"way to do Now, it is an"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":513.704,"endTime":517.064,"body":"investment that you're going to"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":513.704,"endTime":517.064,"body":"make for buying this device, but"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":517.064,"endTime":521.164,"body":"the beauty of it is you can use"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":517.064,"endTime":521.164,"body":"this across all of your bikes"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":521.164,"endTime":524.444,"body":"and any new bikes that you"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":521.164,"endTime":524.444,"body":"acquire in the future. So, it's"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":524.444,"endTime":530.144,"body":"a very useful tool to have, and"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":524.444,"endTime":530.144,"body":"setting your preload, most bikes"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":530.144,"endTime":533.184,"body":"will allow you to set the"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":530.144,"endTime":533.184,"body":"preload. They may not have other"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":532.728,"endTime":536.028,"body":"adjustments on the suspension,"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":532.728,"endTime":536.028,"body":"but most will allow you to set"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":536.225,"endTime":539.825,"body":"preload, at least on the rear of"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":536.225,"endTime":539.825,"body":"the bike. And if you don't have"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":539.825,"endTime":543.965,"body":"it set properly, you're going to"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":539.825,"endTime":543.965,"body":"have a different amount of sag"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":543.965,"endTime":546.74,"body":"that's going to exist as you're"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":543.965,"endTime":546.74,"body":"riding the bike, make the bike"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":546.74,"endTime":550.72,"body":"feel a little bit too wallowing"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":546.74,"endTime":550.72,"body":"as you're going through a turn."},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":550.81,"endTime":554.16,"body":"It could feel that it's too hard."},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":550.81,"endTime":554.16,"body":"So, setting this appropriately"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":554.16,"endTime":558.009,"body":"is really important. And as I"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":554.16,"endTime":558.009,"body":"mentioned, since your weight may"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":558.009,"endTime":561.469,"body":"have changed, maybe you have new"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":558.009,"endTime":561.469,"body":"gear, which has a different"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":561.469,"endTime":564.289,"body":"weight than what your old gear"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":561.469,"endTime":564.289,"body":"did. Making sure that you do"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":564.289,"endTime":568.629,"body":"this each spring is a good habit"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":564.289,"endTime":568.629,"body":"to get into of any time that you"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":568.629,"endTime":571.409,"body":"notice any sort of major change."},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":568.629,"endTime":571.409,"body":"So, if you even, in the riding"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":571.409,"endTime":575.049,"body":"season, get new gear, I'd"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":571.409,"endTime":575.049,"body":"actually say still go and reset"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":575.049,"endTime":579.409,"body":"that sag again, just to make"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":575.049,"endTime":579.409,"body":"sure that it isn't dramatically"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":579.409,"endTime":583.466,"body":"off. So, we have our preload set"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":579.409,"endTime":583.466,"body":"on the motorcycle. Now, the next"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":583.466,"endTime":587.238,"body":"thing we want to do is check"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":583.466,"endTime":587.238,"body":"your tire pressure. Don't assume"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":587.238,"endTime":589.798,"body":"that just because you set it"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":587.238,"endTime":589.798,"body":"when you put the bike in the"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":589.798,"endTime":593.752,"body":"storage, that it's the same."},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":589.798,"endTime":593.752,"body":"Tires often can change the"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":593.752,"endTime":597.292,"body":"pressure from small leaks,"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":593.752,"endTime":597.292,"body":"oftentimes by the valve stem,"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":597.292,"endTime":599.312,"body":"which aren't enough to really"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":597.292,"endTime":599.312,"body":"cause any harm. But if you've"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":599.312,"endTime":601.492,"body":"been sitting with the bike,"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":599.312,"endTime":601.492,"body":"sitting there for two or three"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":601.492,"endTime":604.872,"body":"months, you could get a little"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":601.492,"endTime":604.872,"body":"bit of leakage. The other thing"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":604.872,"endTime":606.992,"body":"is that there's going to be"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":604.872,"endTime":606.992,"body":"temperature changes. So,"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":606.992,"endTime":609.692,"body":"whatever temperature the garage"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":606.992,"endTime":609.692,"body":"or wherever you're storing the"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":609.692,"endTime":613.352,"body":"bike was, when you first set the"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":609.692,"endTime":613.352,"body":"pressure as you put it away, and"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":613.352,"endTime":616.952,"body":"the temperature now may not be"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":613.352,"endTime":616.952,"body":"the same, and therefore, the"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":616.952,"endTime":619.202,"body":"pressure will look different. So,"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":616.952,"endTime":619.202,"body":"just check the tire pressure."},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":619.252,"endTime":621.958,"body":"It's a good way to make sure the"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":619.252,"endTime":621.958,"body":"bike is ready to go. Now, we're"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":621.958,"endTime":625.278,"body":"going to check all of the lights."},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":621.958,"endTime":625.278,"body":"Confirm that your low and high"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":625.278,"endTime":629.018,"body":"beam work correctly. Check that"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":625.278,"endTime":629.018,"body":"the brake light activates from"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":629.018,"endTime":633.158,"body":"both the foot brake and from the"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":629.018,"endTime":633.158,"body":"brake lever. Check your turn"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":633.158,"endTime":637.338,"body":"indicators left and right from"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":633.158,"endTime":637.338,"body":"both the front and the rear. And"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":637.338,"endTime":639.898,"body":"if your bike is equipped with a"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":637.338,"endTime":639.898,"body":"license plate light, just"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":639.898,"endTime":644.766,"body":"confirm that that is working as"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":639.898,"endTime":644.766,"body":"expected. Now, in many the"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":644.766,"endTime":650.108,"body":"lights is pretty much the extent"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":644.766,"endTime":650.108,"body":"of any sort of state-based"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":650.108,"endTime":652.248,"body":"inspection that you may need to"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":650.108,"endTime":652.248,"body":"do. Certainly here in New York"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":652.248,"endTime":655.068,"body":"State, they essentially just"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":652.248,"endTime":655.068,"body":"make sure that the lights are"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":655.068,"endTime":657.788,"body":"working and the horn. So, I"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":655.068,"endTime":657.788,"body":"would also check your horn. This"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":657.788,"endTime":660.608,"body":"way, you've kind of done the"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":657.788,"endTime":660.608,"body":"inspection yourself, and you"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":660.608,"endTime":663.928,"body":"know that when you get your bike"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":660.608,"endTime":663.928,"body":"inspected that it's going to"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":663.928,"endTime":666.608,"body":"pass. Now, here in New York"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":663.928,"endTime":666.608,"body":"State, we have to get our bikes"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":666.608,"endTime":671.988,"body":"inspected every year, usually by"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":666.608,"endTime":671.988,"body":"April. So, as you're checking"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":671.988,"endTime":675.008,"body":"your bike, getting it ready to"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":671.988,"endTime":675.008,"body":"go for the spring, it never"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":675.008,"endTime":677.344,"body":"hurts to kind of just make sure"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":675.008,"endTime":677.344,"body":"everything is working. We're"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":677.344,"endTime":680.35,"body":"going to turn the ignition on..."},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":677.344,"endTime":680.35,"body":"We're going to confirm that the"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":680.35,"endTime":683.77,"body":"sweep or any of the indicator"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":680.35,"endTime":683.77,"body":"lights that come onto the dash"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":683.77,"endTime":687.83,"body":"are working as expected. Want to"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":683.77,"endTime":687.83,"body":"make sure that nothing is giving"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":687.83,"endTime":690.99,"body":"any warning lights, anything"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":687.83,"endTime":690.99,"body":"going weird. Now we're going to"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":690.99,"endTime":693.77,"body":"start the engine. We're going to"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":690.99,"endTime":693.77,"body":"confirm that there is no issue"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":693.77,"endTime":698.159,"body":"with the engine. Did it stall?"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":693.77,"endTime":698.159,"body":"Was it hard to start? These"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":698.159,"endTime":701.779,"body":"could be indications of a"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":698.159,"endTime":701.779,"body":"problem with the motorcycle or"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":701.779,"endTime":705.099,"body":"at least with the battery or the"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":701.779,"endTime":705.099,"body":"starter. Or it could just be"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":705.099,"endTime":707.999,"body":"that the bike was cold. So just"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":705.099,"endTime":707.999,"body":"see what you can do with getting"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":707.999,"endTime":710.879,"body":"that engine at least started and"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":707.999,"endTime":710.879,"body":"making sure that there's nothing"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":710.879,"endTime":715.279,"body":"that's obvious problematic. Now"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":710.879,"endTime":715.279,"body":"with the engine running check"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":715.279,"endTime":718.279,"body":"for any exhaust leaks. Do you"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":715.279,"endTime":718.279,"body":"see exhaust coming out of some"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":718.279,"endTime":720.979,"body":"place that it's not supposed to"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":718.279,"endTime":720.979,"body":"be coming out of? Look along the"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":721.295,"endTime":724.515,"body":"make sure that where the various"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":721.295,"endTime":724.515,"body":"exhaust pipes fit together, that"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":724.515,"endTime":727.713,"body":"there's no leaking at any of"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":724.515,"endTime":727.713,"body":"those joints. Now with the"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":727.713,"endTime":731.693,"body":"engine running also look for any"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":727.713,"endTime":731.693,"body":"fluid leaks, sometimes while you"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":731.693,"endTime":735.873,"body":"may not have had weeping of oil"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":731.693,"endTime":735.873,"body":"while the bike was sitting still"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":735.873,"endTime":739.213,"body":"over its slumber over the winter,"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":735.873,"endTime":739.213,"body":"when it's running, you might"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":739.213,"endTime":741.733,"body":"start to see that. So let's take"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":739.213,"endTime":741.733,"body":"a look and make sure that"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":741.733,"endTime":744.013,"body":"everything looks right. All"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":741.733,"endTime":744.013,"body":"right. And if you usually let"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":744.013,"endTime":746.713,"body":"the bike run for about five"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":744.013,"endTime":746.713,"body":"minutes, that's enough time to"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":746.713,"endTime":749.833,"body":"be able to see anything that's"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":746.713,"endTime":749.833,"body":"obvious, at least as something"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":749.833,"endTime":752.613,"body":"that would keep us from wanting"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":749.833,"endTime":752.613,"body":"to bring the bike out and go for"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":752.613,"endTime":753.123,"body":"a ride."},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":755.912,"endTime":759.962,"body":"So our bike is now ready"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":755.912,"endTime":759.962,"body":"to go. We feel that the bike is"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":759.962,"endTime":763.662,"body":"ready to go. But what about us?"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":759.962,"endTime":763.662,"body":"Well, if you haven't ridden in"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":763.662,"endTime":767.762,"body":"several months, it's important"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":763.662,"endTime":767.762,"body":"to recognize that you are out of"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":767.762,"endTime":772.372,"body":"practice. And this is a little"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":767.762,"endTime":772.372,"body":"bit of an issue in just your"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":772.372,"endTime":775.712,"body":"mind and thinking about riding."},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":772.372,"endTime":775.712,"body":"We've spent a couple months not"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":775.712,"endTime":778.613,"body":"doing it, not even thinking"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":775.712,"endTime":778.613,"body":"about it, perhaps. a good way to"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":778.613,"endTime":781.893,"body":"sort of get yourself prepped, at"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":778.613,"endTime":781.893,"body":"least mentally for it, is start"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":781.893,"endTime":785.253,"body":"to visualize how you would"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":781.893,"endTime":785.253,"body":"operate the bike's controls."},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":786.343,"endTime":789.457,"body":"Imagine what would I do as I'm"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":786.343,"endTime":789.457,"body":"leaving from when I started the"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":789.457,"endTime":792.117,"body":"bike. I'm going to ease out that"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":789.457,"endTime":792.117,"body":"clutch. I'm going to give a"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":792.117,"endTime":795.257,"body":"little bit of throttle."},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":792.117,"endTime":795.257,"body":"Visualize that in your mind's"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":795.257,"endTime":799.817,"body":"eye. How would you be scanning"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":795.257,"endTime":799.817,"body":"for traffic as you're coming up"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":799.817,"endTime":803.717,"body":"to maybe a junction? What are"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":799.817,"endTime":803.717,"body":"you doing to kind of prepare"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":803.717,"endTime":806.817,"body":"yourself for getting out on the"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":803.717,"endTime":806.817,"body":"bike and interacting with the"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":806.817,"endTime":810.064,"body":"road's environment? And then"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":806.817,"endTime":810.064,"body":"probably a very good thing that"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":810.064,"endTime":813.699,"body":"I like to do when you start to"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":810.064,"endTime":813.699,"body":"think about your ride of the"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":813.699,"endTime":816.719,"body":"season is set a goal for"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":813.699,"endTime":816.719,"body":"yourself of what you would like"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":816.719,"endTime":820.079,"body":"to accomplish in that first ride."},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":816.719,"endTime":820.079,"body":"Is it literally just to kind of"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":820.079,"endTime":824.429,"body":"go out and pick up some new gas"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":820.079,"endTime":824.429,"body":"for the bike? Is it to go for a"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":824.429,"endTime":826.869,"body":"longer ride? Maybe you're going"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":824.429,"endTime":826.869,"body":"to go and get breakfast"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":826.869,"endTime":829.669,"body":"somewhere. Think about what"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":826.869,"endTime":829.669,"body":"you'd like to do of your goal"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":829.669,"endTime":833.529,"body":"for that first ride. And this"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":829.669,"endTime":833.529,"body":"just starts to mentally prepare"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":833.529,"endTime":834.619,"body":"yourself for doing that."},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":834.977,"endTime":838.037,"body":"Now, if you've only been"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":834.977,"endTime":838.037,"body":"driving a car for several months,"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":838.037,"endTime":842.897,"body":"your body position and muscles"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":838.037,"endTime":842.897,"body":"which are used in a car are very"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":842.897,"endTime":846.277,"body":"different when you get on the"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":842.897,"endTime":846.277,"body":"bike. So don't be surprised if"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":846.277,"endTime":849.459,"body":"you find that you're stiff or"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":846.277,"endTime":849.459,"body":"have some aches during your"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":849.459,"endTime":853.379,"body":"first few rides. Muscle memory"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":849.459,"endTime":853.379,"body":"will help as you go through"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":853.379,"endTime":856.499,"body":"manipulating the controls, but"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":853.379,"endTime":856.499,"body":"sometimes just sitting on the"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":856.499,"endTime":860.199,"body":"bike and doing the motions with"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":856.499,"endTime":860.199,"body":"the engine off can remind your"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":860.199,"endTime":863.759,"body":"body of what to do. So before"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":860.199,"endTime":863.759,"body":"your first rides, just make sure"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":863.759,"endTime":867.839,"body":"you take time to stretch."},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":863.759,"endTime":867.839,"body":"Exercise the muscles you"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":867.839,"endTime":871.559,"body":"typically would use when riding."},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":867.839,"endTime":871.559,"body":"Remember the core muscles that I"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":871.559,"endTime":876.262,"body":"was alluding to. help keep you"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":871.559,"endTime":876.262,"body":"upright while you're riding. Now,"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":876.262,"endTime":880.142,"body":"if you're sitting in a car seat"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":876.262,"endTime":880.142,"body":"all winter, those muscles might"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":880.142,"endTime":883.282,"body":"have weakened a little bit. So"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":880.142,"endTime":883.282,"body":"you need to build them back up"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":883.282,"endTime":885.622,"body":"in order to avoid aches and"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":883.282,"endTime":885.622,"body":"fatigue."},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":885.8,"endTime":889.728,"body":"So we've got our bike"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":885.8,"endTime":889.728,"body":"ready. We're mentally ready. And"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":889.728,"endTime":892.048,"body":"physically, we think we're"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":889.728,"endTime":892.048,"body":"pretty good, at least to get"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":892.048,"endTime":897.088,"body":"started with riding for the new"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":892.048,"endTime":897.088,"body":"spring. So for our first few"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":897.583,"endTime":900.113,"body":"make sure that there's a couple"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":897.583,"endTime":900.113,"body":"things that we're going to do."},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":900.153,"endTime":903.463,"body":"We're first off, we're going to"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":900.153,"endTime":903.463,"body":"keep it short for those first"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":903.463,"endTime":907.403,"body":"few rides. for me personally,"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":903.463,"endTime":907.403,"body":"this was the first winter in"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":907.403,"endTime":911.443,"body":"many years where I wasn't able"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":907.403,"endTime":911.443,"body":"to ride because of so much snow"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":911.443,"endTime":914.983,"body":"or ice on the roads. I don't"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":911.443,"endTime":914.983,"body":"mind if there's snow on the"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":914.983,"endTime":918.203,"body":"sides of the roads, so long as"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":914.983,"endTime":918.203,"body":"the road itself is clear. And I"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":918.203,"endTime":921.943,"body":"don't mind if it's cold because"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":918.203,"endTime":921.943,"body":"I have heated gear. But this"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":921.943,"endTime":924.803,"body":"winter, it was like snowing"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":921.943,"endTime":924.803,"body":"every couple of days. So there"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":924.803,"endTime":929.241,"body":"really was nothing to clear the"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":924.803,"endTime":929.241,"body":"roads over that whole time. So"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":929.241,"endTime":933.701,"body":"as a result, I had nearly two"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":929.241,"endTime":933.701,"body":"months where I didn't ride at"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":933.701,"endTime":939.221,"body":"all. Now, my first ride was a"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":933.701,"endTime":939.221,"body":"35-mile round trip. I went out,"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":939.221,"endTime":942.421,"body":"I grabbed some coffee, I had a"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":939.221,"endTime":942.421,"body":"little bit of breakfast, and I"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":942.421,"endTime":946.441,"body":"got back. And it was enough time"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":942.421,"endTime":946.441,"body":"for me to get a feel for getting"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":946.441,"endTime":950.941,"body":"back out on the bike. But not so"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":946.441,"endTime":950.941,"body":"long that you start to get"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":950.941,"endTime":954.661,"body":"fatigued. Now, my next couple of"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":950.941,"endTime":954.661,"body":"rides were about 50 to 60 miles."},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":954.801,"endTime":958.541,"body":"Again, I'm slowly easing in to"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":954.801,"endTime":958.541,"body":"just getting the rides a little"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":958.541,"endTime":962.561,"body":"bit longer to break off that"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":958.541,"endTime":962.561,"body":"rust that we have of not having"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":962.561,"endTime":966.684,"body":"ridden for a couple of months."},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":962.561,"endTime":966.684,"body":"The next thing I'd say is mind"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":966.684,"endTime":970.384,"body":"the temperature. Now, we can all"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":966.684,"endTime":970.384,"body":"be anxious to get back out on"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":970.384,"endTime":974.294,"body":"the bike. But if all the snow or"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":970.384,"endTime":974.294,"body":"ice in your area hasn't fully"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":974.294,"endTime":979.194,"body":"melted, or it's recently rained,"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":974.294,"endTime":979.194,"body":"check the temperatures. My"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":979.194,"endTime":984.174,"body":"second ride after my break, all"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":979.194,"endTime":984.174,"body":"the snow had melted. But as it"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":984.174,"endTime":987.694,"body":"departed from my house, it was"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":984.174,"endTime":987.694,"body":"about 35 degrees Fahrenheit or 2"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":987.694,"endTime":991.454,"body":"degrees Celsius. Now, for the"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":987.694,"endTime":991.454,"body":"most part, the roads were dry."},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":992.174,"endTime":995.784,"body":"But as I turned onto one of my"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":992.174,"endTime":995.784,"body":"favorite twisty roads, there was"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":995.784,"endTime":999.104,"body":"some black ice in the turning"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":995.784,"endTime":999.104,"body":"lane and the bike got a little"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":999.104,"endTime":1002.524,"body":"squirrely as I made that turn."},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":999.104,"endTime":1002.524,"body":"Just the rear end started"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":1002.524,"endTime":1005.484,"body":"sliding out on me. Now, I do a"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":1002.524,"endTime":1005.484,"body":"lot of off-road riding, so I'm"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":1005.484,"endTime":1008.554,"body":"used to handling that and it"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":1005.484,"endTime":1008.554,"body":"didn't cause any real issues."},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":1009.254,"endTime":1013.564,"body":"But if I had not been prepared"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":1009.254,"endTime":1013.564,"body":"for that, if I had not had that"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":1013.564,"endTime":1015.904,"body":"practice with riding off-road,"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":1013.564,"endTime":1015.904,"body":"it could have been where I"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":1015.904,"endTime":1020.524,"body":"dumped the bike. So, we call"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":1015.904,"endTime":1020.524,"body":"this black ice because the"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":1020.524,"endTime":1023.731,"body":"reality is, you can't see it."},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":1020.524,"endTime":1023.731,"body":"It's sort of invisible. And it's"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":1023.731,"endTime":1026.931,"body":"usually a thin layer of water"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":1023.731,"endTime":1026.931,"body":"across the road surfaces that"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":1026.931,"endTime":1030.391,"body":"sits in the shade and thus, it's"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":1026.931,"endTime":1030.391,"body":"a little bit colder than the"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":1030.391,"endTime":1034.807,"body":"surrounding areas and thus, it"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":1030.391,"endTime":1034.807,"body":"freezes. Generally speaking,"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":1034.807,"endTime":1039.227,"body":"once it gets more than about 5"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":1034.807,"endTime":1039.227,"body":"degrees Fahrenheit or 3 degrees"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":1039.227,"endTime":1043.887,"body":"Celsius above freezing, the"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":1039.227,"endTime":1043.887,"body":"chances of black ice drop"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":1043.887,"endTime":1047.287,"body":"dramatically. But I was less"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":1043.887,"endTime":1047.287,"body":"than that 5 degrees Fahrenheit."},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":1047.287,"endTime":1051.927,"body":"I was only at 35 degrees. So,"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":1047.287,"endTime":1051.927,"body":"just be mindful of the"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":1051.927,"endTime":1055.427,"body":"temperatures. So, if you're just"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":1051.927,"endTime":1055.427,"body":"getting going for your first"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":1055.427,"endTime":1058.507,"body":"ride of the spring, maybe wait"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":1055.427,"endTime":1058.507,"body":"for it to get into the 40s or"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":1058.507,"endTime":1061.797,"body":"even the 50s, and you'll have no"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":1058.507,"endTime":1061.797,"body":"issues whatsoever with black ice."},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":1062.221,"endTime":1065.741,"body":"The other thing I'd say is, if"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":1062.221,"endTime":1065.741,"body":"you are doing your first few"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":1065.741,"endTime":1069.581,"body":"rides, and if you have more than"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":1065.741,"endTime":1069.581,"body":"one motorcycle, rotate through"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":1069.581,"endTime":1072.961,"body":"the bikes. Ride one bike, and"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":1069.581,"endTime":1072.961,"body":"then the next time you go out,"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":1072.961,"endTime":1076.161,"body":"ride one of the other bikes. You"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":1072.961,"endTime":1076.161,"body":"want to reaquaint yourself with"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":1076.161,"endTime":1079.831,"body":"how each one of these bikes"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":1076.161,"endTime":1079.831,"body":"feels when you ride."},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":1082.794,"endTime":1083.084,"body":"They're gonna have different"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":1082.794,"endTime":1083.084,"body":"ergonomics, they are going to"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":1083.084,"endTime":1084.514,"body":"have different throttle position,"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":1083.084,"endTime":1084.514,"body":"different power levels,"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":1084.514,"endTime":1087.474,"body":"different engagement of the"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":1084.514,"endTime":1087.474,"body":"clutch, different feeling of how"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":1087.474,"endTime":1091.034,"body":"you switch gears. So, you want"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":1087.474,"endTime":1091.034,"body":"to get yourself reacquainted to"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":1091.034,"endTime":1094.074,"body":"all of those variations amongst"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":1091.034,"endTime":1094.074,"body":"each of the bikes that you may"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":1094.074,"endTime":1098.194,"body":"own. And take that same approach"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":1094.074,"endTime":1098.194,"body":"of keeping the first few rides"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":1098.194,"endTime":1101.384,"body":"short as you get familiar with"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":1098.194,"endTime":1101.384,"body":"the bike again."},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":1104.006,"endTime":1106.656,"body":"So, let's wrap up. We"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":1104.006,"endTime":1106.656,"body":"went through getting ready for"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":1106.656,"endTime":1109.376,"body":"spring riding. We started with"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":1106.656,"endTime":1109.376,"body":"making sure that your bike was"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":1109.376,"endTime":1113.676,"body":"ready to ride after its long"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":1109.376,"endTime":1113.676,"body":"winter slumber. Next, we made"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":1113.676,"endTime":1117.956,"body":"sure that your mind was ready."},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":1113.676,"endTime":1117.956,"body":"It's a quite literal different"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":1117.956,"endTime":1121.436,"body":"mindset when riding a motorcycle"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":1117.956,"endTime":1121.436,"body":"versus driving a car, and you"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":1121.436,"endTime":1125.856,"body":"need to be in that mindset to"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":1121.436,"endTime":1125.856,"body":"ride effectively. Next, we"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":1125.856,"endTime":1128.471,"body":"looked at getting your body"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":1125.856,"endTime":1128.471,"body":"ready. Remember, riding uses"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":1128.471,"endTime":1133.131,"body":"different muscles than driving,"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":1128.471,"endTime":1133.131,"body":"and they may be out of practice"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":1133.131,"endTime":1134.491,"body":"from the winter disuse."},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":1138.007,"endTime":1138.217,"body":"And finally we looked at some"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":1138.007,"endTime":1138.217,"body":"tips for your first few rides to"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":1138.217,"endTime":1140.742,"body":"get your riding season off to a"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":1138.217,"endTime":1140.742,"body":"good start. So, my question for"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":1140.742,"endTime":1144.522,"body":"you this week is, what are you"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":1140.742,"endTime":1144.522,"body":"most looking forward to this"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":1144.522,"endTime":1146.625,"body":"spring? Share your thoughts"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":1144.522,"endTime":1146.625,"body":"through the text show link in"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":1146.625,"endTime":1150.545,"body":"the show notes, or leave a"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":1146.625,"endTime":1150.545,"body":"voicemail at throttleonroast.com"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":1150.545,"endTime":1153.07,"body":"slash voicemail. Thanks for"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":1150.545,"endTime":1153.07,"body":"listening. I'll talk to you next"},{"speaker":"Niels","startTime":1153.07,"endTime":1153.17,"body":"week."}]}