Before you even hit the road, there are important points to check on your bike to ensure that the bike itself doesn’t pose a risk to your safety.
The brakes
Ensure that your brake pads and brake disks are in good working order (warping, abnormal wear and tear, irregularities) as well as the brake drums Also check the level of the brake fluid (right handlebar) as well as its colour: the darker the brake liquid is, the older and less effective it is.
Motor oil
Examine its level in the sump, with a hot engine, two minutes after it’s stopped, keeping the motorcycle straight. Check that there is isn’t any seepage, or even an oil leak.
For a long ride (1,000 km), check the oil level three quarters of the way through the trip (wait 15 min. after stopping so that it goes back to the bottom of the sump).
Lighting
Being visible on the road is essential for motorcycle safety: check the light bulbs, don’t hesitate to change them preventively.
The chain or the belt
It's an element of wear and tear that is particularly important to keep an eye on and may compromise your safety on the bike. Too much tension and it will break. If a chain is too loose it can jump off the sprocket bind.
For a long ride (1,000 km), take a break three quarters of the way through the trip and check the tension of the chain (by lubricating it).