The 5-minute pre-ride check every rider should do (T-CLOCS)
A simple walk-around that catches flat tyres, dead brake lights and oil leaks before they catch you. Here is the T-CLOCS checklist, step by step.
Most mechanical problems that strand riders, or worse, give warning signs days before they fail: a tyre slowly losing air, a brake lever that feels softer, a drip under the bike. A short check before you ride catches most of them. Rider-training bodies teach it with one acronym: T-CLOCS, created by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation.
What T-CLOCS stands for
- T: Tyres and wheels. Pressure, tread, cuts or nails, spokes and rims.
- C: Controls. Levers, pedals, cables, throttle and switches.
- L: Lights and electrics. Headlight (high and low), tail light, brake light, indicators, horn.
- O: Oil and fluids. Engine oil level, brake fluid, coolant, and any leaks.
- C: Chassis. Suspension, chain or belt, steering, fasteners.
- S: Stands. Side stand and centre stand spring back and hold.
The quick daily version
- Look at both tyres. Check for nails, cuts and bulges, and squeeze them. Once a week, check pressure with a gauge while the tyres are cold.
- Pull the front brake lever and press the rear pedal. Both should feel firm, not spongy, and stop well short of the bar or footpeg.
- Twist the throttle and let go. It must snap back to closed by itself, with the bars turned fully left and fully right.
- Switch on the ignition and test the headlight, both indicators, the horn, and the brake light from each brake (ask a friend or use a reflection).
- Glance under the bike for fresh drips, and check the oil sight glass or dipstick with the bike upright.
- Push down on the chain halfway between the sprockets. It should move a little, not hang loose or feel tight as a bar.
- Kick the side stand up and make sure it springs back fully. Many bikes cut the engine if the stand is down in gear.
When to stop and get help
- A brake lever or pedal that goes soft, or brake fluid that is dark brown.
- A tyre with a nail, a bulge, or tread worn down to the wear-indicator bars.
- Any fuel leak, or oil on the tyre or brake disc.
- A throttle that sticks or does not return on its own. Do not ride.
None of this needs tools beyond a tyre gauge. Make it a habit and it takes under five minutes. If something looks wrong, a verified workshop on WheelAlly can check it before it becomes a breakdown.