Everyone PLEASE take 60 seconds and do a pre and post ride inspection

[tussey]

It's always a good idea to take 60 seconds and do a post and pre ride inspection of your bike. Today when I got off I noticed one of the screws holding the gear shift side rider peg was 90% unscrewed and ready to fall off. Also use thread locking compound on everything. 

[average]

No kidding. I take my rear wheel of yesterday for some deep cleaning/polishing and my brake arm bolt is missing 

[fred]

It's always a good idea to take 60 seconds and do a post and pre ride inspection of your bike. Today when I got off I noticed one of the screws holding the gear shift side rider peg was 90% unscrewed and ready to fall off. Also use thread locking compound on everything. 

Yeah, I do this all the time. There's always a new problem to discover on my bike... This week it was the stator cover gasket developing a leak. Not only did my after ride inspection catch it quickly, it also allowed me to order the new gasket from the dealer and keep riding while waiting for the weekend. If I had failed to find the leak until it became a big problem, not only would I risk damaging the engine, I'd have to take the bike out of service to wait for the part and then I wouldn't be riding it!

Also, for those of you keeping track: that's the valve cover gasket, the right case cover gasket and now the left case cover gasket that have all developed leaks in the last 5000 miles or so. They were the miles between 83,000 and 88,000, so probably not a problem for most, but something to keep in mind.... This bike won't have any original gaskets at all soon...

[Merritt]

I'll add to it by saying make sure to take your time when working on the bike.  Don't be in a rush to get the job done and get out on the road.  Make damn sure you put back all the screws you took out, and make sure they're actually tightened up.

Made this mistake last year when replacing 'dash' lights.  Almost lost some screws......

[galahs]

I've had fairing bracket bolts come loose and fall out and the odometer knob

[bill14224]

My bikes break so infrequently I've gotten out of the habit of looking it over before I go, but I look it over at other times, like having a smoke break at work.