Indian Pursuit Spring Prep Checklist – Getting Ready for the Season
In This Article
Spring in New Brunswick means the salt is mostly off the roads, the temperatures are climbing, and the Indian Pursuit has been sitting in the garage for five or six months. Every year I do a proper walkthrough before I put it back on the road — not because I expect problems, but because finding something on a quiet Saturday morning beats finding it at highway speed on the way to Amherst.
This is the actual checklist I run through on my Pursuit with the PowerPlus 108ci, Stage 1 exhaust, and Stage 1 air cleaner. Some of this is universal, some of it is specific to the Pursuit's quirks. Either way, it takes a few hours and saves a lot of headaches.
Battery First
The battery is always step one. If you used a battery tender over winter you're probably fine, but I still check voltage before anything else. The PowerPlus 108ci is a big engine and it needs a healthy battery to crank properly — a marginal battery that starts fine in the garage will leave you stranded in the cold.
Target: 12.6V or higher at rest. Anything below 12.4V, I put it on the tender for another 24 hours before riding. Below 12.0V and I'm evaluating whether the battery needs replacement.
Battery Checklist
- Check resting voltage (12.6V+ is good)
- Inspect terminals for corrosion — wire brush if needed
- Confirm battery tender connections are secure
- Test by cranking — should turn over strong and fast
Fluids Check
Oil is the big one. If you did an oil change before storage, you're technically fine — but I do one in the spring anyway. Six months sitting means moisture can work its way into the oil, and fresh oil going into the first ride of the season is cheap insurance for an engine that cost a lot of money.
Coolant level, brake fluid, and clutch fluid are visual checks that take two minutes. The Pursuit's coolant reservoir is easy to see — just confirm it's between the min and max lines. Brake fluid should be clear to slightly yellow. Dark brown brake fluid is overdue for a flush.
Fluids Checklist
- Change engine oil and filter (or confirm pre-storage change is recent)
- Check coolant level — top up with 50/50 mix if low
- Inspect brake fluid colour and level (front and rear)
- Check clutch fluid if hydraulic clutch equipped
- Check fuel — if old fuel sat without stabilizer, drain and refill
Tires and Wheels
Tire pressure drops over winter — figure on losing 1–2 PSI per month in an unheated garage. The Pursuit takes 36 PSI front and rear (check your door sticker — this varies by load and year). More importantly, inspect the contact patch for flat spots from sitting, and scan the sidewalls for cracking. Atlantic Canada winters are hard on rubber even in storage.
Also check your wheel spokes and rim edges for any corrosion. A winter's worth of garage condensation can start surface rust on chrome rims faster than you'd expect.
Tires and Wheels Checklist
- Check and set tire pressure (check sidewall for max, door sticker for recommended)
- Inspect tread depth — replace if near wear indicators
- Check sidewalls for cracking or bubbling
- Spin wheels and check for wobble or rim damage
- Inspect wheel bearings — no play, smooth spin
Brakes
Brake rotors can develop light surface rust after a winter of sitting — completely normal, it'll wear off in the first few stops. What you're actually checking for is caliper function (make sure the pads aren't stuck to the rotor) and pad thickness. If you're under 3mm of pad material going into the season, swap them now rather than mid-tour.
On the Pursuit, I also squeeze both brake levers a few times before moving the bike to make sure the calipers are moving freely. If either lever feels mushy or goes to the bar, stop — there's air in the system or the master cylinder needs attention. For more, see deep cleaning your motorcycle.
Brakes Checklist
- Check pad thickness front and rear (replace if under 3mm)
- Inspect rotors for deep scoring or warping
- Squeeze levers — firm with no sponginess
- Confirm bike rolls freely with no brake drag
Ride Command and Electronics
Boot up Ride Command and confirm the 7-inch screen comes on cleanly with no error codes. Check Bluetooth connectivity with your phone, confirm the GPS maps are updated (Indian pushes updates periodically through the system), and test both speakers.
Also check your heated grips, heated seat if equipped, and any auxiliary lighting. These are the things you'll curse yourself for not checking when you're 200 km from home in the rain. For more, check out handlebar and exhaust upgrades.
Electronics Checklist
- Boot Ride Command — confirm no fault codes on startup
- Test phone Bluetooth pairing
- Check GPS maps for available updates
- Test both speakers
- Test heated grips and heated seat
- Check running lights, turn signals, brake light, high beam
- Test horn (you'll use it eventually)
Check Your Accessories
Any accessory that was installed before winter should get a quick inspection. On my Pursuit: the Stage 1 exhaust header connections, the mid-rise handlebar clamp bolts, the Quad Lock mount, and the AliExpress flare wings. Vibration over a season of riding can loosen things, and the freeze-thaw cycles of a Canadian winter don't help.
Torque spec the critical stuff with a proper torque wrench — handlebar clamps especially. A bolt that vibrated loose last fall may be barely hanging on now.
Accessories Checklist
- Check and torque handlebar clamp bolts
- Inspect exhaust header connections and heat shields
- Check windshield mounting hardware
- Inspect all luggage mounts and hardware
- Test phone mount (Quad Lock or equivalent)
- Check accessory wiring for chafing or loose connections
Before Your First Ride
Once everything checks out, the first ride should be a short one. Not because the bike isn't ready — it is — but because you need to warm everything up properly, scrub the tires in (fresh rubber is slippery until the mold release compounds wear off the contact patch), and let the brakes clear any surface rust with a few firm stops in a parking lot.
First ride: 20–30 minutes, familiar roads, easy pace. Second ride: start planning the real trips.
Insta360 X5 — Capture the First Ride
If you want to document the first ride of the season, the Insta360 X5 is what I use for the best no-edit 360 footage on the Indian Pursuit.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is a motorcycle spring prep checklist?
Key items: charge or replace battery, check tire pressure and tread, inspect brakes and brake fluid, change oil if due, check all lights, lubricate cables and chain/belt, inspect coolant, test horn, and do a thorough visual inspection for any storage damage.
How long does spring prep take on a motorcycle?
A thorough spring prep on a bike like the Indian Pursuit takes 2–4 hours including an oil change. Basic inspection without fluid changes can be done in under an hour.
Should I take my motorcycle to a dealer for spring prep?
If you're comfortable with basic maintenance, most spring prep is DIY-friendly. Dealer service is worth it for anything involving the fuel system, ABS, or electronics — or if you haven't serviced it yourself before.
