Why Pre-Ride Checks Matter

Before any advanced ride begins, the condition of the motorcycle should be considered as carefully as the road ahead. A well-ridden motorcycle that is poorly prepared can still become a safety risk. Good riders understand that preparation does not start when the wheels turn, it starts before the engine is even started.

Pre-ride checks are about making sure the motorcycle is roadworthy, safe and fit for purpose. They reduce the risk of mechanical failure, improve reliability and support better decision making once on the road. 

In advanced riding, they are also part of discipline. A rider who prepares properly is often a rider who plans properly as well. This links directly to IPSGA. Good Information begins before moving off. If the machine is not right, the plan begins with a weakness.

Within IAM RoadSmart training, a rider should know how to check their machine and be able to explain what they have checked, how they checked it and why it matters. During a test or observed ride, you may be expected to demonstrate this knowledge.

Using POWDDERSSS as a Systematic Approach

One recognised method of carrying out pre-ride checks is POWDDERSSS:

• Petrol
• Oil
• Water
• Damage
• Drive
• Electrics
• Rubber
• Steering
• Suspension
• Stopping

This provides a logical structure, helping riders avoid missing important areas.

Check there is sufficient fuel for the journey. Confirm oil and coolant levels are appropriate. Look for damage or anything unusual with the machine. Check the drive system, whether chain or shaft final drive, for condition and adjustment. Confirm lights and electrical systems function properly. Inspect tyres, often referred to as the motorcycle’s only contact with the road. Assess steering for free and correct movement along with the suspension. Finally, check stopping, ensuring the braking system is functioning correctly.

The value of POWDDERSSS is not in reciting the acronym. It is in using it as a deliberate habit.

Three Things to Always Check, Even in a Rush

Even when time is short, three checks should never be missed.

Tyres

Tyres keep you on the road. Check pressures, tread, damage and general condition. Poor tyres affect grip, braking and stability. Much of advanced riding relies on maintaining safety margins, and tyres underpin all of it.

Drive

Whether chain or other drive system, this is what makes the motorcycle go. Check condition, lubrication and adjustment. A neglected chain can affect smoothness, machine sympathy and reliability.

Brakes

Brakes make you slow the machine or stop, their condition is fundamental. Check operation, feel and effectiveness. If stopping performance is compromised, everything that follows may be compromised.

These three checks alone can prevent many avoidable problems.

Mechanical Sympathy Matters

Advanced riding is not simply about controlling a motorcycle well. It includes respect for the machine.

Mechanical sympathy means understanding that how a motorcycle is maintained affects how it behaves. A rider who ignores the motorcycle’s condition may be creating risks without realising it.

A poorly adjusted chain, underinflated tyres or weak brakes may not show obvious problems at first, but can affect smoothness, progress and safety.

Well-prepared motorcycles often support well-prepared rides. That is the first part of advanced riding discipline.

Common Faults Riders Make

One common mistake is treating pre-ride checks as something only done before long trips. In reality, even short rides deserve preparation.

Another fault is carrying out checks casually rather than systematically. Riders may assume “it was fine yesterday”, rather than verify the condition on every ride.

Some riders also focus only on obvious defects and neglect smaller indicators such as tyre pressures, all defects affect the ride.

Good riders avoid assumptions. They check every time without fail.

What Your Observer Will Expect

Your IAM RoadSmart Observer will expect you to understand how to satisfy yourself that the motorcycle is roadworthy.

That does not mean performing a workshop-level inspection at the roadside, but it does mean being able to show you have a method.

An observer or examiner may reasonably expect you to explain:

• What checks you carry out
• Why those checks matter
• How they support safety
• How preparation links to a structured approach to riding

This is not separate from advanced riding, it is part of it.

Focus for Your Next Ride

Before your next ride, ask yourself three questions:

1. Is the motorcycle roadworthy?
2. Have I checked the key safety items properly?
3. Can I explain what I have checked and why it matters?

If you can answer yes, you have already started riding in an advanced way before the motorcycle has moved. That is where good preparation begins.