BH Harley Davidson Harley Davidson Service Manager Jeff Ulvestad says, "Check your wheel bearings, you brakes, spokes, all that and your battery. How old is it? All those types of things come into play when you're going on a trip. Whether it's here to the Rally, or you're leaving and going somewhere else, it's definitely something you need to get done."

Over at Rice Honda Suzuki, owner Wade Rice says proper maintenance starts with the rubber that meets the ground.

Rice says, "A lot of people forget to check their tires. They checked them before they come out, but not when they're headed back home. 10 minutes ago, I checked a guy's bike for appraisal and it's got a crack in the groove of the tire and there's no way it would make it back. So, just check for safety on the way back."

Both locations agree a quick visual check of your two-wheeled ride before heading out is the key to making sure your bike is road ready to get home without a hardware-headache.

Brendyn Medina