MSF's T-CLOCS Quirk

A few weekends ago, my wife and I were readying for our trip down to Portland. Wanting to make sure both bikes were prepped for the several-hundred mile round-trip ride, I decided to download and print off—from the Motorcycle Safety Foundation's web site—their T-CLOCS inspection checklist (.pdf) for each bike. I then grabbed a pen and clipboard and headed outside to give each bike a thorough safety inspection.

Now, for those of you that are not aware, T-CLOCS is an acronym that stands for:

• T-Tires & Wheels
  Tires, Wheels, and Brakes
• C-Controls
  Levers and Pedals, Cables, Hoses, and Throttle
• L-Lights
  Battery, Headlamp, Tail Lamp/Brake Lamp, Turn Signals, Mirrors, Lenses & Reflectors, and Wiring
• O-Oil
  Level and Leaks
• C-Chassis
  Frame, Suspension, Chane or Belt, and Fasteners
• S-Stands
  Center and Side Stands

This list is great for checking over your bike's various systems to make sure everything is in good working condition, but I soon discovered—somewhere between home and Portland—that my horn didn't work. By using the safety checklist you would have thought horn functionality would have been somewhere on the inspection sheet. I double-checked it and it's nowhere on it.

What's my point? I'm really surprised the Motorcycle Safety Foundation's T-CLOCS Inspection Checklist doesn't make any mention of one of the more important safety devices on your bike: your horn. I'm contemplating sending them a note requesting they include it on any future updates to their checklist.

I did find another inspection checklist (.pdf)provided by Permatex (yep, the gasket sealer people). Their checklist includes a check for the horn under the 'Controls' section. Interestingly, neither list includes any sort of inspection for any portion of the exhaust system on your bike. That, too, seems odd to me.

Now, here's an idea that may not have occurred to you all. While performing my inspections on both bikes, the thought popped into my head that the T-CLOCS Checklist would be a great tool for when I purchase another used bike. Unless you're completely familiar—almost intimately—with the model of bike you're considering, there is just no way of knowing what to look for when "kicking the tires". Using the checklist, many sins can be uncovered by T-CLOCSing the bike before agreeing to any purchase.

In addition, if I ever sell a bike, I plan to provide the purchaser with a T-CLOCS Inspection Checklist for their records. It not only gives them another level of assurance to the fitness of the bike, but it gives me some protection, too. Just something to consider...