Get on your bike: inspection and spring check
Can you feel it already? Spring is coming! Time to get your bike out of hibernation and give it a thorough check-up or take it in for a bike inspection. We've put together some valuable tips for visiting a professional and the DIY option.
Bike inspection: when and how often?
Of course your car needs a technical inspection (TÜV) every two years. But does your bike also have a regular check? In short: not a mandatory one. However, it still makes sense to take your bike to a professional for an inspection every 2,000 kilometres or once a year. You should also check a few things in between, especially if you're travelling a lot on your bike. This way, you can be sure that nothing will happen to you while riding and avoid fines. Because even if there is no bike TÜV, your bike must be roadworthy according to the German Road Traffic Licensing Regulations (StVZO).
The checklist: What you can do yourself regularly
Inflate tyres, test lights and that's it? A good start - but by no means everything if you want to be on the road with a safe bike. Our checklist shows you what you can do yourself ( at best every few months) to keep your bike fit.
 | 1. CleaningSounds banal, but it's important. Because if the bike is clean, you'll spot small cracks in the frame more quickly, for example. (What's more, a clean bike simply looks better). | |
 | 2. Check the frameSee under ‘Cleaning’: Take a close look at your bike and look for any damage. If you discover anything, you should have it checked in a workshop to see whether it is just damage to the paintwork - or a real crack that could cause the frame to break. | |
 | 3. Tighten the screwsGo through all the screws and other connecting parts and check whether they are still tight. If not, be sure to tighten them - and if you are unsure, take the bike to a professional. Because if something is loose on the saddle or stem with handlebars, it can be really dangerous. | |
 | 4. Clean and grease the bike chainNot just because it sounds so nice: chain grease is important so that your bike rides smoothly, shifts easily and the chain lasts a long time. Before you grease the chain, you need to clean it. The best way to do this is with a special chain brush or a less specialised toothbrush, which you can use to remove coarse dirt first. You can then rinse the chain again with a little warm water. If it is very dirty, simply add a few drops of washing-up liquid. Finally, dry the chain thoroughly and grease it well with chain oil or another lubricant. Important: Do not leave the chain to air dry. This takes a relatively long time and can lead to rust forming. | |
 | 5. Check lights and brakesLogical step: Check whether your lights and brakes are working. | |
 | 6. Inflate tyresBicycle tyres lose air constantly and very slowly - even if they are completely intact. This is because the nitrogen and oxygen molecules in the air are very small and can gradually cheat their way through the inner tube and tyre casing. That's why it makes sense to inflate your tyres about once a month. But how full should a tyre actually be? There is no general answer to this question. The ideal air pressure depends, for example, on how wide the tyres are and how much weight they are carrying. As a guide, you will find the minimum and maximum air pressure on the side of the tyre, indicated in BAR. The following also applies: the thinner the tyre, the higher the air pressure, front tyres need less air than rear tyres and for every kilo of body weight below or above 75 kilos, the air pressure should decrease or increase by 1%. The best way to measure tyre pressure is with a small air pressure gauge specially designed for bicycles. Such pressure gauges are available for different valves and usually cost between 10 and 20 euros. | |
 | 7. Test rideFinally, you should always take a short test ride, especially if you are planning a longer tour with the bike. Does everything feel the same when riding? Is there a problem somewhere? Do the brakes also work when you are travelling a little faster or in wet conditions? |
When is a bike considered roadworthy according to the StVZO?
To avoid getting into trouble during a traffic check, your bike should fulfil a few basic requirements. It needs :
- two brakes that work independently of each other
- a bright bell
- a white headlight and a red reflector
- a dynamo with at least 3 watts and 6 volts or a battery-powered light (with explicit StVZO approval)
- two cat's eyes (officially: ‘yellow spoke reflectors’) or white reflective material on the spoke, rim or tyres at the front and rear
- firmly bolted pedals from which you cannot slip and which are each fitted with two yellow reflectors
- a red rear light or a large red reflector with ‘Z’ labelling
What should you keep in mind when having your bike professionally inspected?
The things you check and repair on your bike yourself mainly depend on what you are confident about. The basic rule is: If you are unsure, don't do it yourself. This applies in particular to anything to do with the brakes or screws on the stem and handlebars. If something is not fitted correctly, it can quickly become dangerous. Incidentally, the electrics on e-bikes should always be handled by experts. Workshops usually offer bike inspections at a fixed price. This varies depending on the type of bike and the scope of the check - and is sometimes lower if you bring your bike in for an inspection where you bought it. In any case, it's worth comparing two or three providers. This is especially true if you assume that repairs will also have to be carried out or wearing parts replaced. Because this will, of course, be charged extra. Another tip: If you need your bike by a certain date, organise the inspection as early as possible. Especially in spring, many garages are fully booked and have long waiting times. Some even stop accepting bikes at times.