Maintenance and checks

For a moped, snorfiets, speed pedelec and brommobiel, an inspection obligation only applies as soon as the vehicle is allowed on Dutch roads for the first time. This is the type-approval inspection which is provided by the manufacturer. With normal use and good maintenance of your vehicle, it does not need to be inspected again.

According to the law, as the owner (or holder) and as the driver, you are responsible for the state of your vehicle. Even more important: regular checks and good maintenance of your vehicle are essential for safety.

Standard checks

The most important standard checks that should be done before each trip are:

• tyres;
• brakes;
• transmission;
• lighting;
• oil.

Tyres

You do not have to check the tyre pressure with a tyre pressure gauge before every ride. You do this about once a month, or if the tyre pressure appears to be low. What you should always check before every ride, is if there are no imperfections on the tyre. Think of cracks (dehydration), buldges or apparent loss of pressure. The tyre may also never show damages where the tyre carcass is visible.

Check whether the valve caps are present. Valve caps are there to keep dirt out of the valve. Check the tread depth by eye. If it seems to be decreasing too much, you measure the tread depth more precise with a tread gauge. Even though there is no legal minimum tread depth, you are not allowed to ride with slick tyres. The tread must be sufficient over the entire running surface. Below 2 millimetres, you will experience a significant loss of grip in wet conditions and replacement is advisable. If a tyre wears unevenly, it could indicate a problem with the balance of the moped, the suspension/shock absorbers or a poor wheel track. The latter means that the wheels are not completely aligned.

How high the tyre pressure should be, depends on the vehicle type, but also on the load. Always check this for your type of vehicle or ask about it at the dealership. Both a (too) high tyre pressure and a too low tyre pressure is not ideal.
With a too high tyre pressure, your grip decreases and you ride less comfortably because the tyres no longer bounce.
A too low tyre pressure will also cause less grip and in addition to that, ensure more wear to the tyres and a higher fuel consumption.

In general, the front tyre of snorfietsen, mopeds and speed pedelecs should be inflated slightly less than the rear tyre. If you are carrying a lot of load or passengers, increase the tyre pressure.

Do you have new tyres? Then ride more calmly for the first 100 km. New tyres are provided with a slicker topcoat which first needs to be roughened up a bit before the grip of the tyre is optimal.

Winter tyres

Winter tyres are less common for mopeds than for passenger cars. If you ride a lot during winter, then winter tyres are advised as soon as the temperature dips below 8 degrees. The rubber of winter tyres is softer, and the tread is different. This ensures that you have a better grip during low temperatures and wintry precipitation than with summer tyres. Above 15 degrees you actually have a disadvantage of winter tyres, because then the grip is less and the wear and tear increases. You can recognise winter tyres by the alpine symbol.

Brakes

The brakes are one of the most important parts. Checks are therefore very important. All brakes should always work perfectly.

• Check the brake pressure before riding off but after starting the vehicle. You to this by squeezing the brake lever or pressing the pedal. Can you squeeze or press them all the way through? Then the brake pressure is not okay. Do not go riding but get it checked out.
• Check the brake fluid. The brake fluid must be between the minimum and maximum marking. A too low level could be because of worn brake pads or due to a leak in the system. Never top up the brake fluid yourself but have it checked if it is not right. If necessary, have the brake pads replaced.
• Check the brake discs. They must still have sufficient thickness, and they may not show large burrs. They must also be perfectly straight. This check is not necessary for a brommobiel.
• Chech the brake cables. They may not be frayed or worn. This check is also not necessary for a brommobiel.
• If you push the moped or snorfiets in neutral, the brake shoes of a drum brake may not rub. The disc brakes may drag slightly. Especially if the vehicle has been standing for a long period of time, this can give a slight scraping sound. This should reduce quickly after moving. If the brakes keep making scraping sounds during braking, stop immediately. This usually means the brake pads are worn.

Transmission

Check the chain (if present) on wear and tension. Lubricate the chain regularly. Nowadays, most mopeds and snorfietsen no longer have a chain, so this maintenance is no longer necessary. It is also not necessary for brommobielen.

Lighting

Being seen is very important. You can ensure that you are seen by positioning yourself correctly on the road, wearing bright clothing and a helmet, but also by using lighting. So, make sure that your lights are always in good working order. Check the lights for broken bulbs, clean the light lenses if necessary and check them for wear (dullness) and condensation.

Check your dipped headlight, full-beam headlight, rear light, brake light, indicators and the check lights on the dashboard. Make sure that you always carry a set of spare bulbs and fuses with you for when something brakes on the road.

Oil

Oil provides lubrication and cooling to the moving parts of the engine. A correct oil level is therefore very important. Checking the oil level is therefore part of the fixed checks. You can check this with the dipstick in the engine block. Do not check it while the engine is warm, but do this before a ride or if the moped has been turned off for 5 to 10 minutes. Then, the oil gets a chance to sink back in the oil collection tray. Measuring the oil level with a (too) hot engine will give a faulty reading. Top-up if necessary. Check for possible oil leaks.

Battery

These days, you cannot tell much from the battery. As soon as it starts to get weaker, you will notice this by the poor starting, or because it charges poorly or drains faster in case of a speed pedelec. To extend battery life, it is wise to connect it to a trickle charger during longer periods of inactivity (such as during winter). This prevents the battery from draining.

Suspension

You can check the front fork suspension of a moped or snorfiets by pushing down and releasing the front fork. This should give sufficient resistance, and the front fork should rebound once and not keep ‘bobbing’. Make sure that you clean the front fork if it became dirty. Dead insects and dirt on the front fork can cause damage to the front fork suspension.

You can check the rear suspension by sitting on the moped or snorfiets and standing up again. The rear should also rebound once. Adjust the suspension more firmly if you decide to ride with a passenger or heavy load. This prevents the suspension from ‘sagging’ when you ride over a speed bump while heavily loaded.

System controls

Before a ride, check whether all levers, grips (think of the grip of the throttle!) and buttons are properly secured and working well.

Other technical matters

In addition to the fixed checks, you can also notice things while riding. For all applies: if you suddenly ride differently than what you are used to, stop in a safe place and check the vehicle. Think of weird noises, unusual jolts while braking or lit up dashboard lights. Almost all problems have a direct or indirect impact on safety. Therefore always take the safe bet.

Tyres and rims

If you experience that the vehicle sways or vibrates while riding, it may be due to a problem with your tyres or rims. In that case, check whether the spokes (if present) are all still whole and properly tensioned, or that there might be a knock in the rim. Rims may not have tears or brakes. Uneven wear of the tyres is always a reason to have your vehicle checked.

Mirror(s)

Good view in the mirror(s) is very important. Always check the position of the mirror(s) before riding. On a moped, snorfiets or speed pedelec, you do this while sitting on the vehicle. If the mirror adjusts itself while riding, stop in a safe place and readjust it. If it happens more often, it means that the mirror is too loose. In that case, tighten them better, or have it done at a dealership.

Exhaust

If you notice that your vehicle suddenly makes more noise while riding, it could indicate a problem with the exhaust. It could be leaky or loose. It is prohibited to ride with a loose or leaky exhaust. Have it fixed as soon as possible.