Contrôle avant livraison : la liste de 24 points pour motos importées

Every motorcycle that travels in a crate arrives unfinished — by design. Battery disconnected, fluids drained or minimal, controls loose for packing, tires at shipping pressure. The distance between "crated" and "customer-ready" is the pre-delivery inspection, and skipping points on it is how a new import business earns its first warranty disasters. This is the checklist our own QC line runs; adapt it freely.

Unpacking and frame checks (points 1–6)

1. Inspect crate for impact damage before opening — photograph any crush marks; they pre-date your claim.
2. Check frame and subframe welds for transit cracks, especially around the steering head and swingarm pivot.
3. Verify steering lock-to-lock for full travel and no cable pinch.
4. Confirm wheels spin freely with no rim dents from strapping.
5. Check all fasteners on the handlebar, levers and mirrors for packing-loose torque.
6. Verify VIN/frame/engine numbers match the shipping documents — before anything else.

Fluids, battery and electrics (7–13)

7. Fork oil level and seals — transit leaks appear here first.
8. Brake fluid level and lever feel; bleed if the lever is soft.
9. Engine oil level (some models ship dry or with a partial charge).
10. Coolant level on liquid-cooled models, including the overflow.
11. Battery: fill/charge, verify voltage (≥12.6V resting) and terminal torque.
12. All lights, horn, kill switch and instrument illumination.
13. Charging system output at idle (13.5–14.8V typical).

Dynamic checks (14–20)

14. Cold start: idle speed, choke/enrichener operation, no abnormal noise.
15. Carburetor/EFI: smooth throttle response, no hunting; verify idle mixture within spec.
16. Clutch: free play, engagement point, no slip or drag.
17. Gearbox: every gear, including finding neutral at a standstill and at a stop.
18. Brake test at low speed, front and rear separately; verify no pull or grab.
19. Suspension: sag and damping feel on a bounce test.
20. Torque-check axle nuts, brake caliper bolts, handlebar clamps — shipping vibration finds under-torqued hardware.

Documentation and handover (21–24)

21. Owner's manual and warranty card in the correct market language.
22. Registration papers and conformity documents match VIN.
23. Spare tool kit and any included accessories present.
24. Bed-in instructions handed over — this is the step that prevents most early brake and engine complaints.

The economics of skipping

A PDI costs an hour of skilled labor. A transit-damaged fork seal discovered by the customer costs a claim, a part, a mechanic, and the customer's confidence — usually more than the bike's margin. For dealers, PDI quality is not overhead; it is the cheapest warranty insurance available.