New PA bill will allow year-round motorcycle inspections

PA Governor Josh Shapiro signed a bill into law Monday — A law that will let motorcycle drivers get an inspection year-round as opposed to just a 6-month window.

And that law will change things for some local garages like Off-Road Express on Peach Street.

"I think it's going to help our customers because it's typically when March hits you're getting everybody trying to get in to get their bikes inspected, so I think when we have nice days in let's say the offseason, it will enable some riders to get their bike inspected and save it so they don't have to do it in the future or they're not in a rush to do it," said Joe Askins, president of Off-Road Express.

Off Road Express offers state motorcycle inspection services and safety training, and soon they will be offering those services year-round.

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Per state law, riders still need to get a yearly inspection on their motorcycles, but now they will have more time to get that inspection done.

The motorcycle inspection changes could bring some more business to local garages, but it also has some implications for the safety of motorcycle driving.

"It's great. Us guys that ride year-round, we can still get inspections to make sure our stuff is still safe to ride. You're not trying to get squeezed in in prime riding season. You can come here whenever if you need to, you know, late season like we're doing now," said Tim Chylinski, service technician at Off-Road Express.

As a motorcycle rider himself, Chylinski said the extra inspection months are a win for biking safety.

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"Obviously, two wheels, you're not a big two-ton steel cage around you, so you definitely want to make sure it's safe," he went on to say.We're pretty much looking over everything from the front to the back, the tires, brakes, suspension components, frame, lights, everything, test riding it to make sure it's road-worthy."

Like many other mechanics, Chylinski said he will soon be keeping busy in the garage.

The Pennsylvania bill was just signed into law on Monday, so motorcycle riders can expect to see changes in the coming weeks.