The Motorcycle Industry Council has issued a Motorcycle Tire Guide and is offering it as a free download to individuals. Read more here:
http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycle-news/2011/motorcycle-industry-council-tire-guide.htm
The article contains a link that will allow you to view and download the Guide.
There is a really good pre-ride check list towards the end of this guide. But it is completely oriented towards gassers, so as it mentioned stuff like checking oil levels and etc. I kept saying to myself that with an Empulse, "I won't have to do that... won't have to do that... "