Storing your bike away for winter

As soon as the snow makes an appearance, it’s time to consider putting your bike away for winter. Riding in winter can be very dangerous and sometimes it’s best to store your beloved motorcycle away until the roads aren’t going to be so hazardous. So, how are you going to properly store it to ensure it’ll be fit for the spring?

Where to store your motorcycle

Leaving your motorcycle outside for the winter is a big no no. Here’s what to do to ensure your bike escapes the big freeze…

• Store the motorcycle in a cool and dry place. A humid environment may cause the metal on the bike to rust so it’s also good to invest in a special motorcycle cover. Be careful not to use a sheet, as this will absorb the moisture from the air and potentially form rust on the bike if it comes into contact with the metal.
• Keep your motorcycle well away from any windows. Sunlight will fade the paintwork on the motorcycle as well as increasing the temperature of the room, increasing the risk of condensation. If the room you’re storing the motorcycle in happens to have multiple windows, simply cover them with a sheet of material or something that will block the sunlight completely.

Don’t leave it just yet!

There are a few maintenance steps to perform to ensure your bike will be good to go after winter…

• Oil change. If you’re planning on leaving your motorcycle for the whole winter, an oil and filter change will help to preserve your motorcycle’s engine. If you’re not comfortable with changing the oil yourself then pop down to your nearest dealer before you store the motorcycle away. Changing the brake fluid, coolant and clutch fluid could also be your motorcycle’s lifesaver before storing it away for winter.
• Add fuel stabilizer. This only needs doing if you’re planning on storing away your motorcycle for several months. If you leave the fuel for too long it will damage your engine as soon as your start it up again. After filling the tank with stabilizing fluid, it’s best to get the fluid pumping around the engine by taking the bike out for a quick blast before you store it away.
• Help your tyres. It’s a good idea to buy some stands so that the motorcycle isn’t standing on its tyres for such a long period of time.
• Save your exhaust. The worst thing to happen is for your motorcycle exhaust to become, well, exhausted. Purchase some WD40 spray into the ends of the exhaust. Once you’ve done this, cover the whole exhaust with a couple plastic bags to get it safe and secure.
• Charge the battery. It’s a good idea to fully charge the battery once a month to prevent it from dying out. If left, you’re guaranteed to have a dead battery by the time spring comes around!
• Clean the motorcycle. Gently wash the motorcycle with soapy water to get rid of any dirt and degreaser for any greasy remains. Toothbrushes are also ideal for cleaning parts of the motorcycle that you can’t reach. Wait for the motorcycle to fully dry before covering it – if you cover the motorcycle while wet you’re likely to trap condensation, enabling your motorcycle to rust.
• Wax the motorcycle. Apply wax to the paintwork of the motorcycle to keep it clean and free of moisture.
• Finally… Drape a breathable cover over the motorcycle to prevent any dust from getting in.

Tags: motorcycle maintenance, motorcycle training, top tips

This entry was posted on Wednesday, December 7th, 2011 at 8:00 am and is filed under Articles, Training Guides. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.

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