Motorcycles may be thunderous, fast, and valiant, but they need to hibernate during the winter. Unless you live in an area that is warm and dry all year round, you need to start thinking about winterizing your bike as soon as the temperature drops below fifty degrees, and especially when snow season is right around the corner.
It goes without saying that you should never leave your motorcycle outside exposed to the elements. The cold temperature and moisture will inflict all kinds of damage to the lines, hoses, paint, chrome, and just about everything else on your motorcycle. As a result, it may not run or run poorly requiring repair. I may not be safe to operate as the tires may have deteriorated.
For the winter months living in the colder climates storing your motorcycle must be taken with care. Some shops offer a motorcycle storage program where they take all the steps to prepare your bike for winter and, while storing it at their facilities, ensure that it stays in tip-top shape until you are ready to ride it in the spring. If you prefer to winterize and put away your bike yourself, there a number of steps and precautions for storing the bike over the winter months.
1.) Find the best possible location
A heated secure garage is ideal, but any indoor location would suffice as long as you avoid windows, ozone gas, mildew, dripping water, wind and vermin. The direct sunlight through windows can raise the temperature of the storage area, causing condensation when it gets cooler at night. That can damage the metal. The ozone gas created by running motors, freezers, furnaces, and electric heaters will deteriorate the rubber parts on your bike, so be sure to keep your bike far away from any of these devices. Bare concrete may create a damp environment for your bike, so it would be a good idea to prop your bike on top of a piece of plywood, MDF, or old thick carpet. Although not necessary, storing your bike with all the weight removed from the wheels with a bike stand or even some blocking will help keep the tires in good shape. A cover such as the Nelson Rigg MC 904 Deluxe goes a long way in protecting the paint while stored indoors.
2.) Wash, polish, and wax
The winterizing process takes four to six hours. Once you have a location secured, start by washing your bike thoroughly. Remove all the rust, bugs, oil, dirt, rocks, and road grime accumulated over the riding season. Clean the chrome and aluminum parts, then rub on some good chrome polish. Apply a coat of wax on the painted areas and the frame of the bike to prevent condensation from damaging the metal. You can skip this entire step by having your bike detailed at a shop.
3.) Stabilize the fuel
Add fuel stabilizer to your full tank per the instructions. Fuel stabilizer helps protect the fuel (which has a shelf life of only a few weeks) causing gum, varnish, and corrosion to build up in the fuel lines and engine. If left long enough without any stabilizer, the aromatics in the fuel will evaporate, leaving a thick, slimy substance that will clog the carburetor and fuel injectors. Run the bike for 10 minutes to ensure that the fuel stabilizer mixes and gets into the fuel delivery system.
4.) Change the oil
Even if an oil change is not due, always perform an oil change before putting your bike away for the winter. You want clean oil to sit in the inner metal surfaces instead of acidic combustion byproducts from old oil. A new oil filter is recommended. Run the engine briefly afterward to circulate the new oil throughout.
5.) Check the tire pressure
Rubber is a flexible material, so to prevent cracking in the treads of your tires, check the tire pressure periodically. If the pressure is low, it’s because cold weather causes air to condense inside the tires. Keep your tires to the proper presure as recommended by the manufacturer, and your tires will not cause an issue when spring riding returns.
6.) Cover the exhaust pipes
No one likes having bugs set camp in their exhaust pipes, so the best way to keep that from happening is pulling a plastic bag over each pipe opening and fastening it with a rubber band.
7.) Remove and charge the battery
Last, but not least, the battery must be removed from the motorcycle and be continuously charged throughout winter. It is recommended the battery be placed on a dry surface such as wood. Placing the battery on the concrete floor is not good and will damage the batter over time. Second the battery should be attached to trickle charger such as Battery Tender. If a battery remains discharged for a long time, the plates inside will sulfate and no longer hold a charge providing the voltage to start and run the motorcycle.
Finally, after these seven steps, you may cover your bike, wish it sweet dreams, and walk away fully assured that it will be ready to fly once springtime rolls around.
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