If you are in most of the country, you're probably wrapping up your riding season like us. I do have to give mad props to the guys I've seen the last couple of 50 degree days riding all wrapped up! If you are getting close to putting your two wheeled ride away for the season, here are a few things to help winterize your bike.
Best motorcycle winterization practices:
Wash your bike. It's best to not store it with road debris, dirt, etc. on it. Be sure to dry it as best as you can and wait until it's completely dry before you cover it as well. It's also a good idea to spray exposed metal surfaces with WD40 to prevent corrosion.
Fill your tank. A full tank will prevent corrosion of the lining. Then add some fuel stabilizer. After you've filled it, run the bike for just a bit so the fuel can cycle through.
Check your fluids. Double-check your brake, clutch, and coolant fluids before storage. Top up your antifreeze if you’re not storing your bike in a climate-controlled space. Lube your throttle, kickstand, shifter, and clutch cables to avoid rust and moisture.
Replace your oil. Change your oil and filter to protect your motorcycle's lubrication system.
Plug your pipes. This will of course depend on where you're storing the bike, but it will prevent critters from building nests in them.
Remove your battery. Minimally disconnect it to prevent it from self-discharging.
Pump up your tires. Fill your tires to their maximum recommended volume. Check that there are no leaks in the tires. To prevent flat spots from forming while in storage, use a motorcycle stand to store your bike with the tires off the ground. If you don’t have a stand, then try to get at least the rear tire off the ground so you can roll your bike back and forth from time to time to rotate your tires over the winter. Keep moisture from seeping into your tires by placing a piece of carpet or plywood under them.
Cover up. You can find a fairly inexpensive cover on Amazon. This will keep dust and moisture out.
Rent a climate controlled space. You may have a spot already and if so, that's great. If not, find a climate controlled unit to store the bike in. Many motorcycle garages, including Never Ending Cycles, offer winter bike storage. They will often include many of things mentioned in their storage fees.
It's always sad to put our wind therapy machines away, but at least with some good winterization and maintenance, we have something to look forward to come spring!
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