Winter Months – Azusa StreetRiders International

Every great riding season must come to an end if you’re in areas where the winter weather can hinder your riding. As the cold weather approaches, it’s time to prepare your motorcycle for hibernation. Proper winter storage can help protect your bike from damage and ensure it’s ready to hit the road again when spring arrives. Take these important steps to properly winterize your motorcycle, because maintaining is cheaper than repairing.

1. Clean thoroughly

Wash your motorcycle with a mild soap and warm water, dry, and give it a good wax before stowing it away. This will help prevent rust or corrosion and make it look extra shiny when you take it out again next spring. Treat any leather on your bike. First give it a gentle cleaning with warm water and a soft cloth to remove dirt. Then condition it with a leather care product to protect it from cracking in the cold. Lubricate all moving parts on your motorcycle including the chain, cables, and locks.

2. Change fluids

Change the engine oil and filter to prevent sludge buildup. Old oil can become acidic. Check the brake fluid level and replace it if necessary. Ensure the coolant level is full and that it’s the correct type for your motorcycle.

As far as your fuel tank is concerned, there are multiple ways to approach it. Fill it or leave it completely empty. Revzilla says both methods have their shortcomings. The petcock is stressed more by full tanks, and empty tanks can result in dried-out seals. Choose whichever method you feel more comfortable with.

Another thing you should do if you choose to fill your gas tank is add some fuel stabilizer. You’ll want to run your engine for a bit to get the stabilizer to mix in and distribute properly throughout the fuel. What this does is prevent ethanol phase separation and rusty tanks.

3. Protect the tires

Inflate the tires to the recommended pressure for storing in cold temperatures. The weight of the motorcycle could cause flat spots on tires if not properly inflated. If you can’t elevate your bike on a stand, try putting it on a piece of plywood or old carpet. Also try rolling the bike around occasionally to rotate the tires while it’s in storage. It’s recommended to avoid standing the bike on concrete which could cause moisture to build up under the tires.

4. Disconnect the battery

A sitting battery can lose its charge, especially in colder temperatures. To combat that, disconnect the battery and store in a warm, dry place until the spring. If you don’t like the idea of having to reconnect your battery when you take your motorcycle out again, consider using a battery tender to monitor the charge and keep the battery topped off.

5. Cover your bike

Covering your motorcycle is extremely important for many reasons. It can help to keep moisture away, keep the sun off, and keep critters out. Mice love to hide in warm spaces and the exhaust pipes and filters are a perfect spot for them. But a cover won’t be enough to keep them away, so make sure to plug those openings and protect your wires (they like to chew those).

6. Store in a dry, warm, and safe place

Storing in a dry and warm space is also extremely important. Moisture can do a number of bad things to your motorcycle including rust and corrosion, damage to electrical systems and batteries, fuel breakdown, mold, and damage to your leather seats. Cold can affect tires and batteries as we mentioned above.

If you still like to get your bike out during the winter months when there is a warmer day, make sure to take advantage of the various toy runs and benefits that will be going on through the holiday seasons. It’s a great time to be able to minister, not only to the recipients of the toy runs or benefits, but to all the bikers that attend!