10 Tips For Winter Motorcycle Storage

IT'S TIME TO START PLANNING ON WHERE YOU'LL STORE YOUR MOTORCYCLE THIS WINTER. 

Your motorcycle doesn’t like the winter any more than you do, so rather than leave it in the garage with a blanket on it why not store it at CLARE’S?  

Call Clare's Cycle & Sports today to arrange an appointment time and date to drop off your motorcycle for winter storage. They are here to help you get your bike ready for the winter season. Clare's Cycle & Sports Call 905-892-2664 or email service@clarescycle.com to arrange your appointment.

WINTER MOTORCYCLE STORAGE GUIDE

Improper storage of your motorcycle can lead to numerous problems, including a discharged battery, rusted fuel tank, clogged fuel lines or carburetors, faded paint, rust, mildew...

By following these storage guidelines in conjunction with the Owner's Manual and Service Manual information, your motorcycle will be ready to ride in the spring.

This guide can also be used to prepare ATVs, Scooters and Power Equipment for winter storage.

If you decide to store the vehicle yourself, always check you owners manual for proper instructions. Here are some guidelines you can follow.

1) Read Your Owners Manual

2) Find a place to store it, get the tools you'll need.This is a good step to do as you're beginning to plan the storage of the bike. Not at the last minute. Find a good place to store the motorcycle. Keep it away from extreme temperatures -- which pretty much means keep it inside, if possible. Don't put the bike somewhere where it'll get knocked over. Find a smooth, level place that's out of the way.
 

Shopping list:

• Fuel stabilizer
• Enough oil to do an oil change
• A new oil filter (OEM preferred)
• Any cleaning products that you plan to use when washing & waxing the bike
• Trickle charger battery tender
• Motorcycle cover

3) Fill the tank with high test gas & then add Fuel Stabilizer. You want to make sure the tank is full when you store the bike. Add the appropriate amount of fuel stabilizer to the tank. (see owners manual)
You will need to run the bike for 5 minutes or so to make sure that stabilized fuel has worked its way through the entire fuel system. Stabilizing the gas is probably the most important thing to do when storing your bike. Gasoline is a blend of dozens of different compounds. Over time, the more volatile compounds will evaporate, leaving a hard sludge that will gunk up. Fuel stabilizer (largely) prevents this from happening. You must stabilize the gasoline in your fuel system before storing your bike!

4) Change the oil - This is probably the second-most important step of storage, and possibly the only one that will cause permanent damage if skipped. Change the oil before you store the motorcycle. Old oil contains combustion by-products and other nasty stuff. So do an oil and filter change while the bike is still warm. Do a normal oil change and put the normal amount of oil in as listed in your owner's manual. 

 

 

5) Put the bike on stands - If you have a center stand, you're all set. If you don't have a center stand, If you have a pair of bike stands (a swing arm stand and either a fork stand or a front-end stand that holds the bike from the steering stem), Put the bike up on the stands and store it that way. If you don't have stands, don't risk dropping the bike by trying to rig up something with boards, jack stands, milk crates, etc. It's not that critical. Just remember that you may want to take a little more care with tires over the course of the winter.

6) Cover intake/exhaust  - After the exhaust pipes have cooled cover the tip(s) of them with a plastic bag to prevent critters from getting int there as well as moisture getting to the engine. Make sure it's airtight.

7) Keeping the battery charged. Keeping a battery happy means keeping it charged. The best method is to put it on a trickle charger, like the "Battery Tender", that will only charge it as much as it needs to, and won't boil the battery dry with overcharging. Just put your battery on the trickle charger and with the exception of periodic fluid level checks, you can pretty much let it do its thing over the winter.

8) Wash, dry, and wax the bike. Around wintertime, there's often a lot of salt on the roads. Clean this stuff off before you store your bike! Mild soap and water is fine, or use a bike-specific cleaner. Make sure you wash the whole underside of the bike, the wheels, suspension components, etc. And don't forget to dry the bike. The engine (which should still be hot from your ride) may be able to evaporate the water off, but you'll still want to get the water off the wheels, frame, etc. Drying the bike is really important; do a good job. Wax the bike's painted parts; it'll prevent the paint from oxidizing over the winter. Note” If your bike has spoke wheels – be sure to use an old toothbrush and polish the spokes. Especially the space between the spokes. That’s where rust can form.

9) Lock it up - Depending on where you store your bike, you may want to put a big lock on it to make sure it stays put.

10) Cover the bike - Make sure the bike has been well-dried after the washing it got.You don't want to trap moisture under the cover, as it'll cause rust. Likewise, you want to keep water out, particularly if you're storing the bike outside, where it'll be subjected to precipitation. Make sure you use a breathable material to cover it. If you are storing the bike in the shed or garage that is not heated, it may be wise to get a small fan to distribute the air – that tends to keep the moisture from forming. 

 

Clare's Cycle & Sports offers a safe, secure, climate controlled environment for you winter motorcycle storage needs - Safe, Secure and Clean. It’s the perfect place for your bike to spend the off-season – being cared for as an honored guest. Rest assured we’ll treat your bike like family, because to us, it is. Your ride deserves nothing but the best.
 

*The information in this document is for reference only - always read and follow your owners manual and service manual information.

Happy Riding & Safe Travels!
From the promo desk at Clare's Cycle & Sports and Clare's Harley-Davidson® of Niagara.
 

Lisa Taché
Clare's Advertising / Promotions Manager
lisa@clarescycle.com
www.clarescycle.com
www.claresharleydavidson.com
905-684-4647