Getting Your Bike Ready for Winter Storage

Depending on your area, you may be looking at some motorcycle winter storage blues in these next few months. The fall season is in full swing, so you’re likely out enjoying your bike and loving it! You might be able to ride year-round, and this is great. However, for those of us in the more northern states, we’re already considering putting our bikes to rest for the winter.

You want to be able to pull out your bike in the spring and ride it, right? Follow these simple tips to get your bike ready for winter storage.

Clean It

Cleaning your motorcycle isn’t so much about maintenance as it is about ensuring that any grime that’s on there from the road or bugs isn’t going to harden or cause damage to your bike while it’s sitting in storage. Sometimes, on the road, we come into contact with different corrosive agents that could harm the paintwork on our motorcycle, so giving your bike a good cleaning before putting it in storage is essential. It doesn’t have to be super thorough; a light cleaning is better than no cleaning.

Cleaning your bike before storage is great because not only will it be ready to ride after you follow the rest of these tips, but it will also look pretty decent for having sat around for a few weeks (or months). You’ll be able to pull it out, dust it off, and ride like the wind again!

Take Care of Your Fuel

The fuel could get pretty gunky and gross depending on how long your bike will be sitting. This is why it’s essential to ensure your fuel stays good so it won’t cause any problems for your bike when you ride it again. Simply adding some fuel stabilizer and filling the tank before winter storage can be really beneficial. Fuel stabilizers are inexpensive and can save money from potential problems when the fuel goes bad.

This simple step is important when storing your bike—taking care of your fuel will save you time and money in the future.

Start It and Let It Run

If you can take your bike out for a brief ride during the winter, that’s great. If not, you’ll have to do with starting it every once in a while. This is important and can make a big difference when winterizing your bike. Letting your bike run ensures the battery stays good and enables it to do what it was meant to—run!

Even running your bike for a few minutes every couple of weeks or so can make a difference. If you won’t be starting your bike or are unable to do this, consider a battery tender.

Change the Oil

I know, you don’t feel like doing it when all your bike will be doing is sitting there, but getting a good oil for winterizing your bike and changing the oil is good. Having clean oil in your bike while sitting there is better than having dirty oil in your bike that’s just sitting there.

Changing the oil with the proper oil can ensure your bike stays ready for you throughout winter storage and minimize the work you’ll need to do in the spring to get it on the road again!

Apply Lubricant to Moving Parts

If you’re planning on storing your bike for a while and being unable to ride it, getting quality lubricant and lube moving parts might be a good idea. As they sit over time, pivotal joints can become rusted or stuck, especially if they haven’t correctly cleaned beforehand (you saw where I said clean your bike up there, right?). A good lubricant can keep all your parts moving even after months of storage. Consider lubricating parts such as the controls and cables.

Never forget to inspect your bike after storage to ensure everything works correctly before you get it back on the road. Also, remember to store your bike safely—keeping it covered, out of sight, and protected from potential theft is essential. Winterizing your bike isn’t the most fun thing to do with your motorcycle, but keeping it safely stored and ready for you when better weather rolls around is essential!