You know you don’t want to do it, and we understand. It’s tough to put your bike away for the winter, but unless you live somewhere where winter doesn’t go, it’s really your best and safest bet.

 

So pick a day and get it done. Don’t wait until the snow starts piling up. The only way to be ready for the winter is to be ready when it arrives.

 

Clean Your Bike

 

To start, give your bike as thorough a cleaning as possible. Consider that every bit of dirt and grime left on it will be there for months, causing corrosion and becoming even harder to remove. So clean it now, and while you’re at it, wax it as well to give it a good protective shell for the winter.

 

Renew Your Fluids

 

It may seem counterintuitive to change your oil now, rather than in the spring, but there are good reasons. First, you don’t want dirty oil leaving deposits in your motor over your bike’s winter downtime. Second, replacing your oil with a winter-grade like 5W-30 will make it easier to start up once winter recedes. 

 

You’ll also want to top off your coolant. If you haven’t flushed your cooling system in a while, this is a good time to do so as part of your annual maintenance program.

 

You may also want to consider fogging your cylinders with oil. Fogging oil is not super expensive or difficult to use, and the process will help protect the most expensive parts of your motorcycle while it sits idle. 

 

Fuel Up

 

A lot of people will tell you that it’s best to store your bike without fuel, but that’s not actually true. While fuel quality does degrade over time, it’s still probably a better option than storing your bike with an empty tank.

 

The reason is that an empty bike is not actually empty. It’s still full of air, and that’s likely to cause corrosion or leave whatever fuel remains subject to condensation, which can gum up your fuel system. 

 

The best way to protect against this is to completely fill your tank, and then top it off with a fuel stabilizer. Run your engine a little to work the fuel treatment all the way through the system so it’s ready to sit for a few months. You should also take this opportunity to wax your chain while it’s still warm.

 

Many people also believe that you should start your bike up once a week while it is in storage. This is not true. Cold starts are hard on engines, and also batteries. Starting up your bike without riding it just depletes your battery, and doesn’t help your bike at all.

 

Save Your Tires

 

The biggest downside to storing your bike is that it may damage your tires. The best way to avoid developing flat spots on your tires is to lift your bike up on a stand. If you don’t have a stand, then you can try to just rotate your wheels slightly every now and then while the bike is being stored, but be sure to place carpet or cardboard beneath the tires to avoid moisture from seeping in and damaging them.

 

To Cover or Not to Cover

 

Moisture is actually your bike’s number one enemy all around while it is being stored. Which brings up yet another counterintuitive point: If you don’t have a good bike cover, then it’s probably best to leave it uncovered.

 

The reason being that a decent bike cover is breathable, allowing moisture to escape, rather than trapping it underneath, where it will remain in contact with your bike for months. If you cannot store your bike indoors and all you have for a cover is a plastic tarp, then you should probably just leave it uncovered. Make sure to bring your seat and battery inside, however.

 

This is also true if you are storing your bike in a garage or shed. It’s recommended that you keep it covered, but only if you have a quality bike cover to use.

 

Whether you store your bike indoors or out, you need to keep pests out. Mice, rats, lizards, and bugs will have no problem making their winter home inside of your exhaust or air intakes if you let them. Plug those holes with rubber plugs from your bike shop, or use wadded-up plastic bags. Bright colored bags will help you remember to remove them in the spring.

 

Taking the steps above will help you protect your bike while you store it over the winter months, but what if you decide to keep riding it instead?

 

Riding in the Winter

 

If you do choose to ride your motorcycle during cold, snowy winter months, then safety should be your number one concern. Not only do roads get slippery, but it is surprisingly easy to get frostbite or suffer similar health problems from driving while exposed to the cold.

 

Before riding, consider your attire from top to bottom, including all coverings for your neck, hands, arms, legs and feet. Overdressing is better than underdressing.

 

As for your bike, you’ll want to switch over to a winter-grade oil (see above) and ensure that your antifreeze is full and fresh for the winter. You may also want to invest in a bike cover (see above), some warming grips, and some winter tires or chains for your wheels.

 

Just remember that you will need to exercise greater caution when driving, especially when cornering.

 

Be safe, and enjoy the winter months!