Motorcycle Winterization Tips and Tricks

It was with a heavy heart that I decided last night was the night to winterize my bike and put it away until the spring.

Despite temperatures forcasted to be in the 50's this weekend, the deer woods beckon me and I had to accept the fact that my riding season has come to an end. I suppose the 10 mile ride to work at 25 degrees helped make the call a little easier too :)

If you are still holding out for those final days of the riding season and plan on servicing your bike yourself, below is a motorcycle winterizing checklist and some tips to help you get the job done right:

1. Find a well sheltered place to store your bike. Avoid places exposed to the elements (snow, rain, wind, dirt, direct sunlight, etc).
2. Thoroughly clean your bike. Wash with a mild automotive soap and dry thoroughly - compressed air works great for drying without leaving spots! Wax and polish chrome and metal parts - I used Original Bike Spirits spray cleaner and polish - the stuff rocks!
3. Clean and lube your chain (if it has one).
4. Fill tires to their maximum recommended pressure.
5. Stabilize the fuel system by adding the necessary amount of fuel stabilizer based on your fuel capacity and FILL your tank with gas. I used Seafoam, but Sta-bil is also a popular choice that works well.
6. Change your oil and oil filter. Be sure to run the motor for a couple of minutes afterwards to re-coat all the engine parts with oil. This also allows the stabilized fuel to run through your fuel system and gets rid of any "old" gas sitting in the fuel lines.
7. If your bike is carbureted, turn off the fuel supply and drain your float bowls.
8. Clean all leather with an appropriate cleaner and treat with leather oil.
9. Treat all vinyl with an appropriate product such as Armorall.
10. Lubricate fork tube seals to keep them from drying out and cracking.
11. Add distilled water to your batter if required. Remove battery and trickle charge once a month while in storage. You might also consider getting a Battery Tender that you can leave connected through the winter and will charge your battery periodically as needed.
12. Check engine coolant level and add a manufacturer recommended antifreeze as needed.
13. Put bike on center stand if it has one. If it doesn't, consider placing a piece of plywood under each tire to prevent moisture buildup around tires caused by concrete floors.
14. Seal muffler outlets with plastic wrap and rubber bands to keep critters from making a home in your exhaust pipes over the winter.
15. Use a breathable motorcycle cover to keep dust off your bike over the winter. Avoid using a tarp as it can cause moisture to build up under the tarp as temperatures fluctuate.

All in all, the process wasn't bad and only took me a couple of hours to complete - most of it spent cleaning and detailing! If you're a do-it-yourselfer, I hope this helps you get your bike properly prepared for the winter. If you have any questions feel free to ask in the comments section below!

Prefer to leave the job to trained professionals? Hitching Post is happy to prepare your bike for the winter. We even offer a storage program that includes winterization and heated storage through May 1st for only $299! Click here for details or feel free to call any of our three metro service departments for more information.

Happy Riding!

- Jake