Winterizing Your Motorcycle

The tragic time of year has finally arrived. The weather is just too cold, the roads are just too unsafe, and it's time for you to put your motorcycle into winter storage. But you can't just park your motorbike in your garage and call it good. There are some crucial steps you'll need to do first to ensure that the time in storage doesn't cause any damage to your bike and that it'll be ready to ride come spring.

Here at Maxey's Motorsports, we strive to make your life easier. That's why we created the following guide to winterizing your motorcycle below. It covers everything you need to know so that you won't have to worry about missing a step. For all your motorcycle needs, visit our dealership. We proudly serve those in Oklahoma City, Tusla, Edmond, and Shawnee, Oklahoma.

Wash Your Motorcycle

This may sound odd since you're about to put your motorbike out of sight in your garage. But keep in mind that while you ride your motorcycle it picks up debris and grime. This caked-on gunk is going to sit on your motorcycle for months. Left too long, it can actually start to damage your motorcycle! Plus, you'll want it to look ready to ride when the weather gets nice again. After you wash your bike, make sure to put a good coat of wax on it. Then put WD-40 or your preferred water displacing lubricant on any exposed metal.

Oil Change

This step is simple. Change the oil and the filter as you usually do. Some riders will use a winter weight oil to help them get an easier start up come spring. If you're going to be storing your motorbike for a longer period of time, you'll want to pull the spark plugs and add some fresh oil in the cylinder. Then you'll want to rotate your rear tire while the motorcycle is in gear. This will get a few rotations on the cylinders to coat the inside surface, which will help protect your cylinder from potential corrosion.

Lubrication

It's important to lubricate all the moving parts on your motorbike before placing it in storage. This means your chain, cables, forks, any pivot points in the suspension, and the controls.

Fuel System

It helps to stabilize your fuel to keep your motorcycle's internals working well. All you need to do is fill your tank up and add some fuel stabilizer. After you add it, you'll want to run your motorbike to circulate the stabilized fuel.

Battery

It's best to not leave your battery hooked up to your motorcycle. If you do, you'll likely return to a drained battery in the spring. Take the battery off your motorbike and connect it to a battery tender. Store it in a safe and dry place. While you are handling your battery, look at the battery terminals and make sure they are corrosion free.

Tires

If you can, you'll want to avoid leaving your motorcycle on its kickstand in the same position all winter (it'll lead to flat spots on your tires). Ideally, you'll use a motorcycle stand to keep the wheels off the ground. If you can't do that, you'll want to manually rotate your bike tires every few weeks.

Storage

Your motorcycle is best kept in a warm and dry garage out of sight from potential thieves and protected from the elements. If you don't have that as an option, you'll want to invest in a sturdy motorcycle cover.

We hope you found this guide helpful! For all your motorcycle needs, visit Maxey's Motorsports. We proudly serve those in Oklahoma City, Tusla, Edmond, and Shawnee, Oklahoma.