Winterizing Your Motorcycle: A 10-Step Storage Checklist

The riding season is winding down, and what you do in the next couple of weekends decides how your bike wakes up in the spring. A few hours of preparation now save you from a dead battery, stale fuel and flat-spotted tires later. This is the checklist our service department uses on every bike we put into storage.

Before you park it

1. Wash and dry it thoroughly. Road salt and grime left on paint, chrome and fasteners will eat into them over the winter. Dry the bike completely, then wax the paint and polish any bare metal.
2. Change the oil and filter. Used oil holds acids and moisture that sit against the engine internals all winter. Fresh oil goes in before storage, not after.
3. Fill the tank and add fuel stabilizer. A full tank leaves less room for condensation and rust. Add stabilizer as directed and run the engine for a few minutes so it reaches the carburettor or injectors.
4. Lube the chain and cables. Clean and lubricate the chain, and give cable ends and pivots a light coat of lube.

Where it sits

5. Take care of the battery. A battery left on a cold bike slowly discharges and can be damaged for good. Hook it up to a smart battery tender, or remove it and keep it somewhere cool and dry.
6. Inflate the tires. Bring them to the upper end of the recommended pressure, or put the bike on paddock stands to take the weight off. This prevents flat spots.
7. Block the exhaust and intake. A clean rag in the muffler outlet keeps mice and moisture out. Tie a bright tag to it so you remember to pull it in the spring.
8. Cover it with something that breathes. A fitted, breathable cover keeps dust off and lets moisture escape. Plastic tarps trap condensation and cause more harm than good.

Two things not to do

9. Do not start it on warm winter days. A short run does not bring the engine to full temperature, so it fills the exhaust with moisture instead of burning it off. Leave it alone until spring.
10. Do not skip the service. Winter is the quietest time in our shop, and spring is the busiest. Book your pre-season inspection now and your bike will be ready the first warm weekend.

If you would rather not do this yourself, our service department offers a winter storage package that covers the oil change, stabilizer, battery tender and a secure indoor spot until spring. Spaces are limited, so get in touch early.