Did you know that the world record for most people on a motorcycle is 58? Impressive as that is, for most people just one rider is enough. Cruising the streets alone on your bike is a singularly freeing experience.
It’s well worth all the maintenance it requires. Just as you need to learn how to ride a motorcycle, you need to learn how to take care of your machine to avoid damaging it. This means knowing how to store it when winter comes.
If you’ve got questions about seasonal motorcycle storage, we’re here to help. In this article, we’ll be going over everything you need to know about motorcycle winterization so read on to learn more!
A Well Oiled Machine
The first step you should take when storing your motorcycle is to clean off any debris and dirt. Debris will be much harder to clean after a long winter, so take the time to do it before you store your bike.
Then, cover the internal parts with a bit of oil to lubricate them and prevent moisture from damaging the engine. You can do this by removing the sparkplugs, and adding a bit of oil to the holes. Then coat the cylinder walls with oil, and replace the sparkplugs.
Lubricate the chain, controls, and cables. Anything you usually lubricate should be lubricated immediately before winter.
Change the oil and top off your fuel tank. You should also add a fuel stabilizer. Add the fuel stabilizer before you drive to your motorcycle storage unit so it has time to mix with the oil.
You can also drain the fuel from your machine entirely, but this is a more complicated process.
Last Minute Preparation
Once you’ve reached the motorcycle storage unit, remove the battery and connect it to a trickle charger. If you’re only storing it for a short period of time this step is unnecessary, but if you’re storing it for a whole winter don’t skip it. You don’t want to pick up your bike only to find the battery has died.
Then, place your motorcycle on a storage stand. This will take the weight off of the wheels and prevent the tires from getting flat due to months of staying in the same position.
Renting Motorcycle Storage Space
Renting motorcycle storage can be expensive, which is why we recommend securing a motorcycle storage loan. You can store your bike with a company like fastaction.ca and use your bike as the equity for your loan.
Then you can visit your machine and pay off the loan over the winter as normal. This is the most affordable way to secure a motorcycle storage pod without having to resort to outdoor motorcycle storage.
Handle Motorcycle Winter Storage Like a Pro
With this simple guide, you should be all set to handle your winter motorcycle storage. It’s not complicated, it just takes a bit of know-how and preparation! Come spring, your bike will be clean, fueled up, and ready for a ride!
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