The Personal Blog Of
Boston Motorcycle Lawyer

Prepare Your Bike for Winter Hibernation
November 15, 2009

There are only a few motorcyclists crazy enough to continue riding in the dead of winter in the northern U.S. They are clearly a bred apart and while most consider them crazy, their commitment to motorcycling is impressive.

Most bikers choose to store their bikers during the cold winter months and take a break from their beloved pastime. It’s a sad yearly ritual but necessary. Riding in New England in January is extremely dangerous due to ice, snow, cold, and limited visibility. Riding without the best winter motorcycle gear can easily cause frost bite or even hypothermia.

It’s best to store your bike in the winter.

Storing a motorcycle correctly involves much more than parking it in the garage and closing the door. Preparing a motorcycle for long term inactivity requires just a bit of effort if you want you bike to be in good working order. If you don’t, you may have to face expensive repairs down the road.

• Storage: Indoor heated storage is the best way to store a motorcycle. If heated storage is not available, then opt for indoor storage. Storing a motorcycle outside in the winter is not a good idea. Moisture and ice are enemies of any motorcycle.
• Fluids: Change all fluid, make sure to fill your gas tank with fresh gas, and add a fuel additive. If you have a chain driven motorcycle, make sure you lubricate the chain as directed in your owner’s manual.
• Battery: You can maintain your battery with a tender that can be purchased for as little as $20. Battery tenders will keep your battery charged and balanced. It’s best to remove the battery from the bike while stored but most battery tenders come with an adapter so that removal is not necessary.
• Paint: Give your bike a thorough wash and wax before storing. Dry the bike completely and cover the bike with a breathable motorcycle cover.
• Periodic Checks: Periodically check the bike for anything out of the ordinary. Properly storing a bike doesn’t mean unforeseen problems can’t occur.

Motorcycles are expensive so it makes sense to take a little time to store them correctly. The time invested in proper storage will save money on future repairs and time off the road during the next riding season.