Its’s cold out there, so how are you looking after your pride and joy? Some tips you may not know about:
- Don’t just park your bike inside a garage and think that it will be fine; this can cause harm over time, due to the cold and damp. To keep your bike in good condition, if you can, store it indoors, in a decent garage or shed – this will prevent the cold and damp damaging your bike. I personally don’t bother to heat my garage – that can be expensive. What is a killer is the damp and moisture. So I have ensured it is draught free and invested in a de-humidifier; A+++ energy efficient so far more cost effective than a heater and very effective in its job – just remember to empty it every now and then! And don’t forget to position your bike away from any windows, as exposure to sunlight could fade the paint.
If you don’t have space indoors, you can use a bike cover. If you go down this route, you will need to get your bike out and use it regularly, clean it frequently and maintain it, or else your motorcycle won’t come out the same quality as it went in. Also remember that in windy conditions, a poorly fitting cover flapping away against the tank will rub!
Regardless of whether you store your motorcycle outdoors or in, while static, your bike will be prone to gathering dust and/or moisture. Always make sure you have a decent cover on your bike, although if you haven’t bought one yet, old blankets work just as well. Another option is to use an inflatable bike chamber. For around £250, these seal your machine in a completely airtight and filtered environment.
- Clean your motorcycle before storing it over winter and remember to dry it off completely. It’s vital that you apply a spray-on, anti-corrosion protectant or dispersant such as WD40 or GT85 to all the exposed metal areas to combat any damp. Finally, remember to re-grease any moving parts such as cables or linkages that have been cleaned of their lubricant. If you are using your bike over winter ACF-50 or the like will help protect your machine against the weather and salt.
- Look after your motorcycle’s battery- they don’t like the cold, and if left unused in a garage they will start to go flat. Dead batteries are the number one cause for calling on the recovery services during winter. To avoid this, either remove the battery entirely and store it in a warm place (if you do this, note any alarm or immobiliser won’t work), or, use a trickle charger or optimiser to keep the battery’s power levels topped up. All modern HD’s are fitted with a lead that fits many different optimser types.
- Tend to your bike’s liquids before winter. It’s not just the solid bits that need attention. The liquid parts of a bike – fuel, brake fluid, etc, are just as vulnerable to winter conditions as metal surfaces. Brake fluids attract damp, which can create air bubbles in the system. Some owners strap the brake lever to the bar to keep bubbles out of the brake system, but this can damage the seals. Better to be aware of the problem, and re-bleed the system come spring.
Fuel can degrade too, for a couple of reasons. One being the octane level reduces over time, which will affect performance, the other being that while standing, fuel can gum up and clog the system. Use special additives such as Silkolene Pro FST to help prevent this. We would also advise brimming the tank before storage to keep moisture at bay.
Changing your oil before storage. Old engine oil can contain acids and any sludge or dirt will settle over time.
- Plug your motorcycle’s holes before winter. If the bike is going to be static for any significant length of time, we’d recommend blocking all the air intakes with rags (or similar). Don’t block airbox, make sure you do the exhausts too. This is mainly to stop damp, but it has also been known for small animals to make an airbox their new winter home.
- Prepare your bikes’s tyres for storage over winter. Your machine’s tyres can suffer if left stationary over prolonged periods, but you can avoid this. Slightly over inflate your tyres, to help them keep their shape. Ideally both wheels should be lifted off the ground by either using the bike’s main stand or two paddock stands. If this isn’t possible, put a piece of old carpet under the bike, or blocks of wood under each wheel to prevent contact with the cold floor. You should also periodically rotate each wheel slightly to prevent deformation.
Hope you find some of the useful and see you on the road in the spring!