How to Winterize a Motorcycle – Helpful Guide

As the fall comes to an end and winter sets in, riders think more about their motorcycles' safety more than any other time of the year.

It marks a crucial time for more in-depth maintenance, irrespective of whether you’re going to hibernate the bike for just a week or until the spring.

Unfortunately, some riders winterize their bikes wrongly and end up spending more money on repairs and replacement of parts when it's time to hit the road again.

This article is a detailed guide on the best way to winterize a motorcycle and keep it safe and in working condition until you're ready to use it again.

Quick Questions Before Starting

Before we go deep into the guide on proper motorcycle winterization, here we answer three important questions you want to keep in mind. 

How Difficult is This to Do?

Motorcycle winterization majorly entails thorough cleaning and servicing. It's an easy task once armed with the right tools, equipment, and proper knowledge of the process. 

How Long Does It Take?

A complete motorcycle winterization will last a few hours. Cleaning and drying up parts may extend the whole process to about six hours (half a day) to finish up everything. 

How Much Do Materials Cost?

You’ll need different materials such as oil, filter, DW-40, among other equipment. All the equipment required for complete bike winterization will cost you between $177 and $200.

Items Needed to Winterize a Motorcycle

Motorcycle winterization is a step-by-step process that requires prior preparation with the appropriate equipment at hand. Below are essential items and the estimated prices you'll need for successful bike winterization.

Note: Above are average prices and may vary across states.

Do I Have to Winterize My Motorcycle?

Every rider has a unique winterizing routine. The sole goal is to always keep the motorcycle in its top shape during the cold season. The practice helps the bike run longer and remain on standby for use when hot summer rolls backs.

Steps to Winterize Your Motorcycle

Below is a step-by-step guide to winterizing your bike before long periods of storage.

1. Clean Thoroughly Beforehand

Leaving water spots or bug guts on your motorcycle for long can corrode the paint finish permanently. Give the bike a gentle wash and avoid spraying water directly, especially on areas like the muffler.

Ensure the motorcycle is completely dry before storage. Wet baffles can lead to internal rust. Also, ensure the air cleaner housing is completely dry—saturated housing may act as a choke, preventing the motorcycle from starting.

To be safe, use appropriate clothing or an electric leaf blower to get all the crannies and nooks completely dry. Buff all stainless and aluminum surfaces with a good metal polish and coat chrome and painted surfaces using a wax polish. 

WD-40 offers good protection against corrosion.

2. Add Fuel Stabilizer in the Gas Tank

Chemical reactions will cause fuel to degrade when stored for a more extended period. It can lead to ignition problems next time when starting the bike. Consider filling the tank with gas and adding a fuel stabilizer as per the manufacturer's instructions.

Next, run the bike to ensure the fuel stabilizer and the gas reaches fuel injectors and the carburetors.  Fuel stabilizer helps keep the fuel fresh and prevents ethanol and gas from separating, thus causing damages.

Always consult the manual on the right amount of fuel stabilizer to add to your gas tank.

If you intend to store the bike for an extended period of four to six months, consider protecting the engine's internal with light coatings of oil. Note that the cold winter air may gather moisture in the engine and corrode pistons and cylinder walls.

To coat the engine internals, pull out the spark plugs and add some engine oil into the holes. 

Turn the engine over several times for even coating on the cylinder walls. You can speed the process by spinning the rear wheel with the gear engaged. Once done, replace the spark plugs.

4. Lubricate Moving Parts

All moving parts should remain lubricated to prevent moisture build-up, which may cause rusting. Ensure to lubricate all parts immediately once the bike is clean and dry before storage.

Areas to pay close attention to include chain drive, controls, cables, fork surfaces, and other pivot points.

5. Remove the Bike Battery and Plug It into a Trickle Charger

Your bike battery will self-discharge when left sitting idle for a more extended period. To combat this, consider removing the battery entirely from the motorcycle and hooking it up to a trickle charger throughout the winter season.

But first, ensure the electrodes are clean. You may use some grease coating on the electrodes. Store the battery in an area with steady temperatures.

However, if you decide to leave it attached to the motorcycle, turn on the bike at least once every month and leave it to charge the battery before turning it off again.

6. Raise the Bike to Protect the Tire

Consider taking the weight off the bike tires by raising the bike to avoid flats spots. To achieve that weight relief, use the motorcycle stand to elevate the motorcycle or hoist the motorcycle on the front tire if you don't have a stand.

That helps alleviate the weight on the rear tire. You should rotate the tires after every few weeks.

Line the floor with a carpet or plywood if your only option is to leave the bike on the ground. But first, inflate the tires to capacity.

7. Stuff Exhaust Pipes and Air Intake with Muffler Plugs

Rodents and mice are notorious for finding homes inside exhaust pipes for warmth during cold seasons. Use muffler plugs to fill in such openings or any other material available for that purpose.

If you opt for plastic bags, keep them bright or tie something bright around that region to alert you next time you start the motorcycle.

8. Get a Quality Motorcycle Cover

With the bike ready to hibernate from the cold, the final step is investing in a quality motorcycle bike to protect it from dust, rodents, and accidental scratches. For outdoor storage, get a cover with tie-downs to protect the bike from blowing loose on a windy day.

Tips and Safety Considerations When Winterizing a Motorcycle 

Below are important safety tips worth considering when winterizing a motorcycle. 

• Avoid storing your motorcycle on bare concrete. Instead, line a carpet, an MDF (medium density fiberboard), or plywood on the floor first to protect your bike tire from cracking and developing flat spots.

• During cleaning, avoid spraying water directly on the motorcycle. Water may get into the exhaust pipe, which, apart from the difficulty of drying, prevents the bike from starting.

• Remove the battery off the bike and hook to a trickle battery charger in an area with constant temperatures. Leaving the battery attached to the bike is an option if you can run the bike at least once per week but may not be 100 percent reliable in preserving the battery.

Conclusion 

Winter is the perfect time to do the motorcycle upgrade and full maintenance project you’ve had in mind for a long time. Besides, storing a motorcycle fully serviced saves you a lot of money on repairs and parts. 

Riders can always look forward with confidence to the warm season to roll in so they can hit the road again. Winterization is a necessary procedure that any rider looking to keep their bike in good shape and running for long should not overlook.