Storing your motorcycle for winter?

For those that live in cold climates, that means your motorcycle will hibernate for the winter. If there is no motorcycle off-season where you live, then you will likely scan this article, chuckle, and then go for a ride while the rest of us are doing a bit of work in order to NOT ride our motorcycles. Or even better — you’re planning on shipping your motorcycle to some great, warm-weather rally!

Consider this checklist a gentle reminder of the basics of winter storage. Remember, proper winterization will greatly increase the chances your bike will start right up in the spring. So, before you tuck your baby away for its long, winter sleep:

• Find a good place to store it – ideally a dry, heated place with a breathable. motorcycle cover to prevent moisture from being trapped underneath.
• Change the oil – afterwards run the engine for a bit to circulate the new oil.
• Lubricate any moving parts – the chain, all cables, and all pivoting parts (foot peg joints, etc).
• Remove the battery – after removal, it should be stored in a warm, dry place.
• Clean and wax – thoroughly remove built up grease, tar, bugs, etc. that have accumulated from the riding season. Wax the tank to create a nice protective barrier. A protecting moisturizer on the tires will help prevent dry-out.
• Fill the gas tank and add fuel stabilizer – this will prevent the gas from going bad.
• Check the tire pressure – inflate them to the proper level if need be.
• Drain the carburetor – if this applies to your bike.

Top 10 Things to Do Before You Get Your Bike out of Storage

Ready to get your bike out and running again? For us in the winter weather, the time is almost near – at least that’s what the groundhog said. Before you get your bike on the road, here are some things to do when you pull it out of winter storage.

1. Check the fuel. Open up the gas cap and see if your fuel is clean. If not, it’s time to drain it and start over. If you used fuel stabilizer before you stored it, it should be in good order, but it’s worth making sure.

2. Check the fluids. If you didn’t change the oil before you stored her, now’s the time to do it. Also glance at your clutch, brake, and coolant levels . Coolant breaks up over time too and needs to be replaced just like the brake fluid.

3. Look at the hoses. Those pesky critters like to chew on these prime gems. You want to make sure there are no unwanted leaks.

4. Tighten the nuts and bolts. It doesn’t hurt to get in there with a wrench and make sure everything is tight.

5. Charge the battery. Did you have your battery hooked up over the winter? Make sure it is still holding a charge and not showing any signs of corrosion. Also check connections to see if they are secure.

6. Examine the tires. If you weren’t able to keep the weight off the tires, you definitely want to confirm nothing is uneven. Of course, it’s always good to check the tire pressure too.

7. Inspect the brake pads. Is there break lining left on them?  Have you serviced them lately? Both good things to get taken care of at this point.

8. Change the air filter. If you haven’t done this in a while, this is a good time to add it to the list.

9. Test the controls. Move the handlebars, hit the brakes, and make sure everything is moving smoothly. This is also when you want to see if all lights are shining.

10. Warm up the engine. It’s been sitting for a while, so it should idle for a while too.

Now you need to get the winter dust and dirt off the baby and then it should be all ready to ride. Thank goodness riding season is near.

Anything else we should remember? We appreciate your tips.

Ride into the New Year with these Top 10 Resolutions

Here’s a countdown of the Top 10 New Year’s Resolutions for the biker.  This year I promise to …

10. Ride more. I think we all make this resolution every year, but this time I’m going to stick to it. I’m planning to ride to work, take off more vacation time or maybe pull out the bike in the winter months.

9. Stop leaving my bike unlocked. I will get a cable lock and be habitual about using it. The cost of the lock could save me the cost of my bike … and the hassle.

8. Maintain my bike. I’m going to check the tire pressure, test the lights, grease the chain, check the oil, wash and wax, winterize it and everything it needs to keep ‘er in top show-style shape.

7. Finally sell that old bike. I will get out that old motorcycle that is sitting in the garage, take some pics and place it up on eBay or Craigslist. I could use that money to get the new one I had on my list last year.

6. Ride my own motorcycle on vacation. No more hassle of renting on site and no more wishing I had the comfort of my own baby. Planning to bring the baby along this trip and show her off. I can have HaulBikes ship it to my vacation destination and it will be ready to ride.

5. Get out on the track. One of the best parts of having a motorcycle is riding fast. I’m going to take advantage of putting my bike to the test on a closed circuit free from cars and speed limits.

4. Get some rider training or train someone else. Everyone can benefit from a little refresher course and I’m sure I could use a few reminders. Safety is one of the most important tricks of the trade.

3. Modify my bike. Been thinking about adding that GPS system or a throttle rocker. Maybe even enhancing the engine. I’m going to get it out of the garage and get that modification in progress.

2. Reduce gas mileage. It’s probably time to lighten the load or maybe try out an electric version. Today’s economy is a great motivator to look into reduction.

1. Buy the gear. Whether it’s the safety of a helmet or the comfort of chaps, I’m going to choose the gear that will make the ride better than last year.

Now I should be all set to ride into 2011 with the most important thing in mind – my motorcycle.