subject: Motorcycle riding in winter – why not! [print this page] Motorcycle riding in winter why not! Motorcycle riding in winter why not!
Now that it is coming up to the coldest and most miserable winter months, it throws up that question everyone of us has to decide each winter to ride or not to ride? For most, it will depend on their own personal circumstances whether they choose to keep their motorcycle going over the winter or to tuck it up nice and warm in the garage. Well, if you decide to store it, there a few things you must remember to do to keep it in top condition.
Storing your Bike
If you just cannot face the rain, sleet and wind you are likely to endure over winter then it is probably best to wait until the weather brightens up a bit. Find a good space in a covered area or preferably a garage in order to store you bike and get cleaning. It is very important to clean your bike before storing it to get rid of all that dirt and grime and prevent damage to the bodywork. After cleaning you should wax it, again this helps to protect against damage.
You should drain the oil and the fuel to prevent from deposits building up in their tanks and store this separately. You should also remove the battery and store this separately away from the cold to prevent the acid from freezing. The bike should be parked on a platform or at least two blocks of wood to prevent damage to the tyres through corrosion.
It is a good idea to check your breaks, wiring and air filter before storing it. If you find any part is damaged, you may think about replacing it before storing it. Damage to the wiring insulation should also be repaired before storing, as this will prevent further, more serious damage whilst it is not in use.
You should also replace faulty parts or damaged areas. It is highly recommended that you replace the parts with specific manufacturer parts. For example, if you have a Honda motorbike, you should only ever use Honda motorcycle spares. These will last longer and work much better with the bike rather than cheap imitations. To ensure you are not getting imitations, always buy direct from a specialist Honda motorcycle parts distributer.
If you find yourself a bit lost on what to do for your specific bike, you should also refer to the manual. Although this won't tell you exactly how to prepare for Winter, it will show you in detail how to carry out certain things mentioned above.
