Important Preparation Tips For Storing Your Motorcycle
by Luke Fields
When the winter weather is threatening to drop the temperatures below safe riding weather, you may be thinking about getting your motorcycle ready to store for the winter. When you rent a self-storage facility for your motorcycle, it's important that you are prepared ahead of time to make the storage process as easy as possible. Here's a look at some of the things you should do to get your motorcycle ready for storage.
Schedule a Tune Up
Few things can lead to corrosion and damage like putting your bike up for winter storage with dirty oil, a dirty filter and old spark plugs. Before you put the bike up for the season, you should book a tune-up with your favorite mechanic. This way, you can be sure that the oil in the engine and transmission are clean and fresh, not broken down from riding and heat.
By flushing out the oil and changing the filter, you get rid of the particulates that would otherwise settle in the tank. It's in your best interest to do this, because they could stick to the base of the oil pan. Replace the air filter with a clean one, and seal the air box well to keep the rodents from sneaking in. Remove the old spark plugs and replace them with new ones, then lubricate the chain and cables to protect them from weather damage.
Fill the Fuel Tank
Condensation is the worst possible contaminant for your bike's fuel tank. If you park the bike for the season and the tank has empty space, that's an invitation for condensation to develop. You'll want to make sure that your bike's tank is full so that there is no space for condensation to build.
Use a non-ethanol gas product in the tank, and treat it with a fuel stabilizer to keep it from going bad in the fuel lines. Once you add the fuel and the stabilizer, run the bike for ten or fifteen minutes. This circulates the stabilizer through the system.
Protect the Battery
If you leave the battery in your bike when you put it into storage, you risk the potential that the cold temperatures will drain it of every ounce of power. To avoid having to buy a new battery every year, you should disconnect it and remove it when you store the bike.
The best way to preserve the condition of the battery throughout the winter is to bring it in to your house and set it someplace warm. Before you get ready to take the bike out for the warmer season, connect it to a trickle charger to restore the power supply and ensure that it's ready to go when you are.
Protect Your Tires
The cold temperatures can cause your tires to lose air pressure over the course of the winter. If you leave your bike parked with the weight of the machine on the tires, that pressure loss will inevitably lead to tire damage.
Luckily, investing in a bike service stand or other elevated platform will keep you from having to buy new tires every spring. These stands support the bike, keeping the tires elevated so that the air pressure loss doesn't affect the quality of the rubber or the condition of the rims.
Storage units are a great way to keep your bike secure, safe and protected throughout the winter season. With the tips presented here, you can get the motorcycle ready for winter and ensure that it is ready to ride when the spring thaw hits and the sun starts calling you to get out the helmet and the riding gear.
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About Me
Welcome to my website. My name is Larry Silva, and I want to talk a bit about private mortgage insurance. You may have heard the term PMI mentioned when you were in the process of purchasing real estate. When I first heard my lender talking about PMI, I was very confused. It was my realtor who sat me down and explained what private mortgage insurance was and when someone is required to purchase it. He told me that PMI is not lifelong insurance; it can be cancelled when the mortgage principal balance reaches a certain point. Once it was explained to me, private mortgage insurance was no longer a mystery or a confusing concept. I would like to pass on what I learned and hope that you find it to be of value.