Prepare a Motorcycle for Winter Storage : The Ultimate Guide to Winter Motorcycle Storage :
As the days get shorter and the mercury on the thermometer dips, the inevitable time has come to put your motorcycle away for winter.
Don’t just toss a sheet over it and walk away! Proper preparation is crucial to ensure your bike emerges in spring ready to ride, looking perfect and not needing a major overhaul.
This guide covers everything you need to do, from cleaning to fuelling and fluid management as well as what I feel as the most important think for any bike over the winter – the application of ACF-50.
Step 1: The Deep Clean : 🧼
Before any protective measures can be applied, your bike must be spotless. Dirt, road salt, and grime are your enemy; they trap moisture and accelerate corrosion.
- Wash Thoroughly: Give your motorcycle the best wash of its life. Use a quality cleaner and a soft sponge. Pay special attention to the underside, swingarm, wheels, and any hard-to-reach crevices where crud hides.
- Dry Completely: This is non-negotiable. Use a microfibre towel, an air blower, or take it for a very short, slow ride (5-10 minutes) to let engine heat evaporate water from tricky spots like the exhaust headers and electrical connectors.
🧼 What Cleaner? My personal recommendation for a general purpose motorcycle cleaner is SDOC100. It is available in a 750ml spray bottle, but the real value is in the 5 litre drum. It is excellent stuff and eats through dirt and grime with very little effort needed. It is expensive stuff but well worth it, and five litres will last a considerable period of time.
