Well, let me tell ya, winter’s comin’, and it’s time to think about puttin’ that motorcycle away. Ain’t nobody wantin’ to ride when it’s colder than a well-digger’s backside out there. So, how to store a motorcycle during winter, you ask? Here’s the lowdown, straight from the hip.
First thing’s first, that bike needs a good scrubbin’. Get all that road grime and bug guts off. Don’t want that stuff eatin’ away at the paint all winter. A clean bike is a happy bike, even if it is takin’ a nap for a few months. It’s like givin’ it a bath before bed, you know? Makes sense to prevent dirt from building up.
Next, you gotta think about where you’re gonna stash it. Best way to store a motorcycle during winter is somewhere dry. A shed, a garage, anything to keep it out of that nasty snow and ice. A temperature-controlled environment will be a great idea. If you can keep it from gettin’ too cold, that’s even better. That’s a good point of storing your motorcycle for the winter, and avoid damages.
- Find a dry spot
- Keep it outta the snow
- Temperature control is good
Now, about that gas tank. Some folks say to drain it, others say to fill it up. Me? I say fill ‘er up, all the way to the tippy-top. Then, pour in some of that fuel stabilizer stuff. You know, the kind that keeps the gas from goin’ bad. Keeps things from gettin’ all gummed up in there. Storing your motorcycle with a full fuel tank is preferable, ain’t it?
And the battery! Don’t forget the battery. That little fella don’t like the cold. You can take it out and bring it inside where it’s warm. Or, you can hook it up to one of them trickle charger things. Keeps it from dyin’ on ya. Cold weather is tough on batteries, ya know? There is no reason you can’t keep a motorcycle outside in the cold, but battery will be affected.
Tires. Yeah, them tires can get flat spots if they sit in one place too long. If you can, get the bike up on some stands, so the tires ain’t touchin’ the ground. That’ll keep ’em round and happy. If you don’t have any stands for your motorcycle, don’t worry, your tires maybe will not get flat, but it’s better to get stands. It’s important about how to store a motorcycle during winter.
And a cover! Gotta have a cover. Keeps the dust off, and if any critters decide to try and make a home in your bike, it’ll make it a bit harder for ’em. Just a nice, soft cover will do the trick. Don’t need nothin’ fancy. You can cover it with any strong water-resistant material.
Here’s a little list to keep ya straight:
- Clean the bike good
- Fill up the gas tank, add stabilizer
- Take out the battery or use a trickle charger
- Get the tires off the ground if you can
- Cover it up
So, let’s talk about why we’re doin’ all this. See, winter’s hard on things. The cold, the wet, it can all mess with your bike. Rust, corrosion, dead battery, flat tires – it’s a mess. By takin’ a little time to put your bike away right, you’re savin’ yourself a heap of trouble come spring.
Think of it like this: you wouldn’t leave your best Sunday dress out in the rain, would ya? Same goes for your motorcycle. It needs a little care and attention, especially when it’s gonna be sittin’ for a while. It’s not just about keeping it clean, it’s about making sure it can run when the weather warms up.
Now, some folks might say this is all a bunch of hooey. They’ll say, “Just park it and forget it.” But I’m tellin’ ya, a little bit of work now will save you a lot of headaches later. Trust me, I’ve seen it a hundred times. A little prevention is worth a pound of cure, as they say.
And don’t go thinkin’ you need a bunch of fancy tools or a big, fancy garage. Nah, most of this stuff you can do with what you got around the house. Just a little elbow grease and some common sense. That’s a good tip about how to store a motorcycle during winter.
So there ya have it. That’s how this old gal stores her motorcycle for the winter. It ain’t rocket science, but it works. And when that first warm day of spring rolls around, you’ll be ready to hit the road, while everyone else is still fiddlin’ with their bikes. You will get back on the road as soon as the weather warms up.
Remember, a little care goes a long way. Take care of your bike, and it’ll take care of you. Now go on, get that thing put away before the snow flies! Don’t wait too late to think about how to store a motorcycle during winter. It’s really important to get your motorcycle ready for winter.
