PREPARING YOUR MOTORBIKE FOR WINTER

With the arrival of colder and wetter weather, most riders decide now is the time to hang up their helmets and stop using their bike throughout winter. However, it isn't as simple of just not riding a motorbike, so here are some top tips on how to store your motorcycle safely.

1. Make sure it's clean

Before you store and cover your bike, it's important to give it a thorough clean and always remember to dry it off completely. It's also wise to apply a spray-on, anti-corrosion protectant or dispersant to all the exposed metal areas to prevent any damp. It's vital to re-grease any moving parts such as cables that have been cleaned of their lubricant to ensure they are in working order next time you come to riding your bike.



1. Look after the battery

Batteries really don't like the cold, so if they're left unused for any prolonged period, it will start to go flat. Flat batteries remain the number one cause for recovery services during winter, so to avoid this, you should either remove the battery entirely and store it in a warm place (please note: alarms and immobilisers won't work without the battery), or you can use an optimiser to keep the battery levels topped up.



2. Check the liquids before winter

The liquid parts of a bike (e.g., fuel and brake fluid) are just as vulnerable to winter conditions as metal surfaces. Brake fluids can attract damp, which can create air bubbles in the...