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Get Your Motorcycle Ready For Next Season

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Fall is here in the North and that means people are bringing in their hoses, putting up heat tape and dusting off the ice fishing houses. Squirrels are in panic mode to pack away nuts for winter and deer hunting season is just around the corner. And while there is still plenty of good riding weather left, it may be time to start thinking of winterizing your bike.
 
 If you are lucky enough to live somewhere with year-round riding, count your blessings; for everyone else, read on for a quick primer on what you need to get your bike ready for hibernation.
 
  Just like mama-grizzly gorging on berries and salmon, what you put into and how you store your bike is critical to your springtime success. A little effort now will save you lots of money and trouble next season. Not to worry, you need not scour the automotive stores or spend hours watching Ebay auctions, all of the supplies featured in this primer are available from your dealer.
 
  One of the first things to do is check with your dealer and ask if they have a winterizing/storage package. Even if you do nothing else, this one stop goodie-bag of winterizing supplies is the best and easiest thing to keep your bike happy all winter long.
 
  Another good idea is to wash the bike and wax the shiny stuff. This pre-storage grooming will ensure a quick getaway in the spring. While your neighbors are baking in the sun next to jars of turtle wax and chrome polish, you can give the bike a quick dust off and get riding. Consider touching up any chipped paint to prevent rust from building up.
 
  It is good practice to change all the fluids in the bike.  As for the fuel tank, I recommend using a fuel preservative. To prevent condensation and rust, make sure the tank is full. Close the petcock if equipped and run the engine until it dies. This will clear the fuel line preventing gum and varnish from forming in the carburetor during the winter.

  Your bike will thank you for removing the spark plug and “fogging” the cylinder to prevent rust forming during your baby’s hibernation. To keep the drive-train happy; clean, lubricate and adjust the chain.

  Perhaps most important thing for your motorcycle is to make sure to give the battery some attention. The worst thing you can do to a battery is let it sit, even a brand new battery can be junk by spring. Make sure the battery is filled to the proper level and put a Battery Tender or some other automatic battery manager on it. A standard trickle charger is not a good idea. Automatic maintainers only operate when the battery needs a small charge, whereas a trickle charger operates all the time and will ruin your battery over time. This step will save you $50 or more in the spring.

 
  Finally, cover the bike with a breathable cover. You don’t want a rain cover as it can trap moisture underneath.
 
 
  For those of you who are a bit more compulsive, you can find lots more to do to prepare your bike for the long cold winter ahead. But consider these steps at a minimum. Now in the spring you can unhook the Battery Tender, air up the tires, check the fluids and hit the road on the first nice day.