Winterizing Your Motorcycle

Now that summer is over and winter is on the horizon, many motorcyclists feel that it’s time to put their bikes away for the season. Winter weather here on the Eastern Seaboard can be pretty severe, and it’s not safe to try and ride through heavy blizzards or extreme cold. But you have a little work cut out for you before you can store your bike for winter, since there are several things that need to be maintained first.

Cross Country Cycle, with locations in Metuchen and Hasbrouck Heights, is proud to be your premier New Jersey motorcycle dealership. We’ve provided the following guide to winterizing your motorcycle to help you get your BMW or Ducati bike in shape before storing it for the season.

Wash Your Bike

First, take the time to thoroughly wash your motorcycle. There’s no doubt been a build-up of grime, dead bugs, dirt, dust and mud over the many weeks you’ve been riding, and you don’t want these substances to damage your finish. Thoroughly clean the bike, rinse it, allow it to dry completely, then apply a protective coating of motorcycle-friendly wax to it to keep it protected over winter.

Change The Oil & Fuel

Your next task is to change out the oil. Your owner’s manual will have guidelines for this, but it’s smart to do it after you’re through riding for the season. If you check the oil and it looks clean, you may only need to top it off, but sludgy oil merits a change. Make sure you replace the oil filter at the same time.

The gasoline in your tank will start to go bad after a month if it isn’t used, so you’ll need to fill up the tank with fresh gas and add a fuel stabilizer to prevent water from separating out and causing corrosion. Run your engine for a few minutes to filter the stabilized fuel through all parts.

Maintain The Tires

The tires on your bike maintain contact with the road and so they see more wear than other parts do. Carefully look them over to make sure their tread is sufficient and that there are no cracks in the sidewalls or embedded objects that necessitate repair or replacement. You’ll want to do what you can to protect your tires during storage so that they don’t have to endure constant pressure over months. This can create flat spots that can ruin your wheels.

Your choices are to elevate your entire motorcycle to remove pressure from the wheels or to rotate the tires a few times a month to prevent excess wear on one particular portion. Determine which option is best for you.

Locate Secure Storage

Now that your bike is completely winterized, it’s time to find a good place to store it. If you have a locking garage or shed with sufficient space, then you can put your bike there and trust it will be fine through the winter. Storing your bike on the street, in your backyard or in your driveway leaves it vulnerable to cold, precipitation and even the risk of theft.

If you don’t have a secure place to store your bike at home, then you may want to rent a storage unit somewhere to keep it secured. Regardless, you should invest in a high-quality cover for your bike that you can fit around it snugly to keep out pests and prying eyes, as well as water and dust.

We hope our guide has proven helpful to you in determining what needs doing when it comes to winterizing your motorcycle. Interested in buying a Ducati or a BMW motorcycle of your very own? Visit one of our New Jersey locations in Hasbrouck Heights or Metuchen today to see our full stock of new and used BMW motorcycles and Ducati motorcycles for sale. We provide motorcycle pick-up and delivery services for your convenience. Cross Country Cycle proudly serves the entire state of New Jersey as well as our neighbors in New York.