Top 5 Tips for Maintaining Your Motorbike Over the Winter

Winter can be a challenging season for motorbike enthusiasts. For many, it’s the time to store their bike away until the warmer months return, while others may brave the cold to keep riding. In both cases, maintaining your motorbike over the winter is crucial to ensure its longevity, performance, and safety. The harsh winter conditions—cold temperatures, moisture, and even road salt—can be tough on your bike if it’s not properly cared for.

In this detailed guide, we’ll walk you through the top 5 tips for maintaining your motorbike over the winter, ensuring it stays in prime condition for when you’re ready to ride again, or for those occasional cold-weather outings.

1. Proper Storage: Keep Your Bike Protected

When it comes to winter maintenance, where and how you store your motorbike is perhaps the most important factor. Leaving your bike exposed to the elements—rain, snow, freezing temperatures—can cause extensive damage. The cold and moisture can lead to rust, battery drain, and deterioration of rubber parts like tires and hoses.

Key Steps for Proper Storage:

• Find a covered, dry space: Ideally, store your motorbike indoors, such as in a garage or shed. If you don’t have access to an indoor space, invest in a high-quality, weatherproof bike cover that can keep rain, snow, and frost off your bike.
• Prep the bike’s surface: Before putting your bike into storage, clean it thoroughly. Dirt, grime, and road salt can cause corrosion and degrade paint over time, especially when combined with moisture. After cleaning, apply a layer of wax or a corrosion inhibitor to protect the paint and exposed metal parts.
• Lift the bike off the ground: If possible, use a paddock stand or a motorcycle lift to keep the tires off the ground. This prevents flat spots on the tires from forming due to prolonged contact with cold concrete. If a stand isn’t available, rotating the tires occasionally can help minimise flat spots.
• Cover the exhaust: Condensation and moisture can enter the exhaust pipes during winter, potentially causing internal corrosion. Plugging the exhaust pipes with exhaust plugs or even a cloth rag will prevent this issue.

Why This Matters:

Storing your bike correctly protects it from weather damage, minimises the risk of rust and other corrosion, and preserves the bike’s overall appearance and performance for the upcoming riding season.

2. Battery Maintenance: Keep it Charged

Your bike’s battery is highly susceptible to cold weather. Low temperatures can lead to a significant decrease in battery capacity, and if left unchecked, the battery could completely discharge or even freeze, reducing its lifespan or rendering it useless. Maintaining your battery during the winter ensures that your bike will start up smoothly when you’re ready to ride again.

Key Steps for Battery Maintenance:

• Remove the battery: If you’re storing your bike for an extended period, consider removing the battery and storing it in a warmer, dry place. A temperature-controlled environment will prevent the battery from freezing or losing its charge too quickly.
• Use a battery tender: Invest in a smart battery charger, also known as a battery tender, which maintains the battery’s charge without overcharging it. These devices monitor the battery’s state and provide just the right amount of charge when needed. Many smart chargers have settings for long-term storage.
• Check connections: Ensure the battery terminals are clean and free from corrosion. If you notice any white or greenish deposits on the terminals, clean them off with a wire brush and apply a small amount of dielectric grease to prevent future corrosion.

Why This Matters:

A dead or damaged battery can be costly to replace and will delay the start of your riding season. Regular battery maintenance keeps it in good condition, ensuring your bike is ready to go when you are.

3. Fuel System: Treat and Protect

Storing a bike with untreated fuel in the tank can lead to several problems. Over time, fuel degrades, especially when exposed to moisture. It can gum up the fuel lines, carburetor, or fuel injectors, and in some cases, ethanol-blended fuels can cause corrosion within the fuel system. Ensuring your fuel system is prepped for winter storage is critical to preventing these issues.

Key Steps for Fuel System Maintenance:

• Use a fuel stabiliser: If you’re storing your bike for more than a month, add a fuel stabiliser to your tank. This prevents the fuel from breaking down and causing gum or varnish buildup in the fuel lines or carburetor. Follow the instructions on the fuel stabiliser’s label for the correct dosage.
• Fill up the tank: After adding the fuel stabiliser, fill the gas tank to the top. A full tank reduces the amount of air (and moisture) that can accumulate inside the tank, minimising the risk of rust.
• Run the engine: After treating the fuel, run the engine for a few minutes to allow the treated fuel to circulate through the system. This ensures that the stabiliser reaches the carburetor or fuel injectors.

Why This Matters:

Failing to stabilise your fuel can result in hard starts, poor engine performance, and costly repairs come spring. A small investment in a fuel stabiliser can prevent these headaches and keep your engine running smoothly.

4. Tire Care: Prevent Flat Spots and Cracking

Your motorbike’s tires are subject to damage from the cold, particularly if your bike is left stationary for long periods. Cold temperatures can cause tires to lose air pressure, become brittle, or even develop flat spots from resting in one position for too long. Proper tire maintenance ensures that your tires remain in good condition and are safe to ride on when the weather improves.

Key Steps for Tire Maintenance:

• Inflate the tires: Ensure your tires are inflated to the manufacturer’s recommended pressure before storing the bike. Cold weather causes air pressure to drop, and underinflated tires can develop flat spots or cracks more easily.
• Use tire stands or rotate the tires: If possible, lift the bike using paddock stands to take the weight off the tires, as prolonged contact with the cold ground can cause flat spots. If stands aren’t available, roll the bike slightly every few weeks to shift the tire’s resting position.
• Check for cracks: Cold weather can cause tire rubber to harden and crack, particularly if the tires are old. Inspect your tires for any signs of cracking, and if you notice any damage, plan to replace them before the next riding season.

Why This Matters:

Tires are your primary point of contact with the road, so keeping them in good condition is essential for safe riding. Proper tire maintenance prevents flat spots, cracking, and other forms of wear that could lead to dangerous situations on the road.

5. Fluids and Lubrication: Keep Everything Moving Smoothly

Your motorbike relies on a variety of fluids to keep its engine, brakes, and other components functioning properly. In the winter, these fluids can degrade, separate, or thicken due to the cold temperatures, so maintaining and checking them regularly is important.

Key Steps for Fluids and Lubrication:

• Change the oil: If you’re planning to store your bike for the winter, change the engine oil before doing so. Old oil can contain contaminants that, when left sitting for long periods, can corrode internal engine parts. Fresh oil protects the engine and keeps it lubricated during storage.
• Top off other fluids: Check and top off other essential fluids, such as coolant, brake fluid, and transmission oil. Make sure your coolant is appropriate for winter temperatures, especially if you store your bike in an unheated garage where freezing could occur.
• Lubricate moving parts: Apply lubricant to exposed metal components such as the chain, throttle cables, clutch cables, and any other moving parts. This prevents rust and keeps everything operating smoothly once you start riding again.

Why This Matters:

Cold weather can be tough on your bike’s internal components. Proper lubrication and fluid maintenance ensure that everything stays protected during the winter and prevents costly repairs down the road.

Conclusion: Winter Bike Care for Long-Term Success

Taking care of your motorbike during the winter months may seem like a hassle, but it’s an essential part of bike ownership. By following these five tips—proper storage, battery maintenance, fuel system care, tire preservation, and fluid checks—you can protect your investment and ensure that your bike is ready to perform when the riding season begins again.

Whether you’re a seasoned rider or new to the world of motorbikes, consistent winter maintenance will not only save you money on repairs but will also keep you safer on the road. Plus, when spring arrives, you’ll be able to enjoy your bike from the first warm day without any delays or issues.

Remember, a little effort in the winter can go a long way in preserving the life and performance of your motorbike, ensuring it runs smoothly for years to come.

SORN & Laid Up Insurance

Cover for your bikes whilst they're off the road in storage. Includes cover for fire, theft and malicious damage for your SORN and laid up bikes