Preparing and Protecting Your Motorcycle for Winter Storage

No products found.If you are based in the UK, the Pacific Northwest, New England or elsewhere with a similar climate, you will no doubt be all too familiar with the need to take extra steps and precautions for your motorcycle winter storage.

Here we look at what steps should you take and some of the products recommended in preparing and storing your motorbike over the winter months.

1 – One of the main reasons for starting problems encountered when the first rays of spring occur is a build-up of deposits, oxidation and corrosion in the fuel system during long periods of storage.

Before finally putting your motorcycle under wraps, add a good quality carb and fuel system cleaner such as Muc-Off Dry Lube or Red Line Fuel System Cleaner and take a last 10 mile ride.

This will help clean through the carburetor and fuel system and protect it from the build-up of deposits and corrosion. Next…

2 – Give your motorbike a good pre-winter detailing. We recommend a thorough clean and degrease with a good quality bike wash. Quality brands include S100, Muc-Off and Autoglym.

3 – Ensure your bike is throughly dried off. Consider one of the specialist warm air motorcycle dryers like the Motorcycle Power Dryer in Europe, or Air Force Blaster in the US.

If you have a leaf blower these can always come in handy at this point, provided there is no dirt or dust in them or use good quality microfibre drying towel.

4 – Spray your bike with a corrosion protectant to help protect it from any damp during the winter period. There are a wide range of products available for this including Muc-Off Motorcycle Protectant (UK/US) or S100 Corrosion Protectant Spray (US).

5 – If chain driven, give your chain or a thorough clean with a chain cleaning solution to remove any build-up of grease, muck and dust. A  specially designed Chain Cleaning Brush comes in very handy at this point and makes a usually awkward job that much easier.

6 – Apply a coating of dry chain lube to your chain. The choice of dry lube ensures that you do not get any dust build-up and sticking to your chain over the winter period. Three excellent motorcycle dry chain lubes include Muc-Off Dry Chain Lube, Profi Dry Lube, and .

At this stage and if time allows we would also recommend an oil flush and filter change as part of your motorcycle winter storage regime.

7 – Next clean and check the tightness of your battery terminals and apply a coating of terminal protectant such as Wurth CU 800 . Consider protecting your battery with a Deltran Battery Tender.

Unlike standard battery chargers these clever devices can be kept attached to the battery during the whole winter period and use clever electronics to constantly monitor your batteries charge and condition and apply just the right amount of charge to keep it in optimum condition and pro-long the life of the battery.

Battery Tender Plus 12V Battery Charger and Maintainer: 1.25 AMP
$59.95
  • STAY CHARGED: Provides a full charge to your vehicle’s battery before switching to float mode to maintain proper voltage levels for safe, long-term storage without overcharging
  • Great for AGM and flooded batteries
  • Advanced algorithms
  • California compliant charger
We may earn a small commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
03/02/2024 02:52 pm GMT

It will also ensure that your battery is in perfect condition for that first start of spring next year.

8 – You are now ready to put your bike into storage for the winter. The final step is to ensure your tyres are not resting permanently on concrete to avoid the danger of them cracking or rotting in one spot.

If you do not have any motorcycle stands consider resting them up on pieces of wood instead. And finally, cover with a good quality breathable motorbike cover as the last step in your motorcycle winter storage process.

Favoto Waterproof Motorcycle Cover XXL Motorbike Cover 245cm Long UV Scratch Bird Droppings Heat-Resistant Outdoor Protection Black 96.5x41x50 inch
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Favoto Waterproof Motorcycle Cover XXL Motorbike Cover 245cm Long UV Scratch Bird Droppings Heat-Resistant Outdoor Protection Black 96.5x41x50 inch
  • 【Universal Fit】 - Favoto motorcycle cover is universal and fits various motorcycles. Fits up to 96.5inches in length motorcycles.
  • 【Quality 210D Fabric】- Favoto motorcycle cover is made of 210D oxford fabric, silver coating inside, greatly reduce the damage of sun rays; It helps protect your motorcycle’s varnish from rain, heat, dust, sun, scratches and etc. Especially for genuine leather seats, it can provide overall protection.
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Favoto Motorcycle Cover Reflective Waterproof Outdoor Protection All Season Universal Weather Premium Durable Vehicle Cover with Lock-Holes & Storage Bag Fits up to 104' Motorcycles
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Favoto Motorcycle Cover Reflective Waterproof Outdoor Protection All Season Universal Weather Premium Durable Vehicle Cover with Lock-Holes & Storage Bag Fits up to 104" Motorcycles
  • [ UNIVERSAL FIT ] – Favoto motorcycle cover is universal and fits various motorcycles. Fits up to 104” in length motorcycles.
  • [QUALITY MATERIAL] – Favoto motorcycle cover is made of premium quality polyester fabrics, silver coating inside.
P1 Tools Universal Sport Auto Bike Motorcycle Front and Rear Combo Wheel Lift Stand Swingarm Paddock Fork Stands Fits Yamaha Honda Kawasaki BMW
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P1 Tools Universal Sport Auto Bike Motorcycle Front and Rear Combo Wheel Lift Stand Swingarm Paddock Fork Stands Fits Yamaha Honda Kawasaki BMW
  • 【CAPACITY】Motorcycle lift table 320kg Lift Capacity (Both Stands) maximum which helps you for repair and maintenance jobs. Also suitable for long term storage
  • 【MATERIAL】 Manufactured from 32mm steel tube. Extra heavy-duty construction, Lightweight, Nylon wheels for ease of use and portability

Applying these steps should ensure that your bike is safely stored over the winter period and protected from the extremes of winter temperatures and the long period of standing, ready to be enjoyed again next spring.

So now your bike is safely tucked away for the winter the likelihood is you’ll be back to 4 wheels. Take a look at our guide on how to prepare, protect and care for your car during Winter.

Over To You

Have you got your own tried and test tips for winter motorcycle storage? We’d love to hear about them. Please share in the comments below.

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