1. Wash the motorcycle thoroughly and dry it
Salt, mud and insect residue keep working over the winter. Wash the motorcycle gently, without a pressure washer aimed at bearings, connectors and seals. Then let it dry properly, ideally with a short ride, so that water evaporates even from places a cloth can't reach.
2. Fill the tank
A full tank reduces the space in which moisture can condense and where the inner wall of the tank could corrode. If the motorcycle will stand for several months, you can use a fuel stabiliser. After adding it, let the engine run for a while so the treated fuel reaches the entire system.
3. Consider an oil change before winter
Used oil contains combustion by-products and impurities that are not good for the engine when it stands for a long time. That is why many riders change the oil in autumn rather than in spring. The engine then stands all winter with a clean fill. Always check the oil interval and specification in the service book of your model.
4. Look after the battery
The battery is the most common reason a motorcycle won't start in spring. You have two options:
- leave the battery in the motorcycle and connect it to a maintenance charger with an automatic mode,
- remove the battery, store it in a dry place where it doesn't freeze, and recharge it from time to time.
An ordinary charger without a maintenance mode doesn't belong on all winter – it can overcharge the battery.
5. Chain and tyres
After washing, clean and lubricate the chain so it doesn't rust over the winter. Inflate the tyres to the prescribed pressure. If you can, put the motorcycle on a stand under the rear wheel so the tyre doesn't sit in one spot for months.
6. Protecting metal parts
Treat chrome, the exhaust and unpainted metal parts with a preservative or a thin layer of protective spray. Take care that the product does not get onto the brake discs and pads.
7. Where and how to store the motorcycle
Ideally, store it in a dry garage without big temperature swings. Cover the motorcycle with a breathable cover, not an airtight sheet that would trap condensation underneath. If it stays outdoors, a quality outdoor cover and a lock are worth the money.
Don't want to deal with it yourself?
At Royal Enfield GARAGE in Bohušovice nad Ohří we inspect your motorcycle before winter, change the oil and prepare it so that in spring all you need to do is turn the key. Winter is also an ideal time for a bigger service, because you don't have to wait for it during the season.
