How to winterize a motorcycle

The time has finally come. As cold temperatures settle across Canada, the need to winterize your motorcycle before storing it for an extended period should become one of your top priorities as a motorcycle owner. Whether you're a first-time owner, are thinking about buying a motorcycle, or haven't dealt with freezing temperatures before, learning how to winterize a motorcycle properly can help you protect your investment and have peace of mind knowing your bike is in good working order all year round. For more info, read through our comprehensive guide below.

Wash the exterior

First things first, before you winterize your motorcycle, you'll want to wash it thoroughly to remove any dirt and other debris. Wash the exterior using a clean sponge and mild soap. Once your bike has dried, apply a wax on the paint and chrome. Doing so will help prevent rust and other corrosion from potentially damaging your bike as it's stored.

You should also apply a leather treatment to the seat to prevent potential damage during the winter season, such as cracking or discoloration.

Perform an oil change and filter swap

Next, you'll want to change your motorcycle's oil. Dirty oil can cause damage to your fuel system. Drain the old oil and fill your tank with fresh oil up to the rim. Don't forget to switch out the air filter as well. If you're unsure what oil or filter you need for your motorcycle, check your motorcycle's owner's manual beforehand.

Lubricate your chains

If your motorcycle has a chain, you'll want to thoroughly clean it when you winterize your motorcycle. Once it is clean, apply a generous amount of grease to the chain dr,ive to prevent corrosion during the cold months.

Keep battery charged

Your motorcycle battery is at risk of losing charge every day you don't use it. To prevent your battery from draining when storing your bike, you can connect your battery to a battery maintainer, which is a type of trickle charger that charges the battery only when it needs. Essentially, a trickle charger will keep your battery charged fully, so you can start your motorcycle right away after removing it from winter storage. Alternatively, you can unplug your battery during the off-season to prevent it from draining as well.

Fill your gas tank and add a fuel stabilizer

Storing fuel in your fuel tank can cause the fuel to degrade and damage your engine. To winterize your motorcycle, you'll want to add a fuel stabilizer. A fuel stabilizer will keep the fuel in your gas tank fresh for up to 24 months. Once you add your fuel stabilizer to your gas tank, start your engine and let it run for a couple of minutes. This will ensure that the stabilizer reaches the fuel injectors and other parts of your engine.

Check fluid levels

The next step to winterizing your motorcycle is to check your coolant levels and brake fluid. Ensure that your levels are maximized during the winter, as it will keep these systems optimal and protect them from any damage.

Cover exhaust pipes and air intake

Properly winterizing your bike also means protecting your bike from possible rodent damage. To prevent rodents from entering your exhaust pipes, add some steel wool into a plastic bag. Put the bag in your tailpipe. This will prevent rodents from entering your motorcycle, and the plastic will prevent the metal from damaging your bike.

Properly inflate tires

Before storing your bike, you'll want to inflate your tires. If you're storing your bike on a centre stand, rotating your bike tires periodically is needed to prevent flat spots. Otherwise, you'll want to consider storing your motorcycle in an elevated position to protect the integrity of your tires all winter long.

Secure warm indoor storage

Finally, to properly winterize your motorcycle, you'll want to keep your motorcycle in a well-ventilated area indoors and cover your bike with a breathable cover. Ensuring the storage area is well-ventilated with air will prevent your bike from experiencing moisture damage during the winter.

If you do not have a secure location on your property for storing your bike until the springtime, you may want to consider storing it in a secure, paid storage unit nearby. But remember, storing your motorcycle during the winter at one of these units will cost extra money.

Update your motorcycle insurance policy

Before storing your bike for the winter months, you'll want to make sure your motorcycle insurance is up-to-date. Having insurance coverage throughout the winter is essential. While you won't experience the benefit of riding during winter conditions, you're ultimately benefiting from the protection insurance offers you.

If you don't already have comprehensive coverage in your plan, you may want to consider adding it. Comprehensive coverage protects your motorcycle from non-collision damages. This includes theft, vandalism, falling objects, fire, explosions, and other specified perils that may cause damage to your motorcycle during this extended period.

Consider visiting a professional mechanic

If, at any time, you feel uncomfortable winterizing your motorcycle, the best thing you can do is find a good mechanic in your area to perform the maintenance for you. When choosing a mechanic, make sure to do your research beforehand.

You'll want to look for a mechanic with numerous good reviews, one willing to answer your questions, a mechanic who's skilled in working on your specific motorcycle, and one who offers fair pricing.

Why you should winterize your motorcycle

If you're new to motorcycle riding, you may not believe that winterizing your bike is worth the time and effort. However, there are numerous reasons why winterizing your bike beyond adding a motorcycle cover is essential:

Protects your fuel system

Stabilizing the fuel in your tank will protect your motorcycle engine during the winter, ensuring you'll be able to ride your bike without issue come the spring.

Prevent rust

Depending on where in Canada you live, exposure to winter conditions like salt and moisture can cause corrosion and wreak havoc on the moving parts and metal surfaces of your motorcycle. When rust develops, it can lead to expensive repairs that are otherwise preventable with the right maintenance.

Freeze prevention

Winters in Canada often come with unpredictable weather conditions that can lead to the freezing of the brake and coolant fluids in your motorcycle, which can lead to damage. By maintaining your bike properly, you're providing extra protection to your ride during the winter.

Battery maintenance

Winter temperatures can also damage your bike battery. Removing the spark plugs and disconnecting the battery from the engine ensures that your battery charge won't drain.

Keeps oil and fuel fresh

Double-checking your bike oil and replacing it before putting your bike in storage offers an additional layer of protection by removing contaminants within the old oil that may cause damage.

Prevents rodent damage

Canadian winters are cold. Critters and rodents are often looking for a warm place to sleep during this time. By optimizing your bike storage and covering your tailpipe, you can avoid rodent damage come the spring.

It helps you prevent winter insurance claims

Having the right insurance adds extra protection to your bike storage. Anything can happen during the winter. By ensuring your bike is properly stored and winterized, you can confidently ride your motorcycle in the spring without having to worry about insurance claims and costly repairs.

Common mistakes when winterizing your bike

Unfortunately, there's no owner's manual on how to properly take care of your motorcycle during the winter. This can often lead to mistakes that could lead to bike damage. Here's a closer look at some common mistakes bike owners make when winterizing their motorcycles:

Draining your fuel system

A common misconception in the motorcycle community is that you should drain the gas from your tank. However, when you do so, the remaining gas can crystallize and clog the fuel injectors, which is costly to repair. Instead, opt for a fuel stabilizer to maintain a full tank of gas. You can easily drain the fuel stabilizer in the spring when you take your bike out of storage.

Storing a dirty bike

Putting a dirty bike into storage is a no-go. Dirt and grime can eat away at the clear coat on your bike paint, later leading to rust and other damage. Make sure that your motorcycle is cleaned properly and sealed with wax. This will keep it looking fresh and have you back out on the road in no time.

Using a cheap motorcycle cover

If you don't pay for a professional storage unit, you'll want to invest in a high-quality bike cover. A cheap bike cover that is not properly ventilated can lead to moisture build-up that develops into mould and corrosion that damages your paint job, chain, and other aspects of your bike.

Leaving your motorcycle outside

Leaving your motorcycle outside during the winter will make it susceptible to winter conditions. Whether it be rain, snow, ice, salt, or falling objects, without a fully covered and sealed storage room like a garage or unit, you're basically inviting damage to happen, which will be costly to repair.

Cancelling your insurance policy

Seasonal insurance is not a good idea when it comes to storing your motorcycle. Without year-round coverage, you'll be responsible for paying out of pocket for any damages or losses that occur to your bike.

At the same time, if a sunny day comes along during the winter, there's a chance you may want to go out for a ride. Without coverage, you won't be able to capitalize on a nice winter day. For peace of mind, ensure your coverage meets your needs in case you need to file a claim for damages.

Not rotating tires

While storing your bike on a centre stand is fine, it can lead to flat spots on your tires if you don't rotate them often. Make sure you're rotating your tires at least once every two weeks.

How much does it cost to store a motorcycle?

As we said, if you aren't fortunate enough to have room on your property to store your bike during the winter, you'll need to pay for a professional storage unit instead, which comes at a cost. So, how much can you anticipate paying? Well, it depends on a few factors, including:

• The size of the unit.
• Where the unit is located.
• Whether it is temperature-controlled or not.
• Whether it has 24/7 security.
• And more.

Before choosing this option, ask friends or family members whether they have room in their garage. If you have no other option but to keep your bike in a storage unit, shop around and obtain quotes from different units to ensure you get the best deal possible.

How to de-winterize a motorcycle?

Finally, when it's time to remove your bike from winter storage and head out back on the open road, there are a couple of maintenance tasks you'll need to perform to ensure your motorcycle is in good condition before your first ride. This includes:

• Doing a visual inspection for any visible damage.
• Checking your tire pressure.
• Looking at fluid levels.
• Inspecting your brakes.
• Drain the fuel stabilizer from your tank.
• Schedule a service appointment at your local mechanic.
• Get your motorcycle inspected and plated for the road.

How BrokerLink can help

There are numerous benefits to riding a motorcycle. At BrokerLink, we help motorcycle owners find affordable car insurance so that they can spend more time out on the open road with peace of mind. With access to numerous policies from some of Canada's top providers, our brokers can customize your coverage to meet your needs and riding style. Whether you need motorcycle insurance in Ontario or another province, trust that BrokerLink has got you covered every step of the way. To learn more, you can get a free, competitive insurance quote using our convenient online quote tool!

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