How do you prepare a motorcycle for winter?

Winter-ready for continuous riders:

Those who ride all year round know that the motorcycle has to endure more during the winter. We have to deal with cold, moisture, and road salt. It is important to combat this pollution and provide your motorcycle with extra protection. An important weapon in the fight against winter elements is protective spray and corrosion protection. First clean your motorcycle and then apply the spray. With this spray, you create a barrier that protects metal parts. For the best result, we recommend doing this before winter begins.

Checking Tyres and Lighting

Check whether the tread depth of your tyres is still adequate. Those who ride during the winter want to be sure that the tyres still have sufficient grip. You can even choose winter tyres. Winter tyres are made from a different material, making them stay softer and retain grip better. The tread is designed in such a way that it can drain water and snow even better.

Check if all the lights on your motorcycle are working properly. Replace lights that are defective and check the beam angle of your front light. You should be able to look far enough ahead without your light being aimed too high, otherwise it will dazzle oncoming traffic. In France, reflective stickers on the helmet are mandatory. By sticking a set of stickers on your helmet, you not only avoid fines in France, but you will also be more noticeable at night. This ensures you can see well and are clearly visible on the road.

Winter ready for storage:

Those who prefer the comfort of the car during this period and put their motorcycle in winter storage, can do this so that the motorcycle is ready to ride immediately after the winter. For this, RAD has collected the following tips for you.

Check the fluids

Check your brake fluid, coolant, and engine oil, and replace them if necessary. If these fluids need to be replaced, it’s best to do so before the motorcycle goes into winter storage. This way, you decrease the chance that deposits, dirt, acid, and moisture will damage the engine block and pipes during the winter break. If you need to replace the engine oil, it might also be time to replace the oil filter. Then you have fresh oil and a new filter for the next season. Those who enjoy getting their hands dirty can do all these things themselves. Others can go to their local motorcycle garage or the dealer of their motorcycle brand.

Fill your tank to prevent rust and condensation

A full tank is a healthy tank, especially when you’re filling up with premium petrol. If your motorcycle’s petrol tank is not properly filled, there is room left for condensation. The condensation will in turn affect the inside of the metal tank. Don’t give petrol room to evaporate. You can even add a petrol stabilizer as an additive to the petrol that will protect the entire fuel system and the injection during long periods of inactivity. In this way, rust formation inside the engine doesn’t stand a chance and you can start the engine smoothly after the winter.

You can add 1 bottle of additive from both products per 20l of petrol, then let the engine idle for a while and your engine block is ready for winter storage on the inside.

Protect your engine against external rust

Now that the engine is protected against internal corrosion, you can prepare the exterior of the engine for winter. We start with a thorough cleaning. Go for a deep clean by cleaning under, above, and behind all parts of the engine. For this, use engine cleaning products for the entire engine and rim cleaner for the wheels. Finish everything off with a protective spray as we recommend for the all-year riders or opt for wax and paint restorers. Engines with a matte finish require a separate treatment for the maintenance of matte paint. If you still want to add a protective layer to your engine block and metal parts, opt for silicone spray.

Chain Cleaning and Lubricating

The dirty work is almost done! All you need to do is clean the chain using a chain cleaner and the extra cleaning power of a chain brush to clean the chain as well as possible. You can lubricate the chain in 8 simple steps. This is also the perfect moment to adjust the tension of the chain. After this, all you need to do is lubricate the chain again. For this, we have 2 top products ready. The average motorcyclist will be satisfied with the white chain spray from S100. Those who really want to ride everywhere with the motorcycle can opt for the new improved S100 high-end chain spray.

Winter Storage Tips

Now that the engine has been fully tuned, you can consider a few points when storing the engine. You can be sure that the chance of rust formation is minimal and the engine shines like never before. But during downtime, we must not completely lose sight of the engine. There are still a few risks that you can minimize.

Tyre Distortion

Tyres that are stationary can begin to deform if they lose their pressure. You can prevent this in 2 ways. You can set the tyre pressure to about 3 bar, so the tyre stays in shape and you can occasionally move the motorcycle to shift the load points. If this is too much work for you, you can lift both wheels off the ground by using a center stand or paddock stands. If there is no contact with the ground, your tyres can no longer deform and can remain stationary. An added benefit is that pests cannot reach your engine block via your tyres to cause damage.

Keep your battery in top condition

A battery that is not in use will slowly drain. Therefore, connect your battery to a trickle charger or a regular battery charger one day per month to ensure that the engine will start properly when the temperature rises.

Use a motorcycle cover

Unless your motorcycle is stored in a hermetically sealed space, there will still be dust and UV light present. This is easily counteracted by using a motorcycle cover or hanging some cloths over the motorcycle. This way, you don’t have to dust off the motorcycle at the start of the new season.

Lock the Engine

Lock your motorcycle properly even during winter storage! Check out our motorcycle locks blog to discover all our tips.

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With the help of these tips, your motorcycle is ready for the winter and you can continue riding with peace of mind or store the bike until the new season begins.

Related links:

• Motorcycle cleaning products
• Anti-rust spray and coating
• Motorcycle battery chargers