Preparing for Winter Maintenance and Storage for Your HD

Preparing For the Winter

You had a great season! Maybe you were able to log thousands of miles or maybe just a few memorable rides. Seasoned riders talk about the coming winter like it was an episode of Game of Thrones and you know that the riding season is coming to a close. Preparing your bike for icy, damp, or prolonged storage merits just as much dedication as preparing it for the riding season. 

Inside or Outside

Not everyone has the luxury of owning a garage and even those of us who do may have to compete for space with the family car and things acquired over the years. Riders who faced this dilemma before would agree that you need to make sure your bike has a home... even if outside. If you are facing this decision for the first time (the bike or the minivan in the garage) then you should really consider a motorcycle shelter system. It is basically a tent designed to stand alone on a concrete surface but can be anchored, especially if on grass or similar surface. Prices vary considerably between brands and a motorcycle-specific shelter can run you north of $300. For those of us who rather spend our money on new gear for next season, Home Depot offers a King Canopy in different sizes for about $50!  

>>Join the conversation and about these and other motorcycle storage tips right here in the forum.

Off The Ground

Whether your bike will spend the winter in the garage our outside in a shelter you should consider getting it off the ground. For many riders, this is a no-brainer, but for the newly-minted enthusiast who just spent an entire season getting to know his (or her) bike and began customizing it, this is something they most likely haven't considered. Keep tire dry rot from becoming an issue and make winter (and pre-season maintenance) easier by placing your motorcycle on a center stand or bike lift. In a pinch, if you have a manual lift you could use it, although the weight of your motorcycle could damage your hydraulic jack and slowly lower your bike throughout the winter. 

>>Join the conversation and about these and other motorcycle storage tips right here in the forum.

Battery Tender

Another a no-brainer for many riders, yet, every season many others have to go out and buy a new battery or have to jump theirs. A battery tender is designed to fully charge a battery and maintain it at proper storage voltage without the damaging effects caused by trickle chargers. It's a must-have in any garage (or toolkit) if you own a motorcycle. There are plenty of tenders online or at your local auto-parts store and some are even small enough to hold a charge and jump a dead battery while on a ride somewhere. They will cost you anywhere between $10 and $50.

>>Join the conversation and about these and other motorcycle storage tips right here in the forum.

Fuel Stabilizer

Some people have to store their motorcycles longer than others. If you live in Florida, for example, additives such as fuel stabilizers are probably not a big issue unless you leave town for a couple of months. Fuel stabilizers prevent degradation of the fuel which in time makes it less volatile. Additives also serve as water inhibitors. 

>>Join the conversation and about these and other motorcycle storage tips right here in the forum.

A Simple Wash

Ok, so many people are not particular about washing a motorcycle. After all, if it's dirty it means you rode it. Road sediment in and around the engine, mixed with oil, fuel, and the squirrel you ran over, can and will contribute to premature degradation of certain components such as spark plugs, electrical harnesses, electronic components, breaks, and suspension.  A quick pressure wash to remove these impurities before storage will go a long way to prevent expensive issues down the road. 

>>Join the conversation and about these and other motorcycle storage tips right here in the forum.

Extra tips

This pre-storage tip comes to us by way of forum member dawg who suggests lubing the pivot points on the footboards, lube the spring and mechanism on the saddlebag latch along with the tour pak latches and hinges. In addition to that you should make sure there is air in the tires and to go ahead and throw a coat of wax onto a clean bike. These tips can really help out when the bike is sitting in an unheated garage with fluctuating temperatures. 

>>Join the conversation and about these and other motorcycle storage tips right here in the forum.

For help with your maintenance and repair projects, please visit our how-to section in the forum.