Proper winter storage goes a long way towards an easy start in the Spring and keeping your bike in good shape!
Battery!
Don't fall into the trap of thinking that starting your bike every couple weeks and running it for 15 minutes will do the job. It definitely won't; you are using much more energy to start the bike than you are producing by doing this. The only way to properly maintain your battery is using a trickle charger.
Remove the battery if the location you are storing it in will get to freezing or below. A frozen battery is not a good thing, and will shorten the life dramatically. You need a proper trickle charger with a 0.75A setting. Get a proper one for your motorcycle, it's a $50-60 investment you will keep and use every year. We recommend the Optimate, and we have it in stock year round. Hook up the battery tender and forget about it until Spring!
A tender is designed for long term storage, and will gradually charge and then discharge the battery to keep it in good condition.
Fuel!
Gas has a shelf life of about one month before the more volatile part of the fuel evaporates and we are left with the heavier component of the fuel. There are two problems with this. The first is that this leftover heavier part will settle into the fuel system causing blockages in carburetors and fuel injectors. This can cause the dreaded "no start" even though the battery was maintained properly.
The second issue is that the fuel will go bad, and not be very combustible in the Spring. This also leads to hard starting or "no start" issues.
Fortunately the solution is very simple. Purchase fuel stabilizer from your favourite motorcycle shop, we recommend the Honda brand as it is very inexpensive, less than $9 which will last you for many years. Make sure you read the directions on any product you but, and follow them carefully. It is important to run the bike for a few minutes after putting the stabilizer in the tank. A good practice is to ride your bike to the gas station, fill up your tank, add the stabilizer and ride to your storage location.
Tires!
While you were at the gas station it's a good idea to overinflate your tires 10 psi as they will lose pressure over the winter. If your bike has a centre stand put the motorcycle on it, and place a block of wood under the front wheel. If you only have a side stand consider getting front and rear paddock stands to get the tires off the ground. Otherwise just move the bike around every month or so to prevent flat spots on the tires.
Wash!
One last time, give your bike a very thorough wash and dry to prevent rust over the winter. Use a good quality motorcycle cover that breathes to prevent dust and rust. It is a very good investment.
Oil Change!
We recommend a fall oil change prior to storage. One less thing to do in the spring, and it's a good time to have a good look around to see if there are any other maintenance items that need to be taken care of over the winter. Remember both brake fluid and coolant need to be changed every two years!
Location!
Store your bike in a heated, secure place. If you don't have access to this, it may be worth considering having your favourite shop store it for you. While you can store it outside, we can't recommend this in good conscience. It tends to lead to many issues. Also plug your exhaust with steel wool to prevent critters from making a nest in there over the winter.
