Taking Care of Your Motorcycle During the Winter Season

Winter can be hard for motorcyclists, since it generally means that your riding time is significantly reduced. Falling snow, icy roads, below-freezing temperatures, and reduced visibility all combine to make winter a pretty poor time to ride your bike, especially here in the Midwest.

That’s why it’s important to use this time to care for your bike and ensure that it’s in good working order. This becomes especially essential if you do choose to ride, rather than putting your bike into storage for the whole season. Gina's Motorsports of Monee is proud to be your Illinois motorcycle dealer. As such, we’ve provided this brief guide to help you take good care of your bike while it’s cold out.

Wash & Wax

Start by giving your bike a thorough cleaning on a sunny day that’s not too cold. You’ll want to wash off all the accumulated dirt and grime from the year’s riding to prevent damage to your finish and make your bike look better. Following a good wash, you should apply a protective wax coating to keep your motorcycle looking shiny and clean.

Change the Oil

Take out the dipstick from your oil reservoir, wipe it with a soft cloth, re-insert it and remove it once more to check the color and consistency of your oil. Chances are good that it’s going to be pretty sludgy and opaque, which merits an oil change. Make sure that you’re using the correct oil for your particular bike and that you change out the oil filter as well. If you find any metal shavings, contact the service department here at Gina’s Motorsports of Monee so that our mechanics can take a look, since this can indicate a serious issue with your engine.

Stabilize Fuel

You won’t want to leave your bike in storage with half a tank of gas inside it. Gas starts to deteriorate after a month or so of disuse, and a tank that’s partly empty can develop condensation, which leads to rust and corrosion. Fill up your gas tank completely (try to avoid fuels with ethanol for best results) and add a fuel stabilizer to it. Run the engine for a few minutes to allow the gasoline to circulate through the engine, lubricating its parts.

Remove The Battery

If you’re leaving your bike in storage for a few weeks or months, it’s best to remove the battery and place it on a trickle or tender charger to keep it juiced up. Your battery won’t hold a charge for months without being ridden and once it’s drained of charge, it may never hold power again. Inspect the posts for any signs of corrosion and clean off any light crust. If you see heavy corrosion, it’s time to replace the battery entirely.

Check Tires

The tires on your bike are designed to hold up its weight, but they’re likely to suffer during the winter. Flat spots can develop when the bike is allowed to rest on one spot for a long time. Rotating the wheels a few times a month is one way to prevent this; elevating your bike off the ground is another. It’s up to you which option you choose.

Remember that if you need some professional assistance with your motorcycle maintenance, you can always contact the service department at Gina’s Motorsports of Monee. We’ll be more than happy to help you out in whatever way we can. In search of a bike? Come on down to see us at our location in Monee, Illinois, to take a look at our wide selection of new and used motorcycles for sale. Gina’s Motorsports of Monee proudly serves the greater Chicago metro region, as well as our customers throughout Kankakee County, Illinois.