A few words about wintering
Every motorcyclist knows that the motorcycle season starts in May and closes in October. Of course, there are riders who start the season earlier and end the season later. But it should be borne in mind that in our latitudes by October there is a lot of precipitation and it becomes cold enough to ride. It is also not recommended to ride a motorcycle in early spring, the reasons for this, in principle, are the same.
The thought that autumn has already come and it is time to dismount from the faithful “iron horse” certainly saddens everyone for whom a motorcycle is more than just a means of transportation through a busy city or wild off-road. Alas, nothing can be done, – October has come – it’s time to get ready for winter. “Winter is coming”, as the classic used to say.
To be sad or not to be sad about the approaching winter is the choice of each of us, but you definitely need to decide for yourself what to do with the motorcycle: you are unlikely to abandon your “two-wheeled brother” in the open – even if you have a protected area closed from strangers, Your motorcycle is “afraid” of frequent changes in temperature and moisture. It is from these two “comrades” that you should protect your transport.
“What to do?” – here’s a question from another classic. Fortunately, we have enough options. Winter storage of a motorcycle, it is also wintering, can be carried out in a garage, a barn, a summer house, in a covered parking lot, under a canopy, in general, where you have the opportunity to do it. So, with the wintering place, we will assume that you figured it out. It should be remembered that this is not all. In addition to choosing a storage location, it is necessary to carry out a number of operations to prepare the motorcycle for wintering. This is what we will talk about in this article.
List of necessary
To carry out conservation, we need the following:
- Silicone grease – you need a little, a lot, just enough to fill a large surface area of the motorcycle with it;
- WD-40 – a can of a well-known spray for metal surfaces, enough for the eyes;
- Chain lubricant – I strongly advise you to use the lubricant recommended by the manufacturer;
- Wax polish – and let no dust let your mot stop sparkling;
- New engine oil – if desired, you can replace the old oil. Purchase a manufacturer’s recommended oil. Do not be stingy, the “correct” oil is the guarantee of a long life for your “iron horse”!;
- A canister of gasoline – no need to buy a “weaving”, but the A-76, which is still in your grandfather’s garage, is also not worth pouring.
So, sir, have you collected / bought everything you need? Great, let’s continue!
Forward to the stars!
- Here, probably, the most boring thing: you need to “unearth” technical documentation / manual / information on your motorcycle in various forums – in general, you need to find out what the manufacturer recommends to do in order to prepare the motorcycle for winter on your own.
- Well, we read some clever books, now for sure – into battle! At this stage, it is necessary to completely wash the motorcycle from dust, dirt, all kinds of insects that you came across during the motorcycle season. This should be done, since all the excess of the above is a sure path to corrosion. Are there chrome parts? We polish. Be sure to wax the necessary parts.
- Next, fill the gas tank “all the way”, the less free space in the tank, the less chance we give corrosion. If a carburetor is also available, then on the contrary, the fuel must be drained.
- Warm up the engine and drain the old oil. Then you have two ways: either pour “fresh” oil now or before the start of the new motorcycle season. A common myth is that it is imperative to leave oil in the engine during the winter. This is not true. The main thing is not to go “dry” in the spring, if you change the oil and oil filter before “wintering” – you will save valuable minutes before leaving in the new season.
- Then it is necessary to lubricate all cables and bolts. The chain must be cleaned and lubricated, even if the chain is protected by a “cover”. Please note that using WD-40 for these purposes is not worth it, this spray can easily damage the O-rings.
- Try to reduce the pressure in the suspension and tires. Possible options: put the motorcycle on the footboard / purchase a special wheel lift / lift the wheels off the ground, hang them up. If none of the options work, ride the bike back and forth every few weeks. With the influence of cold weather, the tire pressure can drop – inflate the tires to the maximum, but not more than the manufacturer’s recommended level!
- The battery must be stored in a cool, dark and dry place, at a temperature of no more than 15 degrees, but during moderate winter and ambient temperature in the room where wintering is carried out, you can simply remove the terminal from the battery.