How to Winterize a Motorcycle

Granite City winters are pretty rough, with lots of snow and ice, biting winds, and brutally cold temperatures. It’s an environment bound to take a toll on a finely-tuned motorcycle. That’s why it’s so important to know how to winterize a motorcycle and how to store a motorcycle for winter. If you like riding a motorcycle in winter, read on for some helpful tips from Ted's Motorcycle World on how to properly winterize a motorcycle.

Prepping Your Motorcycle for Winter Conditions

If you’ve ever winterized a car, you’ll find that doing the same for a motorcycle is pretty similar. And like a car, components like the radiator, tires, and hoses need to be prepped. Consider the following winterization tips:

• Buy wind guards to protect your body from the blast of the winter wind.
• Get a set of motorcycle winter tires with full tread.
• If you have a water-cooled motorcycle, put in new antifreeze.
• Check the radiator and hoses for leaks.
• Consider buying heated handlebar grips.

If you’re not accustomed to motorcycling in winter conditions, take some time to consider a few basic safety tips, like staying off icy roads and staying home when wind velocity is especially high. Avoiding black ice, salt, and pavement cracks will extend the life of your bike and help you avoid accidents.

How to Store a Motorcycle for the Winter

People in Edwardsville who put their bikes away when the cold sets in should know how to store a motorcycle for the winter. There’s more to it than wheeling it into the garage and locking the door. Whether you’ve got a Harley-Davidson Road Glide or any other motorcycle, you want your bike’s components to emerge in like-new condition when springtime rolls around again, so check out the following tips for successful winter storage:

• Make sure all moving components are well lubricated.
• Invest in a heavy covering that will shield your bike from the weather.
• Change your motorcycle’s oil and filters.
• Check your battery before storing.
• Flush and replace your bike’s antifreeze.
• Give your bike a good wash and wax.
• Check the tire pressure in your motorcycle winter tires.

See the Motorcycle Care Experts at Ted's Motorcycle World for More Tips

Visit Ted's Motorcycle World, your motorcycle winterization and storage resource in the St Charles, MO area, for more on how to winterize a motorcycle or how to store a motorcycle for winter. Our service experts can help you get the most out of motorcycling during the winter months or assist you in giving your bike first-class off-season care. Feel free to contact us anytime with questions, and don’t forget our service specials when you need maintenance work done.