Ankle, 22 Rebound, 24 Speed Up, 26 Furygan, 29 V-Max

22 TIPS AND TRICKS

Winter’s fast approaching, and for many bikers that means it’s getting to that time of year when they think about stashing their pride and joy away under covers for the next few months and wait for the rain, sleet and snow to pass. That’s not the case for everyone though, as some riders don’t have a choice and will be starting to think about preparing their bike (and themselves) for riding right through the winter.

Regular bike maintenance is an essential part of riding a motorcycle. We all know that. But it becomes even more important when the weather takes a turn. Grit on the roads and low temperatures are the perfect recipe for corrosion, but with just a little preparation and care, it’s possible to protect your machine from the worst that winter has to offer. Sometimes a splash of cleaning fluid and a quick hose down will do, but if you want to keep your bike in top condition, you’ll need to be a bit more thorough than that. To help ease your winter woes, we’ve rustled up a brief guide to help you get set up, no matter whether you’re planning on tucking your bike away or riding right through the colder months.

SERVICE

If your bike is due a service (or has one scheduled for over the winter months), now’s the perfect time to get it done. If you sort it out before you lay up the bike, you’ll be ready and raring to go as soon as Spring rolls back round. And if there are any issues that crop up while you’re giving it a onceover, then you’ve got the next few months to deal with them.

LUBRICATION

If you’re on top of your bike maintenance, you’ll already be lubricating your bike’s chain and sprockets on a regular basis. But if you’re planning on tucking your bike away over the winter, it’s worth noting that a good dollop of heavy-duty lubricant is essential. It’ll help prevent oxidisation, O-rings perishing, and the chain tightening.

Prepare your bike for winter

Plenty of riders choose to lay their bikes up over the winter months. And as the nights draw in and the weather starts to take a turn for the worse, now’s the time to get your bike ready for hibernation. To ensure it’s in tip-top shape when the weather warms up again, there are a range of jobs you can do before you tuck it away.

DRAIN THE FUEL

That’s right. Ideally, you should drain all the fuel from your bike. If you leave fuel in the tank for a few months it can cause oxidisation and varnishing. That’s not all, it can even ‘gum up ’ other parts of the engine, causing blockages and (potentially) leaks in the fuel system. If you’re reasonably mechanically minded, you’ll have no trouble draining the system. Just remember to get all of it. If you’re not quite so technically competent, there is an alternative. You can use a fuel stabilising additive. All you’ve got to do is buy yourself the additive, throw it in the fuel tank, and then run the bike for a few minutes to ensure that the stabilised fuel has passed right through the fuel system.

Keep it covered

If you don’t have a garage or shed (or you’re not allowed to keep your pride and joy in the living room), it’s likely your bike’s going to be living outdoors over the winter. In that case, you’ll need to get your hands on a good-quality bike cover to keep your bike protected from the elements. Keeping it dry is your priority, and it’s worth finding the time to give it a once-over every so often to make sure there are no issues developing.

Keep it clean Tyre care

When you’re stashing your pride and joy away for the winter, the last thing you probably think about is your bike’s tyre pressures. Even though you’re not riding, you should ensure the tyres are topped up to the appropriate level. If they’re not inflated properly throughout the winter, you’ll likely come back to your bike and find the tyres are no good – with flat spots and damaged side walls

Battery care

Batteries lose performance in cold weather. It’s as simple as that. A drop of just a couple of volts can be enough to prevent your bike from starting - and although you could go out and get yourself a new one without too much hassle, there are ways you can ensure your existing battery is well cared for through the winter.

The best thing you can do is hook your bike up to a ‘trickle’ charger. All you’ve got to do is fit it to your bike’s battery, turn it on, and let it keep your battery topped up.

Another alternative would be to disconnect the battery and shift it indoors to keep it warm. You’ll probably want to give it a good charge before its next use, though. It’s also important to remember that alarms, immobilisers and tracker units will all drain power from the battery – so if you can, it’d be wise to disconnect them.

Keeping your bike clean is important at any time of the year, but if you’re planning to lay it up over the winter, you’re going to need to give it a serious deep clean. Don’t be shy. Get stuck in. Any dirt, debris or damp spots left on the bike could cause corrosion if left for a few months, so you should clean the bodywork (both inside and out), the engine, the frame, the swingarm, the wheels, the front forks and the rear shock(s) thoroughly. And you need to make sure it’s properly dry, too. If you don’t have access to an airline, dry as much as you can using good old-fashioned elbow grease, and then leave it to air dry before you put it under wraps. To keep it clean and preserve your hard work, just chuck a bike cover or old bed sheet over the bike. Easy.