Protect your bike and your wallet this winter by taking the necessary preparations toward winterizing your motorcycle.
Winterizing Your Bike
Before the winter months approach, it is in your best interest to prepare your motorcycle for the cold weather. The following list provides the steps you should take:
- Prepare the surface. Clean your bike meticulously before storing it. The finish on your paint can become corroded if you allow bug guts or water spots to sit all season. Thoroughly wash and dry your bike to ensure the moisture is off all the surfaces. Then, wax your bike completely in order to protect it against moisture and rust. It is also wise to utilize a corrosion inhibitor to prevent oxidation and corrosion.
- Mind the battery. If you have a lead-acid battery that utilizes a screw-on type cap on top, check the battery fluid level. Internal plates may short due to low battery acid, which can cause sulfation. If you have a maintenance-free battery, you’ll want to store it in a warm area and charge it periodically in order to obtain the longest life out of it. You can also use a battery maintenance system to help keep your battery as fresh as possible.
- Fuel system preparation. Since ethanol is widely used in today’s fuels, it is best to fill your tank and treat the fuel and the fuel system with an additive designed to handle issues caused by ethanol fuels. If you don’t presently use additives in your bike, make sure you take it for a short ride after using the product before you store the bike. That way, the treatment can fully saturate the fuel system. If you have a carbureted system, it’s best to run fuel treatment into the system, turn the petcock off (if it’s not a vacuum unit), and drain the carburetors. If you have a vacuum petcock system, you just need to drain the carburetors.
- Switch out engine oil. Replace the engine oil and filter so the dirty oil and harmful carbon deposits are removed.
- Fill the tires. Your tires will lose air during storage regardless, so it is best to keep your bike propped up on its center stand or paddock stands. If a stand is not available to you, consider moderately overfilling the tires and moving the bike sometimes to prevent permanent flat spots.
- Cover it. Utilize a correctly fitted motorcycle cover to protect your bike’s paint and body from scratches, impacts, and moisture. In addition, cover your air intake and exhaust opening(s) with plastic bags so rodents cannot get in.
Let Us Help
If you’ve been injured in an accident involving a motorcycle, it is best not to wait to get legal representation. You’ll want an experienced attorney on your side who knows this area of the law through and through.
Call Koenigsberg & Associates today at (718) 690-3132 to speak with an attorney about your potential case.