Motorcycle Storage Prep
Yup! We all like to ride motorcycles. But there are times when we have no choice but to leave them parked. If you are leaving town for a long time or putting your bike away during the colder months, you should think about taking steps to protect it. If you don’t take steps first, you could hurt the bike’s body and parts. Keeping a bike stored for a long period of time takes more than just putting it in a dark spot and hoping everything is still OK after a few months. Below are a few motorcycle storage prep tips you’ll want to do to prepare your motorcycle for long term storage.
Clean your bike.
Don’t forget to wash it before you leave the motorcycle for a long time. If you’ve taken a few rides recently, you’ll want to get rid of the dirt and grime that’s accumulated over time. A buildup of muck, filth, or bird droppings on a bike’s surface might lead to corrosion and deterioration of the paint. Finally, after a thorough cleaning, let the vehicle dry in the sun until you’re ready to store it completely.
Change the oil.
If you haven’t had your motorcycle’s oil changed in a while, now is an excellent opportunity to do so before putting it away for the winter. Motorcycle engine oil is not only used as a lubricant, but it also helps the filtering process.
Incredibly, motor oil does have an expiration date. Even if you don’t ride your motorcycle, leaving it in the gas tank for an extended length of time can degrade its performance. If motor oil is left in the motorcycle for an extended period of time, it loses its ability to lubricate.
Acidity levels in the oil may also lead to corrosion and etching of soft metals, such as transmission gears and bearings, over time. A buildup of carbon deposits from old, unclean motor oil would ultimately attach to engine components if left for lengthy periods of time, making your motorcycle difficult to use again. To avoid this, you’ll want to do an oil change before you put your motorcycle away for a long period of time.
Fill up your gasoline tank.
For long-term storage, you can either fill the tank all the way to the top so that condensation can’t form inside, or you can start the bike until all the gas in the tank is used up and the tank dries out. Some of the condensation that occurs in an ethanol-based gasoline tank might draw moisture from the air and turn into some type of muck. This gunk can get into the fuel systems of both carbureted and EFI motorcycles and clog them up badly.
If your tank is almost empty or is only half full, add more gas to make sure it is full. Your bike might be harder to maintain if the gas tank is only half full. First and foremost, you’d want to ride your bike again after a long break, and nothing would be more discouraging than an empty tank when you’re finally ready to do so.
Disconnect the battery.
It’s always better to remove the battery of your motorcycle and keep it in a climate-controlled area if you are storing it for a long time. If a battery is connected to a motorcycle that isn’t being used, the battery may slowly lose its charge and die.
If you don’t have space at home to store the battery, you should at the very least remove it and leave it there. Your storage unit must have at least one working electrical outlet so that you can charge it with a battery “tender” or “trickle charger.” It’s still best to disconnect your batteries.
Protect your tires.
Your motorcycle’s tires are under a lot of stress if you don’t ride them for a long period of time. As a consequence of this extra weight, low-pressure areas will develop in the tires, ultimately leading to a blowout. As a result, you should keep your motorcycle in such a way that there is no weight on its tires.
Taking your bike’s tires off and storing them on their sides is your best bet. If it’s too much of a nuisance, you may place your motorcycle on a lift so that the tires aren’t touching the ground.
Cover your motorcycle.
In addition to protecting the paint and body from dust, a motorcycle cover also helps to reduce moisture buildup, both of which may lead to corrosion and rust.
Plastic bags or motorcycle exhaust plugs may be used to keep insects and rodents from entering your air filters and tailpipes. Also, it’s important to remember not to leave any electrical outlets that could get wet out in the open.
Final Thoughts
A place to keep a motorcycle isn’t always readily available at home; not everyone has a garage, driveway, or yard. A self-storage facility can be your best option if you don’t have enough room to store your bike while it’s not in use. Handy Storage’s flexible leasing options make it possible for you to securely store your motorcycle at any time of the year. Check out our Self Storage Size Guide to get an idea of how much space you’ll need.
