Many riders mothballed their motorbikes at the end of the riding season while others took advantage of some unseasonably mild weather and delayed taking their machines off the road.
Whatever camp you’re in, motorbikes still need some TLC despite being off the road and safely stored.
Here are a few pointers.
- Give it a good clean to remove all dirt, grime and salt and dry it thoroughly. A motorbike drier is a good way of getting water out of nooks and crannies and blow away any moisture.
- A cover is a good idea to keep it clean and acts as a dustsheet.
- A good motorcycle protectant helps keep moisture at bay and avoid corrosion, especially in difficult-to-reach areas, but take care not to get it on brakes and tyres.
- Clean and lubricate the drive chain and levers.
- Top up the fuel tank with fresh petrol, preferably E5 with less ethanol, to stop the inside of the tank corroding. Add the correct amount of fuel stabiliser to help prevent the content degrading while it is not being used.
- Pump tyres up a little harder than normal and use paddock stands, if necessary, to get the wheels off the ground and avoid flat spots. You can move the motorbike regularly so it’s not always sitting on the same spots on the tyres.
- Some people swear by not starting your motorbike over the winter storage to avoid condensation problems in the engine and exhaust. If you do start it, get it up to operating temperature so it is hot enough to dry out properly. The best way is to take it for a ride, if weather conditions allow, because running it stationary for a long time can cause hotspots without any cooling airflow.
- It is also considered good practice to service your motorbike, if scheduled, or at least change the engine oil and filter ahead of laying it up for winter to get rid of any contaminants in the old oil.
- Keep the battery charged. The Optimate range, which we stock from £50, includes chargers and maintenance units to keep your battery in tip-top condition so it will start when you want it to. You can get Optimate chargers that work with both lead acid and newer lithium batteries.
Daniel Williams, our parts, clothing and accessories manager, said: “Batteries like to be charged and discharged. That’s what keeps them healthy.”
A popular model is the OptiMate 4 Quad Program which can charge 12v lead-acid and 12.8v lithium batteries. Select the type of battery and this OptiMate automatically goes through a multi-step program to bring the battery safely to full charge.
It can identify if a battery is getting tired, and recover and rejuvenate it, but not completely dead ones.
We have a range of products to protect your motorbike while being stored over winter so visit the dealership in Ranelagh Road, Ipswich, or log on to orwell.co.uk/shop/accessories for cleaning products, paddock stands and battery charging.
If your motorbike needs some maintenance or you want to get it serviced while it is off the road call our workshop on 01473 257401 or visit orwell.co.uk/workshop
We can collect and deliver your motorbike back if you do not want to ride it to the dealership.
