Winter Storage Tips

The snow flakes will be flying soon! For most of us, that means it's time to bid farewell to another riding season. Before you push your bike into the garage and shut the door, though, there are several Winter Storage Steps you need to take to ensure your ride will be ready come first thaw!

Adventure Harley-Davidson has prepared a quick Winter Storage Checklist to help you put your bike down for that winter's nap:

Oil & Fluids

It's a good idea to change the engine oil and filter before storing your bike. The byproducts of internal combustion produce water and acids, which may be damaging to the engine's internals. Now is a good time to change the primary fluids as well. Be sure to use the correct fluids and follow the instructions in the service manual.

Fuel

Fill your fuel tank and add Genuine Fuel Additive (part #99893-91A, available for $5.95 at Adventure Harley-Davidson). Run the engine long enough for the treated fuel to reach the carberator or fuel injection system. For carb equipped models, turn off the fuel petcock and run the bike until it quits running. Leave the petcock off until you need to start the bike again. Over several months, fuel can grow stale, even to the point of becoming gummy which clogs the fuel system. Fuel stabilizer helps protect against this.

Battery Care

Late model Harleys are equipped with sealed maintenance-free batteries. These do not require adding distilled water. However, they do require periodic charging. The simplest way to do so is by using a battery tender. If you don't already have one, they can be purchased at Adventure H-D for $39.95 (part #94654-98). This handy little charger allows you to maintain a proper charge year 'round and comes with a lead to attach to your battery. Simply plug it into any wall outlet, snap the two together and the charger will take care of the rest! The system is designed to protect from overcharging; simply unplug the leads whenever you want to ride and plug them back together when you return! Use the system all year long!

Tire Pressure

Check your tire pressure and correct if needed. You should be doing this between rides anyway, but now is a good time to check as well. Be sure to check it again before riding in the Spring. Need a Tire Pressure Gauge? We have them for you. (part #75008-02A for $24.95 and part #75110-98B for $12.95)

Store Your Bike Clean

Wash and wax. This will protect your bike's finish from moisture and corrosion. See our complete line of cleaning supplies.

The Finishing Touch

A storage cover is always a good idea. Make sure you do not use a rain cover as they do not allow moisture from condensation to pass through. Harley-Davidson offers good sturdy covers that range from $79.95-$129.95 that are just the ticket!

Now Some Notes of Caution

In the Spring when you check your oil, you may find it at a lower level. You changed or checked it before storage, so you would expect it to be full. It's not. Assuming there is not a giant puddle on the garage floor, just where did the oil go? It's in the engine's crankcase. On Sportster® models and Softail® models, as well as some older models, the oil tank sits higher than the engine. Gravity works, and these bikes can seep oil from the tanks into the crankcase. If you add oil before running these models, you will overfill your oil system. Start them up and run them before checking your oil level. When you start up the engine, crankcase pressure will force the oil back where it belongs. Follow the directions in you service manual for you vehicle's proper procedure.

When you start you bike, some oil may spit out the air cleaner or breather tube. Do not be alarmed! Other than being messy, it's not harmful.

In Conclusion

I'll share with you what not to do: Some folks will start their bikes during the time its being stored. The rationale behind this is the belief that oil needs to circulate, or the battery needs to charge, or they may just want to hear the pipes. This is a VERY BAD thing to do. First off, the oil will need to reach 212 degrees F before water and contaminants will burn off. It is almost impossible to reach that temperature at a standstill without overheating the motor, especially on your air cooled V-Twin engine. Running an engine for a short time will actually add water and acids to the oil. You need to run your bike for 15-20 miles to get the oil hot enough, sometimes longer depending on the outside temperature.

In addition, a bike running at idle is actually discharging the battery. In order to charge the battery, your motocycle needs to reach at least 2000 rpm, something that cannot be achieved without riding it. The best practice is to prepare your motorcycle for storage and then leave it until you are ready to ride.

This all sounds like a lot of work, but follow these suggestions and it will pay off in the Spring with no problems on the first ride. Still not convinced? You do have another option: ride all winter! With the comfort of heated grips and electric clothing, a Winter ride can be quite pleasant! Be careful and have fun! And if you get a little cold, just think of all the bragging rights in the Spring!