Top Tips For Storing Your Motorbike Over Winter
Temperatures have plummeted and the gritters are out in force, which can mean only one thing: winter is here! If you want to keep your bike in tip top shape, taking it off the road over the colder months is a good place to start - but winter storage isn’t without its pitfalls.
To help you preserve your bike in readiness for the return of warmer weather, we’ve put together a guide sharing our top storage tips. We’ll cover the risks associated with long-term storage and how to mitigate them, we’ll recommend products to invest in and even tell you how to put a SORN marker in place to save you money.
If you’re looking for a step-by-step guide covering how to overwinter a motorcycle, you’ve come to the right place. Let’s dive in.
The dangers of winter storage
Before we run through our top storage tips, we’re going to briefly remind you of the risks of storing your bike. Although the punishing winter weather can cause damage, so too can laying it up for an extended period of time. If you don’t do it correctly, that is.
Fail to take the necessary precautions and moisture could find its way in, causing corrosion. Mice could chew through your wiring loom, your brakes could seize, your tyres could become flat-spotted… the list goes on. We’re here to help you avoid each of these risks. Follow our advice and your bike should be in perfect condition when you return to it next spring.
Deciding where to store your bike
Before you tuck your bike away, you’ve first got to decide on a suitable location. If you don’t have access to a garage, don’t panic: you could still invest in a cover or shelter, or even park it in your garden shed. If you can justify the cost, you may even want to store your bike at a dedicated vehicle storage facility.
No matter which location you choose, there are two questions you need to ask. One, is the area well ventilated? And two, is my bike going to be protected from the worst of the elements? Obviously, keeping the rain and snow off your bike is important, but so is preventing a buildup of moisture: prolonged dampness can be more damaging than heavy rain or snowfall, so it’s crucial that air is able to move around the bike over winter to keep it dry. If your garage doesn’t have any form of ventilation, we would recommend adding some - a poorly ventilated garage can be worse for your bike than simply keeping it covered up outdoors.
Products we recommend
There are a few products we’d recommend investing in if you’re serious about preserving your bike over winter.
- Battery maintainer or trickle charger: Once connected to your battery, these devices will deliver regular pulses of electricity to simulate normal operating conditions and keep the battery fully charged. They don’t cost much and will prevent the disappointment of a flat battery once spring rolls around.
- Motorcycle stand: If you don’t already own one, we’d recommend getting a motorcycle stand to prevent your tyres from flat-spotting over winter. Prolonged storage can cause tyres to become misshapen, resulting in wheel wobble and other unpleasant handling characteristics.
- Motorcycle cover: If you’re storing your bike outdoors, a breathable weather-proof cover is an absolute must. Even if you’re keeping it in a garage, we’d recommend using a soft indoor-specific cover to keep the worst of the dust and debris off your paintwork.
Preparing your bike for storage
Now you’ve got all the gear you need to get started, here are our step-by-step recommendations for how to store your motorbike over winter.
- Start by giving your bike a thorough clean. Pay specific attention to any intricate areas you might usually skip over, searching for any dirt or moisture. Do all you can to remove this, as it could damage your paintwork or brightwork over time - or even lead to corrosion. Before you put your bike in storage, make sure it’s fully dry.
- Now would be a good time to apply any wax or rust inhibitors to prevent corrosion over the winter months. If you have any existing corrosion visible, treat it before you store your bike.
- Brim the fuel tank and, if possible, add a fuel stabiliser or octane booster to the tank. A full tank is less likely to attract moisture, reducing the risk of corrosion - and a fuel stabiliser will help maintain the fuel’s consistency and octane rating over winter.
- Place your bike on its stand and connect the trickle charger to your battery. If you don’t have one, disconnect the battery to prevent it from draining as quickly.
- Apply your motorcycle cover.
Notifying the DVLA
There’s no point taxing your bike if you’re not using it. So, once it’s in storage, don’t forget to visit the DVLA website and apply for a SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification).
It only takes a few minutes and lets the DVLA know that your bike is off the road. It’s free to do and, if you’ve paid for any road tax that you haven’t used, you’ll be issued with a refund.
Need parts for your Kawasaki this winter?
We hope you found our winter storage guide handy. If you’re planning on tackling any jobs on your Kawasaki over the winter months, we’ve got you covered with our extensive range of genuine parts. Got a part number? You can search online for parts in seconds. Alternatively, input the model and year to find the parts you’re looking for.