70 • GARAGE BUILD • ISSUE 419Prep Your Bike
for Storage
MAINTENANCE^ • by Tricia Szulewski, originally published on WomenRidersNow.comparts. Some people like to leave the
wax on over the winter and buff it
off in the spring. This provides a nice
protective layer of wax.- Change the engine oil
Just like the motorcycle itself, you
want your engine to be as clean as
possible during storage, so it’s best to
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out contaminants just before winter
storage. A product called Sea Foam
has great water absorption proper-
ties, and a small amount can be added
to your fresh engine oil. Sea Foam
will also dissolve varnish deposits it
encounters, and, most importantly, is
safe for use inside an engine. - Top off the tank and
add fuel stabilizer
The longer a fuel tank sits, and the larg-
er the volume of trapped air, the more
You’ll also want to lube moving parts, such as the
chain, cables, and sidestand and centerstand pivots.If you can’t get back out to the gas station, you can
still add stabilizer to the tank, but you’ll want to run
the engine a few minutes to allow it to be distributed
though the whole system. Don’t forget to top off the
tank with gas!While you still have warm
weather, pull out the hose,
bucket, and suds and give
the bike a good wash.I
F YOU ARE ONE OF THE UNFORTUNATE SOULS WHO LIVE
in a climate that prevents you from riding your
beloved motorcycle for several months out of the
year, let me offer you my condolences. I, too, live in a
place where the thermometer plummets and the roads turn
to ice, forcing me to use four-wheeled transportation for
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When I’m on my game, I prepare my motorcycles for a
long winter by following this simple checklist of tasks that
take just a few hours. Here is a list of eight simple steps
to take so your bike will be ready for you as soon as the
snow melts.- Clean the motorcycle
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gether over time to form a corrosion party. The easiest way
to prevent this is by putting your motorcycle away clean and
buffed. Now is the time to give it a good detailing job.
If you’ve already missed the boat and put the hose
away for the winter, you can still get some good spray and
wipe cleaning products to use in the garage. Apply some
WD-40 to a rag to wipe down metal parts (except brake
parts), and apply a good coat of wax to all the painted
Simple steps to take so it’s ready to ride in the spring
havoc that can be wrought on your fuel
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cause moisture in the air to evaporate in
the sealed environment and condensa-