Putting My Bike to Sleep for Winter

This is my second winter in Detroit. I’m finally forced to face the reality that riding season is over, and it’s time to get my Sportster ready to rest for the next five months. Here’s what I’ll be doing to prepare for winter storage.

Storing my bike with clean, fresh oil in the crankcase is good insurance. Leaving tired oil with contaminants in the oil tank is just asking for trouble.

I put in Sta-Bil, then fill my tank to the brim and seal it with my gas cap. The less air space is in the tank, the better. A half-full tank is bad, even with treated fuel–the walls of the tank above the fuel level can corrode and rust due to condensation within the tank. Treat it, fill it up and seal it. Alternatively, you might choose to drain your tank. I find that more cumbersome – and then I have to add gas before I can ride when the weather warms up.

The easiest way to do this is to turn off the fuel supply petcock while the bike is running, and then let the bike run until it burns the remaining fuel in the line. It should only take a minute or so. If your bike doesn’t have a petcock, follow the instructions in the service manual to drain the float bowls. You do have a service manual for your bike, don’t you?

A good coat of wax is a great protectant for the winter months. For winter storage, I polish my chrome and brightwork, and then put a coat of wax over the polished surfaces, too–even on exhaust pipes and engine parts. I just have to remember to clean them off again in the spring before I start the bike again, because I don’t want wax on parts that are going to get hot.

I usually remove the battery from the bike and leave it charging in a climate – controlled space that doesn’t freeze, like my basement. Batteries don’t like extreme temperatures.

I have a motorcycle lift, and I use a good set of motorcycle tie downs to secure my bike to the lift under the frame. The wheels only have to be an inch or two off the ground, and then I lock the lift into place. Finally, I make sure that my tires are properly inflated.

Ventilation is important to avoid rust and corrosion. I’m lucky – I’ve got space in my garage where my bike can slumber all winter. If you must store your bike outdoors, try and protect it from the elements as much as possible. Look for an overhang, carport or awning that can shelter your bike. At the very least, park it against a wall that will protect it from wind from at least one direction, and use a good outdoor cover.

That’s it. Now I just have to remember to check on my bike every couple of weeks to make sure that it hasn’t been knocked over, and that no pesky mice or insects have taken up residence. Mice love to eat seats and nest in tailpipes. I don’t know why. I also check on my battery once a week, because I’m a little obsessive. When springtime finally arrives again, it will be very easy for me to reverse this process and get riding again. I don’t have any big projects or repairs to do over the winter, so my Sportster should have a pleasant, undisturbed rest while I plan my rides for next year.