Having a motorcycle during the warms months of the year is convenient and cost efficient when it comes to fuel. However, a lot of us live in climates where winters are cold and icy which essentially makes riding a motorcycle unsafe and unrealistic during the winter.
It is most ideal to store a motorcycle in a covered area, such as a garage or shed, when winter hits. These places will provide the most protection. But some of us aren’t fortunate enough to have said places to store our motorcycles which leaves outside storage the only option. Many may wonder if that’s a safe and legitimate way to store a motorcycle.
So, can you keep a motorcycle outside in the winter? You can keep a motorcycle outside in the winter as long it has been properly prepared for the season and it is dressed with a good, reliable cover to prevent any water or moisture from getting in places that could cause damage.
Many people don’t realize how important it is to take the proper steps to storing a motorcycle for the winter, especially if you plan on keeping it outside the whole time. There’s a lot more to it than just putting a cover over it and calling it good.
How To Store A Motorcycle Outside During Winter
Though keeping a motorcycle in some sort of shelter during the winter is the most ideal way to maintain a motorcycle, it’s completely possible to yield the same results keeping a motorcycle outside throughout the whole season.
It is not recommended to use a motorcycle on the roads if it is icy and/or snowy, so if you plan on keeping your motorcycle stored outside throughout the winter indefinitely, there are a few steps you can follow that will ease your anxiety about the condition of your bike during the season.
The first thing you’ll need to do is change the oil. Some people assume it’s best to just drain the oil until spring, however that isn’t a good idea because any empty chamber you leave inside the engine gives opportunity for moisture to build up. Also, old/used oil that just sits inside the engine has corrosive tendencies when it just sits because of it’s previous usage.
The next thing you’ll need to do is top off the gas can. Again, leaving any sort of empty space in any chamber during the winter will increase chances of moisture building up. Add some stabilizer in the gas and let the motorcycle run for a few minutes so the stabilized gas has a chance to run through the whole system.
Next, you’ll want to pay attention to the battery. The first option you have is to completely remove it and store it inside with you to prevent it from freezing. The second option would be to hook it up to a battery tender so it maintains it’s charge throughout the season.
You’ll also want to make sure you pay special attention to the tires. Don’t plan on keeping your motorcycle parked on concrete because that will cause flat spots on them, unless you’re willing to roll your motorcycle every week.
Parking your motorcycle on something softer, such as dirt or a section of carpet will help prevent those flat spots. The other option you have is using the center stand to take the pressure off at least one tire. The next option you have is using tire stands that will elevate both tires.
Don’t forget to use some sort of security or alarm system on your motorcycle. Keeping your motorcycle outside during the winter makes it more possible for it to get stolen. There are several different kinds of locks you can fasten to the rim of the tires. There are also alarms specifically made for motorcycles that will loudly alert anyone close by that someone is messing with your motorcycle. Click here to see my list of recommended security products for a motorcycle.
The last step you’ll need to take if you’re going to keep your motorcycle outside during the winter is covering it. This is probably the most important step and must be done right if you don’t want to run into problems come spring time.
Purchase a good, quality cover to go over your motorcycle. Make sure it covers your whole motorcycle, leaving no chance of water getting inside. Fasten or tie it down to your motorcycle in several places so it won’t blow away in the wind. If you do this right, your motorcycle will be as good as new once it starts warming up.
What Happens To The Fluids During Improper Winter Storage
Now that we understand how to properly keep your motorcycle outside during the winter, let’s discuss what happens to a motorcycle when it’s kept outside during the winter without properly preparing it.
When kept outside during the winter, the fluids in a motorcycle start to change. The fluctuation between freezing temperatures and above freezing temperatures changes the chemistry of the gas. If a stabilizer isn’t added before the season, the gas can potentially “gunk” up which will ultimately clog up the fuel system, especially the carburetor if you have one.
Also, when the fluids are not topped off before winter, condensation and moisture will sneak into the empty spots and can potentially cause some rust. Moisture getting in the fluids will also cause the motorcycle to malfunctions when you go to start it up. The moisture will also “gunk” up the other fluids which can clog other parts of the motorcycle.
What Happens To The Gaskets, Seals, And Tires During Improper Winter Storage
As stated before, tires can get flat spots on them if left untreated and parked on concrete. This happens for several reasons. The pressure of the weight of the motorcycle is constantly pushing down on the tires. Normally that’s okay because when you frequently use the motorcycle, the weight is evenly distributed throughout the whole tire. But when stationary, the pressure builds up all on one spot.
In addition, the freezing temperatures will deflate the tire pressure a little which gives less resistance to the weight that’s being pushed down on it.
Gaskets and seals are already at risk not being used during the long winter months. If you keep your motorcycle outside for the winter and don’t change the oil beforehand, the old/used oil has potential corrosive properties in it because of it’s usage. The corrosive elements could break down the gaskets and seals over time which will cause leaks when you go to start your motorcycle.
Normally, regularly used gaskets and seals would be able to combat this. But since your motorcycle is most likely remaining dormant throughout the winter months, those gaskets and seals aren’t being heated up and stretched and may become slightly brittle already.
What Happens To The Drivetrain During Improper Winter Storage
The drivetrain on your motorcycle, meaning the engine, transmission, and chain, is one of the most important elements on your motorcycle and will receive the most damage if not properly taken care of when left outside for the winter.
The main and most obvious problem that will happen to the drivetrain on a motorcycle is rust. All the moisture from the rain and snow will creep inside the engine and transmission and will settle on the chain. Rust will quickly begin to form both on the outside and the inside, especially if your motorcycle is getting splashed with road salt.
It’s possible to take care of surface rust you may see on the outside, but rust can cause a lot of fatal damage if it starts forming on the inside of the engine and transmission. Rust has the potential to seize the engine because it will fuse the pistons in place.
Rust can also damage the chain so much that it will break the chain once you go to start it. Moisture can also fuse and rust together bearings and gears which means an expensive fix for you. All of this can simply be prevented by placing a cover over the motorcycle to keep the moisture out. A lot of people don’t realize the damage water can do to a motorcycle if you let it sit.
Related Questions
What are some reasons a motorcycle won’t start? There are several reasons why a motorcycle may not start, some of the common reasons being a dead battery, clogged carburetor, bad spark plugs, a bad starter, and cracked spark plug wires. Click here for more information that I’ve written about this.
How long is too long for a motorcycle to sit without starting it? A motorcycle should never sit longer than a month without starting it or without properly storing it. A motorcycle can start accumulating some major issues if it sits for longer than that. It is possible to revive a motorcycle that has been sitting for years but it will require a lot of work.