Winterizing your motorcycle is easy enough.

You want to store your ride to protect it from the elements, so outside under a tarp is not recommended. Find a good place inside. The area should be clean and especially dry. A far corner of the garage or a utility shed are good. Consider renting a self storage unit if you don't have space at home. Split the cost with a friend who also has a cycle to store.

Give your ride a thorough cleaning. Get all the bug residue, bird and fly droppings, brake dust, oil, and road grime off so that it doesn't sit on your nice chrome and paint all winter. Apply appropriate conditioners to the tires, leather, and other rubber parts to keep them moist and supple in the cold. This is a good time to empty out all the travel bags and other carryall places of things you don't normally keep on the bike.

Remove the battery and store in the basement, utility room, or someplace similar where it won't freeze. Purchase a battery tender and keep it on the battery all winter. Tenders are relatively inexpensive and keep your battery healthy. If you already have a regular battery charger, just give the battery a periodic charge throughout the winter.

Totally drain your gas tank of fuel if practical, or leave at least half full and add gas stabilizer. Stabilizer is inexpensive, but prevents bad gas start-up problems in the spring. If your cycle is a carbureted model, you should also drain the float bowls. Check your owners manual to see how.

If your cycle has a center stand, use it. This will keep the rear tire off the ground and prevent the bike's weight from creating a flat spot in the tire. For smaller, lightweight bikes, you can use wood blocking under the front frame to also raise the front tire up off the ground. Be sure you are blocking on the frame, however, and not the exhaust pipes. Don't try this with larger, heavier bikes, and especially if your model does not have a center stand. Scrap carpet squares under the tires are another good option. They will spread the weight load out over a bit more of the tire. Today's tire construction is much better than years past, but flat spots are a consideration depending on the age of your tires, and cycle model.

Buy a good fitted dust cover for your size motorcycle. Be sure its fabric is designed to allow it to breath. There are rain covers that keep your ride dry if it's outside. You don't want this for winter storage. Trapped moisture will have months to create rust on your ride.

Set out several packages of rodent kill bait. The crevasses of your engine are an inviting winter home for these critters.

In the spring, you should find that your motorcycle rode out the cold winter months in good condition, ready for another season of riding.

Learn more about this author, R. Birnschein.
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