The summer’s over, we’re all back at work or college, and memories of blissful warm weather bike cruises through city streets and down country lanes are receding into the distance…
Yes, it’s autumn, Mother Nature’s slow-down season and the time of rain, wind and leaves everywhere!
It’s no wonder so many of us start thinking about putting the bike, scooter or moped away for the year. After all, who wants to ride in this weather…?
But before we put our beloved bikes into storage, it’s important to give them a thorough clean and maintenance regime so that they’re ready to ride again in 2025.
Time for a clean?
It’s vital that if you are storing your bike away, it’s clean and free of dirt and road muck.
Give the paintwork a good scrub to wipe away dirt (and if you do continue to ride after the council gritters get to work on the highways, salt in winter). This will help stop corrosion taking hold, and more sensitive parts such as the brakes and gears seizing up. There are dedicated motorcycle cleaners available from all good bike supplies stores that are tailor-made for the job. Make sure you rub it into all the nooks and crannies, and clean it off thoroughly.
Once done, give everything a rub down with an anti-corrosion spray: make sure you cover all metal areas, exposed spindles, bolts, calipers and levers.
When you’re done, give it a last rub down with a soft towel.
Don’t forget the chain… use a dedicated chain cleaning product to get rid of dirt and grease, then dry it thoroughly. Once completely dry lubricate it thoroughly, making sure you don’t miss any links.
Where to store?
Now it’s clean, where are you going to store your bike? If it’s going in a shed or under a lean-to, make sure it’s dry - even when the wind is howling. It’s best to place your bike on a stand so the tyres aren’t constantly touching the cold floor: this can degrade the rubber. If you’ve not got a stand place it on a mat with a rubber back that will keep any moisture off.
If you are leaving your powered bike outside, make sure you get a suitable waterproof bike cover.
Maintenance
Watch the battery. If you’ve an alarm on your bike it will drain it pretty quick if it stays immobile, so invest in a trickle charger.
For the tyres, inflate them so they are rock hard and over the required pressure by 10psi. They will slowly deflate in time but hopefully they won’t be damaged. Check them every couple of months to make sure they don’t need a quick top-up.
Drain the tank - or not?
If you are storing your bike, leaving petrol in the tank is good for the seals but a word of caution: watch the fuel. E10 standard unleaded petrol contains up to 10% ethanol. Ethanol is hygroscopic, meaning it attracts water and makes E10 fuel more corrosive to engine components. Adding a fuel stabiliser such as Putoline E10 Fuel Fighter protects the fuel system against the harmful effects of E10 fuels.
Security first
If you store your bike in a shed or garage, make sure it has a strong lock. Keep it hidden from prying eyes under a bike cover. If your budget runs to it, invest in a ground anchor and chain your bike to it using a strong lock.
Finally… rodent alert!
Mice and rats love a gnaw at rubber and wiring so check you’re not storing your beloved bike with any scurrying flatmates!
Keep an eye on your bike throughout its winter hibernation to make sure everything’s still okay, and you’ll be ready to ride as soon as the sun re-appears.