Preparing Your Motorcycle For Winter
The temps are dropping and winter is showing signs of its arrival. If you haven't already winterized your bike, now is the time to do it. Even if you have already prepared your bike for hibernation, there are a few things that you'll need to remember to do even throughout the winter season. A little bit of maintenance through the year can save you a lot of headache in the Spring when you're ready to ride. Check out these tips to help get your bike stored properly, and keep it in good condition till you can take it on the road again.
It may seem redundant to clean a bike and then put it away where no one can see it, but it's important to get all of the surfaces clean. Give you bike a good wash down and dry everything off, you can also use a leaf blower to get all of the nooks and crannies dry. If bug guts and water spots sit on the surface of the paint, it can speed up the corrosion process. After all of the water is dry, wax down your bike to protect from and future moisture. Did you know that the "WD" in WD-40 stands for water displacement? You can use WD-40 on all exposed surfaces of your bike to displace water and protect.
It's better for your bike to hibernate with clean oil in it's system than dirty, broken down oil. Plus, if you change your oil now, your bike will be ready to ride in the Spring. You can also consider removing the spark plugs and putting a little squirt of oil in the holes, then turn the engine over a few times. This will help coat the cylinder walls. Once everything is coated you can replace the spark plugs.
Untreated gas, left in your fuel over long periods of time can get gunky. Protect your tank by adding fuel stabilizer to the gas. You can even ride down to the gas station and fill your bike up, add the stabilizer and then on the ride home it will mix and run through your fuel system. You can pick up a bottle of stabilizer here at Surdyke Yamaha, as well as any other bike accessories you may have forgotten about.
You don't want to leave your battery plugged in all winter long, as it will cause the battery to self-discharge. You can either pull the battery out and store it in a cool dry place, or you can get a battery tender at Surdyke Yamaha. The tender keeps the battery topped off without overcharging, and you can use the tender while the batter is still left in the bike all winter long.
If left unattended for the entire winter season, you tires can develop flat spots from sitting in one place for too long. There are a few ways you can protect your tires through this season, the first is to get some good motorcycle stands at Surdyke Yamaha. At the very least you need a rear wheel stand to keep the back wheel off the concrete, but we also recommend having a motorcycle center stand to keep both wheels up simultaneously. If you don't get any stands for your bike, it's best to go out at least once a month and roll it forward or backward a few inches. If you will be storing your bike on a concrete surface, remember that moisture from the concrete can also damage your wheels. The best way is with any of the stands we've mentioned above, or by putting pieces of carpet or plywood down under each wheel.
Surdyke Yamaha is a proud supplier of Yamaha parts and accessories, and we want to keep you out on the road enjoying nature as long as possible, but when winter hits, we have what you need to care for your bike. From stands to stabilizers you can get your bike ready for the winter months with our motorcycle parts at the Lake of the Ozarks. Remember that now might be a good time to buy that bike of your dreams. The market can be lower in the winter, which means you could get a better deal on a sweet new motorcycle at the Lake of the Ozarks. Visit our showroom today and check out our amazing bike selection, as well as stock up on parts, accessories and gear for the winter season.
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5 Steps for Winterizing Your Motorcycle
1. Clean Your Bike
2. Check the Fluids, Change the Oil, and Replace Filters
It's better for your bike to hibernate with clean oil in it's system than dirty, broken down oil. Plus, if you change your oil now, your bike will be ready to ride in the Spring. You can also consider removing the spark plugs and putting a little squirt of oil in the holes, then turn the engine over a few times. This will help coat the cylinder walls. Once everything is coated you can replace the spark plugs.
3. Prepare Your Fuel System for Winter
Untreated gas, left in your fuel over long periods of time can get gunky. Protect your tank by adding fuel stabilizer to the gas. You can even ride down to the gas station and fill your bike up, add the stabilizer and then on the ride home it will mix and run through your fuel system. You can pick up a bottle of stabilizer here at Surdyke Yamaha, as well as any other bike accessories you may have forgotten about.
4. Care For Your Battery
You don't want to leave your battery plugged in all winter long, as it will cause the battery to self-discharge. You can either pull the battery out and store it in a cool dry place, or you can get a battery tender at Surdyke Yamaha. The tender keeps the battery topped off without overcharging, and you can use the tender while the batter is still left in the bike all winter long.
5. Protect Your Tires
If left unattended for the entire winter season, you tires can develop flat spots from sitting in one place for too long. There are a few ways you can protect your tires through this season, the first is to get some good motorcycle stands at Surdyke Yamaha. At the very least you need a rear wheel stand to keep the back wheel off the concrete, but we also recommend having a motorcycle center stand to keep both wheels up simultaneously. If you don't get any stands for your bike, it's best to go out at least once a month and roll it forward or backward a few inches. If you will be storing your bike on a concrete surface, remember that moisture from the concrete can also damage your wheels. The best way is with any of the stands we've mentioned above, or by putting pieces of carpet or plywood down under each wheel.
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Motorcycle Winterization at the Lake of the Ozarks
Surdyke Yamaha is a proud supplier of Yamaha parts and accessories, and we want to keep you out on the road enjoying nature as long as possible, but when winter hits, we have what you need to care for your bike. From stands to stabilizers you can get your bike ready for the winter months with our motorcycle parts at the Lake of the Ozarks. Remember that now might be a good time to buy that bike of your dreams. The market can be lower in the winter, which means you could get a better deal on a sweet new motorcycle at the Lake of the Ozarks. Visit our showroom today and check out our amazing bike selection, as well as stock up on parts, accessories and gear for the winter season.
Connect with Surdyke Yamaha on...
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Highway Store Location Marina Store Location Surdyke's Port 20
(573) 348-6575 (573) 348-9283 (573) 348-3178
Highway Store Location Marina Store Location Surdyke's Port 20
5863 Osage Beach Parkway 1660 Yamaha Drive 5395 Spruce Lane
Osage Beach, MO 65065 Osage Beach, MO 65065 Osage Beach, MO 65065(573) 348-6575 (573) 348-9283 (573) 348-3178
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