How to Store a Motorcycle for 6 Months?

Even experts claimed that properly storing the motorbike can protect the motorbike from various damages. Now the question arises, how to store a motorcycle for 6 months? 

Storing the motorbike for 6 months is a long period in which you need to plug the motorbike battery with the battery maintainer, insert antifreeze fluid in the gas tank and connect the motorbike through the stand; you also need to clean and lubricate the motorbike chain and wires. 

Let’s consider what it means and what you can do about it. 

While writing this post, I leave no stone unturned so you can know everything about the factors you should consider while storing the motorbike for 6 months. 

How to Store a Motorcycle for 6 Months?

Storing a motorbike is always a complex topic that many new riders are unable to understand, and that’s why this section is all about how to store a motorcycle for 6 months. 

Storing the motorbike for 6 months is a long period in which you need to plug the motorbike battery with the battery maintainer, insert antifreeze fluid in the gas tank and connect the motorbike through the stand; you also need to clean and lubricate the motorbike chain and wires. 

I’ll mention all points in the section below. 

Way to Store a Motorcycle for 6 Months?

So far, you understand some factors you need to consider while storing the motorbike for 6 months. Here are details about some factors you need to consider while storing the motorbike for 6 months. 

Ways to Store a Motorcycle for 6 MonthsDetails
Connect the motorbike maintainerYou should always connect the battery to the battery maintainer to prevent your motorbike from falling into parasitic discharge. It maintains the motorbike battery voltage and current by automatically charging once the battery starts to get down. 
Connect the motorbike to the stand Because of continued weight and pressure on the motorbike tires, the tires start to flatten on the surface. The solution to this problem is to avoid direct contact with motorbike tires with the ground. 
Use antifreeze fluid To avoid ice crystals formation, you need to add antifreeze fluid to the motorbike gas tank so that the freezing point of the motorbike gas drastically reduces. 
Clean and lubricate the motorbikeWhile cleaning the motorbike parts, you ensure that no dust is on the motorbike chain. And don’t forget to lubricate the motorbike chain thoroughly so no rust can be possible on the motorbike chain. 
Cover the motorbikeCovering the motorbike entirely with a thick cover prevents the entry of rodents from making their nest and destroys the motorbike’s electrical system. Still, it also restricts access to moisture which could combine with the motorbike chain and thus develop rusting. 
Table Explaining Some Ways to Store Your Motorbike for 6 Months?

Connecting the Maintainer: 

The motorbike battery is the crucial part that is solely responsible for starting the motorbike, and that’s why it’s to focus more on the motorbike battery. 

While storing the motorbike for longer, your motorbike battery falls into a state called parasitic discharge. The motorbike battery loses charge and voltage automatically, even without starting any electrical device. 

To prevent your motorbike from falling into parasitic discharge, you should always connect the battery to the battery maintainer, which maintains the motorbike battery voltage and current by automatically charging once the battery starts to get down. 

Motorbike maintainer comes with intelligent technology that doesn’t overcharge your motorbike battery and doesn’t cause any side effects to your motorbike battery. Even the sales team of most motorbike maintainers comes with a line “connect and forget”; however you need to check the motorbike battery every two weeks. 

Connect Motorbike with Stand: 

Motorbike tires are responsible for making connections between road and motorbike. Thus the care of the motorbike tire is also an essential factor you need to consider before storing the motorbike. 

Because of continued weight and pressure on the motorbike tires, the tires start to flatten on the surface. The solution to this problem is to avoid direct contact with motorbike tires with the ground. 

You can remove the motorbike tires or possibly install a stand to avoid the tires’ direct contact with the ground; you should also fill the motorbike to the recommended PSI. 

Use Antifreeze Liquid: 

Motorbike gas contains traces of ethanol and moisture, making it freeze at sub-zero temperatures, which could destroy the fuel lines and motorbike gas tank. 

To avoid ice crystals formation, you need to add antifreeze fluid to the motorbike gas tank so that the freezing point of the motorbike gas drastically reduces. Some bro riders may recommend emptying the motorbike gas tank to avoid ice crystal formation. Still, you can’t remove the gas tank’s gas content, which could harm the motorbike gas tank. 

While choosing the antifreeze fluid, make sure you select the 100% concentrated motorbike antifreeze fluid, and don’t forget to ride the motorbike for some minutes so that the mixture can rotate quickly in the motorbike effectively. 

You can fill the 90% motorbike gas tank with gas and the rest with antifreeze fluid to make the perfect combination. 

Clean and Lubricate Motorbike Parts: 

Cleaning the motorbike parts not only cleans the dust from parts but also protects the motorbike from possible damage. 

In winter, moist air enters the motorbike garage, which in motorbike parts starts to make gunk, especially on the motorbike chain, when combined with the dust. 

While cleaning the motorbike parts, ensure that no dust is on the motorbike chain, and don’t forget to lubricate the motorbike chain thoroughly so no rust can possible on the motorbike chain. 

Cover the Motorbike:  

Covering the motorbike is probably the most forgettable but crucial step for the riders looking to store the motorbike. 

Covering the motorbike entirely with the thick cover avoids the entry of rodents to make their nest and destroys the motorbike’s electrical system. Still, it also restricts the access of moisture which could combine with the motorbike chain, thus developing rusting. 

While finding a suitable cover for your motorbike, ensure that the cover should be waterproof, UV resistant, and thick enough. Hence, it restricts the entry of rodents. 

What to Do Before Storing a Motorcycle? 

Undoubtedly winterizing can protect your motorbike from several problems; now the question arises: what to do before storing a motorcycle? 

Storing the motorbike in the winter is a significant step. Before storing the motorcycle in winter, you need to connect the motorbike battery to the maintainer and connect the motorbike to the stand to avoid tire and ground contact. 

Also, don’t forget to insert the antifreeze in the motorbike gas tank to prevent ice crystal formation in the motorbike tank so that it can’t harm the motorbike fuel lines and gas tank. 

Additionally, experts recommend lubricating the motorbike china and brake wires to prevent them from rusting. 

Is Preparation Necessary While Storing a Motorbike? 

So far, you understand some things you need to do before storing the motorbike; now the question arises, is preparation necessary for keeping the motorbike? 

Preparation for storing the motorbike includes:

  • Installing a motorbike stand.
  • A motorbike battery maintainer.
  • Insert the antifreeze fluid into the motorbike gas tank.

Without these preparations, your motorbike will suffer from ice crystal formations, rusting and flat tires. 

Not only this, your motorbike will be of no use, and you’ll have to spend bucks if the motorbike shows any of the signs mentioned above; in easier words, preparation is necessary while storing the motorbike. 

Also, read my previous post where I discussed how cold is too cold for riding the motorbike. CLICK HERE to read.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Why you should connect the motorbike to the battery maintainer while storing it?

You should always connect the battery to the battery maintainer to prevent your motorbike from falling into parasitic discharge. It maintains the motorbike battery voltage and current by automatically charging once the battery starts to get down. 

Why you should connect the motorbike to the motorbike stand while storing it?

Because of continued weight and pressure on the motorbike tires, the tires start to flatten on the surface. The solution to this problem is to avoid direct contact with motorbike tires with the ground. 

Why you should use antifreeze for winter storage?

To avoid ice crystals formation, you need to add antifreeze fluid to the motorbike gas tank so that the freezing point of the motorbike gas drastically reduces. 

Why it’s better to clean and lubricate the motorbike chain for winter storage?

While cleaning the motorbike parts, you ensure that no dust is on the motorbike chain. And don’t forget to lubricate the motorbike chain thoroughly so no rust can be possible on the motorbike chain. 

Why you should cover your motorbike while storing it?

Covering the motorbike entirely with a thick cover prevents the entry of rodents from making their nest and destroys the motorbike’s electrical system. Still, it also restricts access to moisture which could combine with the motorbike chain and thus develop rusting. 

Final Verdict: 

How to store a motorcycle for 6 months? Keeping the motorbike for 6 months is a long period in which you need to plug the motorbike battery with the battery maintainer, insert antifreeze fluid in the gas tank and connect the motorbike through the stand; you also need to clean and lubricate the motorbike chain and wires. 

I’ve mentioned things you need to consider while storing the motorbike. Simply follow all the above points to store the motorbike for 6 months.