When to Winterize the Motorcycle?

Everyone is talking about winterizing the motorcycle so that you can save your motorbike battery, tires, and gasoline tank. Now the question arises of when to winterize the motorcycle. Is there any time when you shouldn’t ride a motorbike? Here’s the answer. 

If you want to winterize your motorbike, then the perfect time for winterizing is when you stop riding the motorbike and don’t have any plan to touch your motorbike soon. It could be because of snow in your area, or you want to take a small break in the winter. 

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

While writing this post, leave no stone unturned so you can know everything about the winterizing of the motorcycle in a specific period. 

When to Winterize the Motorcycle? 

Storing the motorbike in winter is nowadays crucial if you want to save the motorbikes tires, battery, and all-electric connections of your motorbike; now the question arises when to winterize motorcycles? 

If you want to winterize your motorbike, then the perfect time for winterizing is when you stop riding the motorbike and don’t have any plan to touch your motorbike soon. 

It could be because of snow in your area, or you want to take a small break in the winter. You don’t want to over-winterize your motorbike battery if you continuously ride the motorbike at least two times a week. 

Why Shouldn’t You Winterize a Motorcycle When Riding Frequently? 

Indeed you don’t want to winterize your motorcycle if you’re riding it at least twice a week; now the question arises, why shouldn’t you winterize a motorcycle when riding? 

You shouldn’t winterize a motorcycle if you continue riding it at least twice a week because continuously riding it will prevent your motorbike from falling into the stage where you’ll face flat tires, dead battery, and bad electrical connections. 

However, if snow is 0℉ in your area, you should add antifreeze to the motorbike gas tank. It will prevent corrosion and rust in the motorbike tank because of traces of ethanol in it; it doesn’t matter if you’re riding the motorbike. 

Will Motorbike Battery Dead if You Don’t Winterize a Motorcycle? 

So far, you understand that you shouldn’t winterize the motorbike if you’re continually riding it. Now the question arises, does your motorbike battery die if you winterize the motorbike? 

Your motorbike will surely die or enter the parasitic drain stage in which your motorbike battery will automatically drain out without starting any motorbike electric device. 

However, suppose you’re continually riding the motorbike at least twice a week. In that case, you don’t need to worry because your motorbike battery will automatically get charged while riding the motorbike. 

Should You Empty the Gas Tank Before Storing the Motorbike? 

Indeed you need to remove the motorbike battery if you’re not riding the motorbike or planning to ride the motorbike anytime soon; now the question arises, should you empty the gas tank before storing the motorbike? 

If you’re thinking that an empty motorbike gas tank will help to protect your motorbike gas tank from rust and corrosion, then you’re mistaken. Even if you empty your motorbike gas tank, there’ll be enough ethanol traces in the motorbike gas tank which will make your motorbike tank rust and corrode.

The motorbike gas tank rusting or corrosion will make your gas tank useless, and that’s why experts recommend filling your motorbike gas tank up to 90% and filling the rest of the space with the antifreeze fluid. 

Mixing gas with the antifreeze fluid will protect your motorbike gas tank from rust and corrosion.

How Long Should Motorbike Winterization Last?

So far, you understand that winterization of your motorbike will start once you leave your motorbike stand for several weeks. Now, how long should motorbike winterization last? 

Winterization of your motorbike should start when you leave the motorbike in the garage and don’t have any plan to ride the motorbike soon. However, the winterization will last till only when spring comes or simply the day you plan to ride the motorbike. 

In simpler words, it’s up to you when you should store your motorbike and when you end the motorcycle winterization. Just remember to add antifreeze before winterizing the motorbike or even riding it in subzero temperature to prevent your motorbike from rust and corrosion.

What Are Some Things You Need to Consider While Ending Motorbike Winterization? 

Indeed you can start and end your motorbike’s winterization any time you wish. Now the question arises, what are some things you need to consider while ending the motorcycle winterization? 

So the spring came, and you needed to de-winterize your motorbike. Still, before that, you need to charge the motorbike battery if it’s dead or you didn’t connect the battery maintainer while winterizing the motorbike. 

You must also connect the motorbike tires again, which you removed while storing the motorbike. When inspecting the tires, ensure your motorbike chains are properly lubricated. You may need to add extra lubrication if you have some moisture on your motorbike chain. 

After this, don’t forget to inspect your motorbike’s electrical connections and gas tank pipes which play a vital role in making your motorbike move. You also need to inspect the motorbike fluid level, so you don’t face any problems in the middle of the highway. 

For How Much Time You Can Store Motorbike?

So far, you understand that you need to inspect your motorbike’s crucial parts when de-winter; now, the question arises of how much time your motorbike can be stored.

You need to store your motorbike if it’s a harsh winter in your area. You can’t ride it anytime soon, but your motorbike shouldn’t be stored or stand idle for more than four months without following a proper winterization checklist.

Doing this will cause your motorbike to suffer from several malfunctions; if you predict that harsh winter will surely last for more than a month, then you better winterize your motorbike by following the motorbike winterizing checklist. 

How Does Winterization Protect Your Gas Tank Motorcycle? 

Indeed you need to winterize your motorbike if you don’t ride it too frequently in the winters. Now the question arises, how does winterization protect your gas tank motorcycle? 

Motorbike gas contains some amounts of ethanol which absorbs the moisture from the surrounding in the winter, causing rust in the motorbike gas tank. And that’s why experts always recommend removing all traces of gasses containing ethanol to avoid further corrosion in the gas tank. 

Winterization protects your motorbike gaston from corrosion and your motorbike engine from any trace of ethanol from corrosion or rust. 

How Does Winterization Protect Your Motorcycle Tires? 

So far, you understand that motorbike winterization protects your gasoline tank from rust and corrosion; now the question arises, how does winterization protect your motorbike tires?

In the winterization process, the rider is supposed to remove the motorbike tires from the motorbike, causing the motorbike tires to be free from the motorbike weight, avoiding flat tires and increasing the longevity of motorbike tires. 

In the winterization of your motorbike, you can use a permanent stand for your motorbike to help it stand safely for months.  

Also, read my previous post where I discussed why your motorbike tres need to balance before catching the road, CLICK HERE to read.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Why you shouldn’t winterize your motorbike if you ride the motorbike frequently?

You shouldn’t winterize a motorcycle if you continue riding it at least twice a week because continuously riding it will prevent your motorbike from falling into the stage where you’ll face flat tires, dead battery, and bad electrical connections. 

Will the motorbike battery be dead if you don’t winterize your motorbike?

Your motorbike will surely die or enter the parasitic drain stage in which your motorbike battery will automatically drain out without starting any motorbike electric device. 

Should you empty the gas tank before storing the motorbike?

The motorbike gas tank rusting or corrosion will make your gas tank useless, and that’s why experts recommend filling your motorbike gas tank up to 90% and filling the rest of the space with the antifreeze fluid. 

How long should the winterization last?

Winterization of your motorbike should start when you leave the motorbike in the garage and don’t have any plan to ride the motorbike soon. However, the winterization will last till only when spring comes or simply the day you plan to ride the motorbike. 

For how much time you can store your motorbike without winterization?

You need to store your motorbike if it’s a harsh winter in your area. You can’t ride it anytime soon, but your motorbike shouldn’t be stored or stand idle for more than four months without following a proper winterization checklist.

Final Verdict: 

When to winterize the motorcycle? If you want to winterize your motorbike, then the perfect time for winterizing is when you stop riding the motorbike and don’t have any plan to touch your motorbike soon. It could be because of snow in your area, or you want to take a small break in the winter. 

I’ve also mentioned the proper period in which you should de-winterize your motorbike and things you need to consider while de-wintering the motorbike.