Preparing Your Bike For Winter Riding

Winter Motorcycle Maintenance

If you’re not one to put your bike into hibernation over the winter months, there are still a few steps you need to take to make sure your bike is ready for the cold weather. Here are our tips and tricks to help keep your bike in top shape:

Start with a good wash

First things first, give your bike a really good clean. You want to get rid of all the existing dirt that’ll only help more dirt and salt stick to your bike parts, causing them to corrode even faster.

If you can’t be bothered to do the grunt work yourself, then take the bike to a hand car wash and get them to give it the once over. This is a decent starting point but you should follow up with a bit of effort on the areas that you can’t see that well (the rear shock, up and under the headstock, etc). 10 minutes with some warm soapy water and a decent brush will make all the difference.

Properly dry your bike with a microfibre cloth.

Handy link: Motorcycle cleaning guide

A word about electrics

Avoid using a pressure washer at all costs. The fine spray can get in all the nooks and crannies then expand when frozen. Spraying WD-40 or something similar can help dissipate the water. The last thing you want is taking your bike out and find something isn’t working.

Coat the bike with corrosion inhibitors

Once you’ve washed your bike, coat any metalwork (except your discs) with a corrosion inhibitor like Scottoiler FS365 or AFC-50. This will protect it against salt from the roads and extra dirt. Come the summertime, you can remove it with a good wash and degreasing session.

Handy link: ACF-50 Review

Wax your rims

Rims get damaged when your tyres get changed; it’s hard to avoid. The winter weather will cause any chips to blister and the problem will get far worse. A good way to sort this is to coat your rims in a wheel wax which helps disperse water, provides a good layer of protection from the elements and makes them so much easier to get clean.

Handy link: Poorboys Wheel Sealant

Fit a rear mudguard

If you don’t have a rear mudguard on your bike, your shock will get knackered by all the road crap that gets flung at it. The shock spring coating will likely chip and then rust, any adjusters will get furred-up and the preload threads will become caked in grime. Not forgetting the rear of the engine which will also get a pasting. Spending £50 on a hugger is money well spent.

Lubricate anything that moves

Keeping your brake and clutch levers lubricated helps keep them in top shape throughout the cold months. Use a dab of grease for your side stands and suspension linkages (it stays in place longer and doesn’t wash away easily in the wet).

Don’t neglect your chain

In wet weather, your chain will wear faster as the rain and road crud will work to dislodge any chain lubrication. Keeping it lubricated will protect it from wear. A good idea is investing in a decent motorcycle chain oiler or manually lubricate it every 150 miles or so.

Handy link: Motorcycle chain oilers

Check those brakes

No-one likes to be on their hands and knees scrubbing their brakes but a little bit of TLC will help them stay fur-free and operating well. Once a week, give your brakes a once-over with a toothbrush and a bit of hot water to remove the built-up salt. Consider removing your brake pads now and again and clean with brake cleaner.

Clean your sprockets

Clean your sprockets regularly with degreaser or a chain cleaner to get rid of the grime-laden buildup of chain lube. Make sure you coat with an anti-corrosion spray when you’ve finished.

Handy link: Motorcycle chain degreasers

Protect your forks

Salt on the roads can be a right pain for forks. There are two schools of thought when it comes to winter riding. Some remove the dust seal then grease up the seal to prevent corrosion – the argument being that the grease helps collect any crud. Others recommend giving the seals a wipe with a cloth once a week to remove the build-up of road crap and preventing it from working its way past the seals.

Fit the best tyres

In the car world, you can buy winter tyres but in the bike world there isn’t such a thing as a winter tyre.

However, you can buy winter-focused tyres for your bike. A Sports-Touring or Touring motorcycle tyre will have more tread, warm up quicker and work better in cold temperatures compared to a Sports tyre.

Better rubber means you’ll have heaps more confidence in the bike, making the riding experience that bit more enjoyable. You don’t want to spend winter tip-toeing around, wondering when you’re going to run out of grip.

Always check your tyre pressure before you ride (the tyres should be cold to get the best reading). Riding on low-pressure tyres will reduce the gaps in the tread, meaning they can’t disperse water as well, increasing your risk of an accident. Don’t be tempted to reduce your tyre pressures.

Keeping the lights on

The darker days bring a whole new hazard, so carrying a spare dipped beam and rear bulbs will help if you’re likely to be out after dark. Got a light that’s blinking or a bit dicky? Now’s the time to get it sorted. Check your lights before you ride – every time!

Additional tips for winter riders

Look after your battery

If you’re a fan of heated clothing during the winter, make sure you keep your battery topped up. If your regulator isn’t up to the job, it might not always be capable of keeping the battery fully charged, meaning the bike might not start when you need it to. Fit a trickle charger (with a quick-release plug) to keep the battery in good shape.

Avoiding punctures

More debris collects on the road during winter and with that comes an increase in puncture hazards like screws and nails. Unfortunately, fewer motorbikes on the road increases your chances of picking up a puncture from a zone where motorcycle wheels tend to go (on the outside of traffic approaching a traffic light, for example). Carrying a motorcycle puncture repair kit can save you a call-out and a lot of hassle.

Engine maintenance

Check your motorcycle’s engine oil regularly. Your bike works harder in the cold weather. If you only have water in your radiator, replace this with antifreeze and keep an eye on your water hoses to make sure none of them are leaking. Fitting a front mudguard extender can protect your engine and radiator from road spray.