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“Get your motor running’…head out on the highway…” Every spring, the call of the road beckons motorcyclists around the world. And every spring, those same motorcyclists spend time getting motorcycle-ready: cleaning and prepping their rides for the heavy-use season to come.
Whether you’re looking for motorcycle cleaning tips to prepare your motorcycle specifically for spring or just want a good de-winterization roundup, we’re here to help. Of course, we’re not mechanics so if you see anything amiss or need extra support to get your ride road-ready, seek out professional advice. When it comes to riding and maintaining motorcycles, the old saying about it being better to be safe than sorry definitely rings true.
Scroll down for our quick and easy guide to cleaning, prepping, and dewinterizing motorcycles.
Motorcycle Cleaning Tips
Once you’ve visited your motorcycle storage location and determined the time is nigh to get started, you’ll want to collect all the cleaning materials necessary for prepping motorcycles to ride – and to ride safely. Winter storage can do a number on your motorcycle if you haven’t taken the time at the outset to clean and prepare your ride, so remember that the more work you do before you store your motorcycle means the less you have to do after you take it out.
Gather a few buckets of water (or a garden hose), soft cleaning cloth, car wash soap, wheel cleaner, degreaser, wax, cleaner / protectant for the seats and saddlebags, and lubricant for the chain. If you noticed that your headlights or brake lights were a little dim at the end of the last riding season, you might want to purchase a low-priced headlight cleaning kit to remove oxidation. If you decide to use a pressure washer, dial it all the way down from the “high pressure” setting and stand back from the bike to help prevent damage to plastic parts or anything else.
Once you’ve got the tools in place, washing your motorcycle is a relatively quick and easy task. According to Family Handyman, the first step is to remove the seat and saddlebags, and use plastic wrap or sheeting with rubber bands to cover the battery and exhaust pipe. Rinse it off, soap it up, rinse it off again, and dry it quickly to avoid water spots.
After you’ve got the initial round of dirt and grease off the bike, move on to the wheels, spokes, and tires. Clean them off with a specialized wheel cleaner for best results.
Next, use a diluted degreaser to clean the engine, drive shaft, and chain, and a leather cleaner to take care of the seat and saddlebags. Polish up your chrome, give it another rinse, and then apply wax to help protect the paint while you’re on the road.
For step-by-step motorcycle cleaning tips, visit the excellent piece published by the Art of Manliness.
Dewinterizing Motorcycle Fluids
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After you’ve got your motorcycle spruced up nicely, it’s time to replace all the fluids that sat stagnant while you stored your bike for the winter. It’s important to always warm your engine up before checking the fluids (but after replacing the gasoline).
- Drain the gasoline.
- Add fuel stabilizer and more gas to the tank.
- Change your engine oil and oil filter. This is a good idea even if you changed it before you put it into winter storage.
- Check hydraulic clutch and brake fluid levels; replace any fluids that look different than when you initially installed them.
- Check if your transmission oil, coolant or antifreeze, and fork oil needs to be topped off or replaced. Most manufacturers recommend changing fork oil every 20,000 to 50,000 miles, so refer to your maintenance records to determine next steps. (While you’re at it, make sure your air filter isn’t due for replacement. You normally need a new one every 10,000 to 15,000 miles.)
Prepping Motorcycle Batteries, Brakes & Tires
When you store your bike over the winter, you’ll always need to prep your battery, brakes, and tires before riding it. First, take a good long look at your battery. If you’ve kept your motorcycle in climate-controlled storage so that the battery didn’t freeze and/or used a trickle charger over the winter, you’ll likely be in good shape. Only charge it if there are no signs of corrosion or leaks. (If you see anything amiss, time for a new one.) It’s also a good idea to check the voltage with a voltmeter after you charge it to make sure it’s holding the charge.
Visually inspect the front and rear brakes and brake pads. Make sure that there is no leaking fluid, and that your brake cables are in good shape without too much wear or fraying. You’ll want to make sure that your brake pads are at least ⅛ of an inch thick and that there is a relatively equal amount of material remaining on your disc brakes (if you have them). Lastly, sit on your bike and test the brake levers. If the positioning feels off, use the lever span adjustment knob to fix them.
As for your tires, you’ll first want to check your tire wear indicator (TWI) and rain grooves to make sure your tires don’t need replacing. Also be on the lookout for flat spots, which can happen when a motorcycle is stored for too long on its side stand. (While they typically won’t appear for a few years, it’s always better to store your motorcycle on a center stand.) If your tires appear to be in good condition, check your tire pressure and add air to the recommended PSI.
If you take care of your motorcycle before putting it in winter storage, you hopefully won’t encounter too many surprises when it comes time to get it ready to ride again. If you have any doubts about your own mechanical abilities, it’s always a good practice to have your mechanic give the bike a once-over before hitting the streets. Also don’t forget to check and replace your helmet and protective gear as necessary.
