5 top tips for keeping your motorcycle tip-top this winter

Whether you just can’t get enough of riding, or if your motorcycle is your only form of transport, if you’re riding through a British winter, the cold, damp, rain, muck and road salt all pose challenges to keeping your motorcycle well-serviced, safe and in tip-top condition.

Read on for our top tips about how to make sure your bike can cope with the weather and fly through the winter in the best possible shape.

1.      Protect it

Public enemy number one in winter motorcycling is corrosion. Road salt dissolved in water speeds up the process of rusting, corroding the exposed metalwork of your motorcycle. This can lead to damage, weakening or seizing of components.

It’s never too late to add some corrosion protection to your motorcycle. There are some great anti-corrosion products available that can be applied to your motorcycle to leave a thin film as a barrier to moisture and stopping the process of corrosion. Speak to Moto Edit about getting your bike protected from the winter weather with an anti-corrosion application.

Also spare a thought for where you are keeping your motorcycle over the winter. Keeping your bike covered and as dry as possible will help to stave off the creeping corrosion. If possible, park it in a dry garage or building, and if it’s outside, keep it covered. Look for a waterproof cover to keep the rain off, but make sure it’s ventilated to avoid condensation and heat-resistant to stop a hot exhaust making a melted mess.

2.      Clean it

A vital weapon in the battle against corrosion is keeping your motorcycle clean. Remove as much salt as possible, hosing it down after every ride and making sure you’ve cleaned the wheels, underside and any exposed metalwork and crevices where salt can creep in. Give it a thorough clean every week or two.

Spare a thought for the lights – with low light conditions in winter, make sure you keep your lights clean so that you can see and be seen. Carry a cloth and visor cleaner with you so you can clear the road dirt off both lights and visor at every stop.

3.      Lube it

Water, salt and grit can play havoc with the moving parts of your motorcycle, and the drive chain is particularly at risk and will quickly become rusty without care. To prolong the life of your chain and reduce the risk of irregular wear or snapping, clean your chain with drivetrain cleaner and a brush regularly, and lubricate it with a wet-weather or all-weather chain lube.

Other moving parts and controls will also need lubrication: pay attention to brakes, pedals and throttle control.

4.      Keep the battery charged

Cold weather is tough on batteries, and the lower the state of charge, the greater the ratio of water to acid, so the more the chance of your battery freezing. Batteries discharge more quickly in cold weather and over time can discharge completely, which can be difficult to recover.  

Just starting up your bike and leaving it ticking over is not enough to charge your battery, so if you are not riding your motorcycle regularly through the winter, consider using an ‘intelligent’ battery charger that analyses and responds to the state of your battery, providing charge until the battery is at its optimum and then going into standby mode until it senses a drop in voltage.

5.      Inspect it

For general safety, get into the habit of inspecting your bike for damage and wear before each ride, and the ideal time to perform a more thorough check is when cleaning it. Even if you don’t have a full motorcycle workshop at your disposal, there is a lot you can do yourself to keep on top of maintenance.

• Check all round your bike for defects and damage and make sure nothing is loose. Check all round for obvious signs of damage. Make sure your chain and sprockets are in good condition.
• Check your fluid levels: petrol, oil, brake fluid and coolant. Make sure your coolant contains anti-freeze to prevent the water in your radiator freezing.
• Check your electrics: lights, dash panel, horn and kill switch.
• Check the suspension for leaks and that everything moving as it should be.
• Check your controls and throttle, brake and clutch levers and cables.
• Check your brakes for wear and corrosion. Carry out a rolling brake check when you set off on each ride to ensure front and rear brakes are working.
• Check your motorcycle’s tyres: Look for a minimum of 1mm tread depth across three quarters of the width of the tread pattern - but you should also consider whether your tyres are suitable for cold and wet weather riding. If you’re commuting regularly through the winter, you want a tyre that will warm up quickly in cold conditions, offer good traction in the wet and deliver a good mileage. Check your tyre pressures and look for any cracks or foreign objects.

Investing in a little preparation and keeping on top of basic maintenance and motorcycle servicing through the winter will help you and your motorcycle to stay safe on the roads and survive the winter in good condition.  If in doubt, get your motorcycle into the workshop for some TLC.

Get expert help with motorcycle servicing and maintenance to keep your bike on the road this winter: call Moto-Edit now to find out more about workshop services.