Winterize the motorcycle properly

If you don't want to ride your motorcycle through the winter, here's a guide to winterizing properly (in cooperation with our partner MOTOREX).

When the autumn shows its unfriendly side more and more often towards the end of the year, the time is approaching to prepare the motorcycle for winter storage.

The very brave simply park the machine outside after the last ride - perhaps even without a cover. It's easy to imagine what the bike will look like after a few months. And that the machine will run smoothly at the start of the next season is about as likely as winning the lottery. But even those who leave their motorcycle in the garage over the winter without taking a few preparatory measures can experience a miracle next spring: levers that are difficult to operate, rust all over the place, and the bike responds to pressure on the starter with a tired rattle and subsequent silence.

For winterizing the machine, the biker can draw from the wide range of MOTOREX care products and lubricants in the Touratech webshop. The right high-quality product can be found for every application.

Oil change before winter?

Anyone who is about to winterize their motorcycle will first ask themselves the old question: Oil change or no oil change before winter? MOTOREX recommends changing the lubricant and the oil filter in any case before winterizing the machine. The reason for this is the substances bound in used oil, such as acids, water and dirt, which could lead to corrosion in the engine. So the infrequent driver can now carry out the oil change that is due annually, and the frequent driver, who has to change the oil several times a year due to his high mileage, can time the oil changes accordingly.

Prepare the tank as well as the gasoline for the winter

The winterizing period also offers lazy motorcyclists an excellent opportunity to overcome their inner weakness and reach for various cleaning and care products. However, before you start washing, you should increase the air pressure of both tires by about 0.5 bar and, above all, fill up metal gasoline tanks. This prevents the tank from rusting over the winter. A gasoline additive such as MOTOREX FUEL STABILIZER delays oxidation, prevents deposits and ensures that the engine starts without problems even after a long period of idling. For this, the additive must be in the complete fuel system. So you have to run the engine with FUEL STABILIZER in the tank for a few minutes, so that the additive can develop its protective effect, for example, also in the float chambers of carburetor engines.

Cleaning

It doesn't make sense to treat dirt-encrusted components with lubricating oil after an off-road ride; the coarse dirt has to come off first. The only thing that can help here is lots and lots of water and, if necessary, a steam jet. MOTO CLEAN from MOTOREX is then recommended. The special motorcycle cleaner is simply sprayed onto the dry and cold machine and washed off completely with water after a maximum of five minutes. Thanks to its high level of effectiveness, it removes even stubborn dirt such as insects, brake dust and tar stains. However, such cleaners should not be used in the blazing sun.

The battery

For all further work, the machine should also be dry, so wipe well and - if at hand - blow off with compressed air to remove moisture even from fairly inaccessible places. Before lubricating moving parts, you can first take care of the battery, so that the bike still has time to dry off completely. The best contact can be made with MOTOREX ACCU PROTECT (not in the Touratech range) spray. To do this, disconnect both battery terminals - first the negative terminal, because then no short circuit can occur if you accidentally touch a metal component with the positive terminal - and clean with a cloth and fine sandpaper. Then screw the battery terminals back on tightly - the positive terminal first - and spray on a thin layer of ACCU PROTECT. Since many motorcycles have permanent electrical consumers such as a clock or an alarm system, it is advisable to leave the negative terminal off over the winter. If you winter your bike in a detached garage, where double-digit sub-zero temperatures are not uncommon, it is better to remove the battery and store it in the dark in the cellar. It is also a good idea to purchase a battery charger to keep the battery fresh, as this prolongs its service life and ensures that it is ready for immediate use next spring.

Chain, sprocket and co.

Now it's the turn of the chain, sprocket and chainring. For this work, it is recommended to place a large cardboard or similar underneath so that you do not dirty the floor. Coarse grease residues can be removed first best purely mechanically with an old rag or a brush. Then spray the chain and chainring and - if easily accessible - also the sprocket with CHAIN CLEAN DEGREASER and let the grease remover take effect. If necessary, you can help with a brush. Then wipe off the dissolved grease residue with a rag and spray the chain with chain spray such as CHAIN LUBE OFF ROAD, CHAIN LUBE ROAD STRONG or CHAIN LUBE RACING from MOTOREX. On bikes with a main stand this is quite easy, but on bikes that only have a side stand, there is no way around maneuvering when you are alone.

Care of the moving parts

It is not unimportant to lubricate moving parts and joints. For this, a universal oil spray such as JOKER 440 SYNTHETIC or INTACT MX50 is recommended, which infiltrates and displaces moisture and leaves a highly effective protective film. The can is supplied with a long spray tube. This allows you to reach places that are otherwise difficult to access. Which parts are affected depends on the motorbike model. Therefore, only parts such as the main stand and side stand, joints of the gearstick lever, gearstick linkage and foot brake, hand levers, movable connections on mechanically operated clutches and throttle valve adjusters on the carburettor should be mentioned here. A drop of oil is also good for the ignition lock and the seat and helmet locks. Caution should be exercised when oiling cables. If they are self-lubricating and coated with Teflon, you would destroy this effect with spray oil.

Motorcycle and accessories/clothing care

After the bike has been technically prepared for the winter standstill, it's time for the look. Painted surfaces, chrome and metal parts can be treated with the MOTO PROTECT care spray: Spray parts, allow to act briefly and then rub with a clean cloth. Since the spray is oily, it should not be sprayed on grips, seat or tires. The surfaces are protected from corrosion with a light film of oil, which can be easily removed in the coming year with suitable means. For a perfect finish and long-lasting shine provides the spray MOTO SHINE.

It is also advisable to impregnate leather seats and saddlebags. PROTEX SPRAY is suitable for this purpose and can also be used to treat rider equipment such as boots, jackets and pants. The spray is also suitable for impregnation of textile suits with breathable membrane.

Last but not least!

Last but not least, there is the question of a cover. If the bike stands dry over winter, a simple sheet is certainly sufficient. But if the bike has to spend the winter outdoors, you can hardly do without a waterproof tarpaulin. Somewhat more expensive are breathable tarpaulins. However, these have the advantage that moisture evaporating under the tarpaulin can escape again. If you use a simpler tarpaulin, you should ventilate it from time to time to prevent moisture from accumulating permanently underneath.