Remember Bill and Jack? We took you on our adventures in 2012 as we journeyed to the great Sturgis Bike Rally. What This blog was our outlet for adventures on the road and now it’s time for one last adventure of 2012, winterizing our bikes in preparation for Michigan’s winter season.
We know that our motorcycles need to be taken care of on the road and off. Through our adventures we have learned some tricks to keeping our bikes in prime condition. We want to make sure our bikes are in top shape for our adventures next year, so we follow some important steps for winter storage.
We know a few things about motorcycles and want to make sure your bike is ready to ride in the spring. Here are some winterizing tips from Foremost Insurance Group that will help ensure your bike gets a nice winter nap:
- Fuel tank care. Adding fuel stabilizer will slow down the fuel from getting thick and gummy. Ideally, top off your tank with gas and then add the fuel stabilizer. Run your engine for a few minutes to circulate the treated gas. Since gas is flammable, do not store a bike with a full tank of gas in an area where there is open flame, pilot lights, sparks or motors.
- Keep the bike looking good, even in storage. Who wants to clean 4 month old dirt off a bike when you get it out in the spring? Cleaning and polishing your bike will ensure easy preparation for your first ride of the season.
- Snuggle up your ride. Covering your bike during the winter months helps prevent rust and mildew from gathering on your bike. It’s advised to use a fitted, breathable cover to help with ventilation.
- Put that bike up where it belongs. If you can manage it, store your bike with the tires off the ground. If you can’t do this, make sure the tires are properly inflated, set the bike on it’s center stand and rotate the front tire every so often to avoid flat spots.
- Take care of what powers your ride. It makes sense to store your battery separately from your motorcycle, but never on a cement floor. Also, charging it every couple weeks with a trickle charger will help keep it fresh.
We will be back next year for another adventure and want you to be safe in your travels. Check out a Foremost agency to talk about motorcycle insurance. We are going to miss our bikes over the long Michigan winter, but there are always snowmobiles! What are you going to do in place of riding the open road this season?
