Winter Motorcycle Care Guide: Keep Your Bike Ready for Next Spring
As the weather gets colder, especially in the northern regions where many riders stop riding, how should we maintain motorcycles during autumn and winter?
The chain is one of the most important parts of a motorcycle! Chain cleaning and maintenance are essential. It’s recommended to service the chain every 500 km—first clean it using a professional brush and chain cleaner, wipe it dry, and then apply special chain oil or chain wax. After cleaning, be sure to turn off the engine and shift to neutral, manually rotate the rear wheel instead of running the engine at idle, to avoid oil and dirt splashing everywhere. Also remember to check the chain tension and adjust it to the proper level.
If the motorcycle will be parked for a long time, it’s best to remove the battery or at least disconnect the battery cable. If you still feel it’s troublesome, then start the motorcycle once a week and let it idle for about 10 minutes to avoid battery drain. I once left my bike unused for over 20 days, and the battery died and couldn’t start—especially if your motorcycle has a lot of added electrical equipment.
Next, replace the engine oil and oil filter: old engine oil contains acidic substances and metal particles from combustion. Leaving these inside the engine for an entire winter can accelerate internal corrosion. Replacing the oil and filter ensures clean oil protects the engine.
As temperatures drop, tire pressure can decrease by 0.2–0.3 bar, so it is important to refill air in winter—ideally 0.1–0.2 bar above the standard value to maintain proper grip and handling. Also regularly check tire wear. Aging tires become harder in cold weather, reducing traction. So always check your tires and pressure before every ride.
When washing your motorcycle in winter, choose midday when temperatures are warmer, avoid spraying directly with a high-pressure water gun. It’s better to use a spray bottle and gently rinse, then wipe quickly to prevent freezing.
If the motorcycle will be parked long-term, if you’re rich and have carport, store it in an underground garage or indoors to avoid wind and rain. If that’s not possible, find a safe location, cover the bike, and if you have a center stand or paddock stand, lift both wheels off the ground. This is the best way to protect the tires and suspension. If you don’t have one, simply roll the motorcycle forward and backward every few weeks.
