Common Winter Bike Maintenance Misconceptions Debunked!

 Come winters and cars will certainly seem more comfortable than motorcycles. In cold places where the mercury drops significantly, riding a motorcycle can become more of a chore than enjoyment. If that sounds familiar, and you are planning to put your motorcycle away until spring, you need to take a few steps. Unfortunately, a lot has been said on the topic of winterizing a motorcycle, some of which are pure myths. In this article let's take a look at some of the most common misconceptions and find out the truth behind them. 

It is compulsory to start your bike frequently 

Motorcycle and car batteries tend to lose their charge faster in cold weather. This has led to the conception that you need to start your motorcycle every single day to give its battery in Prime working condition. Unfortunately, this is not helpful and cold starting the bike every single day might be detrimental to the performance of your engine. instead of just starting the motorcycle and keeping it ideal for 5 to 10 minutes it would be better if you take a 5 kilometer ride every week and give the bike some mechanical exercise! Not only will this charge the battery but also allow the moving parts of the motorcycle to do its job and stay in normal working condition.

An empty fuel tanks prevents leakage/engine overflow 

It isn’t uncommon for motorcycle engines to become overflowing with fuel during winters, making it very difficult to start in the spring. The primary reason behind this is not the presence of fuel in the fuel tank but rather a leaky valve which is unable to stop the flow of oil from the tank to the engine. Such incidences are more common with carbureted motorcycles, unlike fuel-injected bikes, so if you have a carbureted motorcycle make sure to check the petcock valve inside of keeping the fuel tank empty. An empty fuel tank will increase the likelihood of rusting and other problems that you do not want when spring comes. Just add a little bit of fuel stabilizer to the gas tank and you have nothing to worry about.

It is important to remove the battery 

Many people also think it is important to remove the motorcycle battery when storing the bike for winter. Instead of doing that you can attach a battery tender to the bike and keep the charge intact. Unless you don't intend to use a motorcycle for another four to five months, there is no need to remove the battery at all. but in case the temperature drops below zero and you have at least three or four months before the weather allows you to take the motorcycle out, then it might be a good idea to remove the battery. always take the assistance of an expert in removing batteries so that you don't end up short-circuiting its terminals.

Oil change is best done in spring 

What's the point of changing oil in winter if you are not going to use a motorcycle for another three or four months, right? Well, it is better to do the oil change before storing the bike away for winter especially because the old engine oil may have small solid micro-particles in it that will gradually settle down at the bottom of the oil pan and create a sludge that you don't want to get inside the engine. When you refill the oil compartment with fresh oil you completely eliminate the risk of small particles getting inside the engine. 

Full tire pressure in winter prevents flat tires later 

A common mistake many people make winterizing their bikes is to over-inflate the tires which might result in a puncture if the temperature goes up by even a little bit, either artificially due to a heater, or because of sudden weather changes. Also, under emergency conditions you might have to take the motorcycle out for the ride and over-inflated tires will make things difficult. always try to keep the optimal pressure in your tires instead of filling them more than necessary.  

  

BONUS TIP: If you do not plan on using your motorcycle helmet for the winter, make sure to clean and store it away safely in a dry and shaded place. Do not leave the helmet out in the open where moisture or UV rays can damage the look and comfort features of the helmet.