Winter storage of a motorcycle is a topic on which a huge number of articles have been written, many videos have been shot. Who would have thought that most of these tips are just ads. Therefore, this article will refute popular recommendations for storing a motorcycle in winter.
Myth # 1: Keep the battery in a warm place.
The most common myth tells us that the battery from your iron horse must be kept in a warm place, but why, no one explains. Heat accelerates chemical processes, which leads to a rapid discharge of the battery and sulfation, which reduces the capacity. Car batteries are brought into a warm room for one reason, so that one fine frosty winter morning, the battery gives the starter the power needed to turn the engine with thickened engine oil in turn.
In general, a motorcycle battery should be stored in a cool, dark and dry room at a temperature of no more than fifteen degrees Celsius. Only if the thermometer in the garage drops below minus twenty degrees Celsius, can the battery be brought into the basement or loggia, although if the battery is fully charged and the electrolyte density is normal, it will not freeze even at temperatures below minus forty degrees. It is only necessary to reset the terminals and make sure that the voltage does not drop below 12 volts.
Myth # 2: replacing motor oil during winter motorcycle parking
Another common conjecture about storing a motorcycle in a cold garage in winter is changing the oil before and after checking into the garage. Yes, if you have the financial capabilities and time or access to sponsorship chemistry, you can change the oil at least as many times during the seasonal conservation. And in the best option, it’s also worth disassembling the motorcycle, and place each part in a container with silica gel. The most rational thing before putting the motorcycle in the garage is to do this: it is necessary to warm up the engine and drain the used oil, as a result, the rubbish remaining in it will not settle in the crankcase.
Then there are two different ways. First, you can immediately fill the engine with new oil and, if it is of good quality, it will retain its characteristics for at least a year. Oxidation is possible, but its effect on motor oil is greatly exaggerated by the advertisers of the manufacturer. The second option is to fill the engine with new oil right before the opening of the new season. Everyone who says that without rust inside the engine will rust, are mistaken, because all the same, during rest, the lubricant is lowered into the oil pan. A microscopic film of engine oil remains on the bearings, shafts and other parts, everything else will still drain into the crankcase and will not come into contact with the listed parts until the engine is restarted. So during seasonal storage the engine doesn’t care at all whether there is oil in it or not.
There is another opinion, which says that in the spring in the engine of the motorcycle so much condensate has accumulated that it can cause harm, so it must be washed off with old oil. Let's see why this statement is just a myth. The volume of air in an isolated engine is only ten liters, in this amount only 0.2 milliliters of water can be contained in the form of steam, which is equal to the volume of four small drops of water. Therefore, if at the beginning of the season this volume of water condenses, the engine will somehow survive it.
Myth # 3: the dangers of the cold
Some articles with motorcycle winter storage tips have this statement. It says that cold accelerates corrosion. Why is this a myth? And because the cold is your great friend, and not the enemy, because the freezing temperature slows down the corrosion process many times, but does not accelerate. For a motorcycle, the worst thing is a sharp change in temperature and high humidity. When the dew point is reached, the water vapor contained in the air condenses on colder surfaces. Water is corrosion. To minimize the effect of moisture, in the autumn a full tank is poured, the access of raw air to the motor is limited, oil is injected into the cylinders, and the motorcycle itself is treated with different chemicals.
Myth No. 4: Only special formulations should be used for conservation.
It is profitable for manufacturers of motor chemistry that you instead of a pair of cylinders of silicone grease buy from them a dozen more expensive products. Silicone grease is a very inexpensive, but extremely useful tool. With him, everything is simple - fill everything you see. Why is that? Yes, because silicone does not chemically interact with metal, plastic or rubber parts. Plus displaces water and creates a moisture-impervious film.
Myth # 5: silicone grease on brakes and tires is unacceptable
Many "experts" argue that silicone grease is not allowed on the brake discs of a motorcycle, and if this grease has got there, it is necessary to immediately change the brake discs and pads. In fact, they are not quite right. Brake discs are the part of the motorcycle that is most susceptible to corrosion, so in any case they must be treated with grease to avoid damage. In any case, before you leave for a ride with friends after seasonal storage of your motorcycle, you will need to wash your equipment. And any high pressure washer will wash silicone grease without any problems, and if you wash your horse with shampoo, then there will be no trace of it.
Myth # 6: Store your motorcycle in winter only on a special stand.
It feels like articles on the Internet with motorcycle storage tips are created entirely by marketers. After all, only they can come up with the idea that to store an iron horse in their garage is necessary only on a special stand. Officially, you can say that the best stand for storing a motorcycle in the winter is its footboard. After all, it was not in vain that the plant invented this ingenious thing.
This article came to an end, we hope that you have taken out something useful for yourself from it and will use it in the future.