How to winterise your bike

It was great to meet so many of you at Motorcycle Live, and one of the questions I was asked most often was about what to do with fuel when storing a bike.

Storing a bike dry should be avoided, as it can cause residue left in the fuel system to gum up, creating problems further down the line.

You really want to be storing a bike with fuel that’s free from ethanol, and previously I recommended Esso’s Synergy
Supreme 99+ as it was ethanol free.

Shame, though, because as of September this is no longer the case and this super unleaded now has up to 5% ethanol.
This is where a dedicated storage fuel such as Aspen 4 or VP 4-Cycle Fuel is a good idea, as it’s stable for up to five years, won’t degrade and contains no damaging ethanol.

It also allows you to start the bike every now and then to keep things ticking over. There’s even a dedicated pre-mixed version for twostrokes.

Be warned, it’s worth noting that on older machines which might’ve already suffered damage to rubber components, storage fuel may cause leaks when the fuel causes the already perished rubber parts to revert back to shape, crack and fail.

Anyway, if you’re putting your bike away for winter, here’s how to winterise it properly…

1. Ultra clean and dry

Wash the bike all over with a dedicated motorcycle cleaner, and use a brush to get behind exhaust downpipes and into awkward places. You’re aiming to get the bike as clean as possible, so be diligent. You also need to make sure it’s thoroughly dried; an airline or bike dryer is ideal for blasting away water. If not, rub it all over with a soft towel or cloth.