Storing Your Harley-Davidson® Street® Motorcycle

While you might still have a few good rides left this season, you’ll probably want to start thinking about getting your Harley-Davidson® Street® motorcycle ready for storage. This likely isn’t your favorite part of owning a motorcycle, and it certainly can take some time, but if you don’t plan on continuing to ride your bike throughout the winter, you’ll need to prepare it for an extended period of no use. 

That’s why Biggs Harley-Davidson has provided some winterization tips to help you avoid the consequences of being under-prepared. You can also contact our location in San Marcos, California, serving San Diego and Oceanside, with any additional questions you may have.

Wash and Wax

Before putting your Street motorcycle away, give it one final wash and wax. This will ensure no caked on dirt or dust will fester over the long months, not to mention the new coat of wax will add an extra layer of protection. Even if you recently washed your bike, it’s a good idea to take this time to do a proper deep clean.

Oil Change

Whether you’re due for an oil change now, or the oil change will need to happen over the winter, consider getting it taken care of. At the very least, check to make sure you’ve still got plenty of oil and that it’s in good condition. Make time to do this yourself or schedule an appointment with a trusted Harley-Davidson service center.

Add Fuel Stabilizer

Gas generally only lasts for about a month before it starts to go bad. And bad fuel can spell trouble for you. Be sure to add fuel stabilizer to your gas tank and then run the engine for a few minutes so the solution works its way through the system. 

Remove the Battery

It generally doesn’t get cold enough around these parts that a battery will be negatively affected by freezing temperatures, but there is another issue at play: if you leave the battery hooked up to the engine, the bike can still drain it, even when you’re not using it. That’s why you’ll want to remove the battery and hook it up to a trickle charge for as long as you’re not going to use it. Find a temperature-controlled area to store it for the duration of storage.

Tire Care

As your motorcycle sits on one spot on the tires for months at a time, that one spot can start to wear down faster than the rest of the tire. There are two ways you can avoid this: either move the bike so the tires rotate one and a half times, once every month or so, or store your Street motorcycle in such a way that the bike is elevated off the ground entirely. This will help keep them from wearing out too quickly and forcing you to replace them prematurely.

Where to Store Your Street Motorcycle?

Once your Street motorcycle is completely ready for storage, you’ll need to find a secure and protected spot to store it. This is probably easy if you’ve got a garage or shed big enough to store it, but if you don’t have those resources readily available to you, you’ll need to look for other sheltered alternatives. This could mean a storage unit or even your driveway (covered with a tarp). What you don’t want to do is leave it in the street. This leaves it more vulnerable to criminals who could steal it and in many places, it’s illegal to leave your personal property on public roads for that long. 

Even though it’s nice enough around us that not everyone puts their bike in storage for the winter, if you do decide to switch to an enclosed vehicle, you’ll want to prepare your Street motorcycle for those long months. That may also mean getting it in to a trusted service professional to fix any outstanding maintenance issues you may have. If that’s the case, then contact our service department here at Biggs Harley-Davidson in San Marcos, California. We’ll arrange an appointment with one of our experienced technicians so we can address all your concerns promptly. We also welcome those from San Diego and Oceanside.