You’ve Got A Motorcycle to Store. We Can Help.
Motorcycles are one of the most popular forms of motorized transportation of all time, and their popularity doesn’t appear to be waning in the least. In fact, the number of registered motorcycles roughly doubled between 2002-2021, going from 4.3 million to about 8.6 million registered bikes on the road. Obviously, the U.S. population did not grow by that same percentage (287.6 million to 333.3 million), so a lot more people have turned to motorcycles for transportation.
Maybe it’s because they are cheap. Maybe it’s because they’re fun. Whatever the reason, lots of people are riding them. However, with way over half of the U.S. population residing in places that get cold, motorcycles usually go into storage for a few months.
Let’s take a look at some tips for storing your bike in the off-season!
Preparing Your Motorcycle for Storage
The first thing you need to do is get your bike ready for storage. There are a few things you need to do before you put your bike away for the winter months. You can’t just take it to the storage facility and park it.
Maintenance and Repairs
Contrary to popular opinion, modern machines actually really need to be run to maintain their optimal operating condition. So, before you park it for the winter you need to make sure you’ve done a few things to get it ready.
- Perform any necessary maintenance or repairs before storing your motorcycle to prevent damage and ensure it is in good condition when you take it out of storage.
- Change the oil and filter to prevent corrosion and damage to the engine. Remember that oil becomes acidic when it sits for extended periods and can damage the engine if it sits, so a fresh oil change is cheap insurance.
- Check the tire pressure and inflate to the recommended level to prevent flat spots. You’ll be glad you did, and it also prevents dry rot cracking.
- Clean and wax the motorcycle to protect the paint and metal components: always put it away clean, and put a cover over it so it is still nice and clean (and most importantly, free from road grime) come springtime.
Battery and Tire Care
There are a few basic maintenance tips you should do to make sure your motorcycle battery and tires stay in great shape.
- Disconnect the battery to prevent energy drainage and store it in a warm place to prevent freezing.
- Use a trickle charger or battery tender to maintain the battery’s charge. This isn’t always an option if your storage unit doesn’t have electrical outlets, so removing the battery is the best bet.
- Inflate the tires to the maximum pressure to prevent flat spots and damage to the tire walls. You also might think about filling the tires with gaseous nitrogen to keep the pressure uniform over the winter. Don’t worry, it’s an inert gas.
- Consider removing the tires or using a lift to prevent flat-spotting. Or, you can come in every couple of weeks and roll your bike to a new position. You might want to bring in a piece of chalk or a tire crayon to mark the spot on the ground so you know you don’t re-park it on the same spot.
Storage Unit Security
Your bike is our baby. You care about it. It says something about you. You need to trust that your bike is safe and secure when you park there.
My Storage Box takes your security very seriously. We offer 24/7 access for all of our units with gated access, large paved drives, and security cameras. When you padlock your storage unit, you can rest assured that your bike is in good hands with us.
Insurance and Legal Considerations
Make sure to keep your insurance current on your bike when you’ve got it in storage, and also make sure to check out your current insurance policy to make sure it covers storage. Also, you might consider checking with your insurance provider to see if they offer a storage or comprehensive-only policy. These policies may be better suited for you when your bike is going to sit for roughly half of the year. Also, they may provide better coverage than your current insurance policy for a bike in storage. Food for thought.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
The biggest thing you need to do is to prepare your bike mechanically for storage. Fresh oil (or draining the oil if the owner’s manual calls for it). The battery is a particularly weak point on all vehicles put into storage for the winter. Pulling the battery out completely for storage is a great idea, unless the operator’s manual specifically calls against it. You can keep it stored in your house, preferably hooked up to a trickle charger through the winter to promote long battery life.
Make sure to put a drip pan under the engine, too. If there are any leaks, the pan will catch them, so you won’t have to pay for clean-up in the storage unit.
Finally, if you have a fork lock, make sure to lock it. It is one more level of protection, just in case.
Storage Unit Options
This is up to you. Our small storage units (8×10) are plenty large enough to house even the biggest motorcycles. Of course, if you have other stuff to store along with your bike(s), you can always go bigger. Our 8×20 offers about 160 square feet of secure storage space, and the 8×40 offers 320 square feet.
Parting Thoughts
If you’re a little tight on garage space (or don’t have a garage at all), storing your motorcycle can be worrisome. You don’t want to leave it out in the weather, and bringing it inside the house is probably not advisable. But don’t worry! You can always store it in a My Storage Box storage unit! Our prices are affordable, you can get in and out 24/7, and with our video monitoring, secure gated entry, and pad-lockable storage units, you know your bike is in good hands.
You can click the link to get started where you can reserve a unit and make monthly payments. You can also call us at (580) 300-3006.