Get Winter Ready. Things You Should Start Now

Prep your motorbike for winter. Fail to prepare? Prepare to fail...

Whether you intend to get kitted up in your winter warmers and head out onto the grit laden road, or plan to put her under your motorcycle cover for the time being, a little TLC will go a long way. A lot of the necessary steps might seem a little too obvious to seasoned motorcyclists, but we thought we’d take this opportunity to set out the BEST products for the job (as selected by our in-house technical specialists!)

Let’s dive straight in.

Charge her up

Motorcycle batteries are vulnerable to faults over the chilly months. We've probably all met checkmate with this at the most inconvineint times... You know how it goes; cold weather reduces the amount of power a battery can generate and hold; so you’ll need a motorcycle battery charger to ensure it is topped up, even if you are riding this winter.

Don't skip this step on the premise "it will be fine" because remember that time when it wasn't? Winging it isn't a good idea when it comes to storing a lead-acid battery without full charge. If you do, you're sending it to an early grave by causing sulfation (increased charging times, shorter battery life, heat build-up and eventually complete failure).

"Too late" you say? The SC Power SC10 and SC38 Smart Battery Charger options we recommend can reverse sulfation in most 12V lead acid batteries. They are available in 1.0 Amp and 3.8 Amp options

Chill her out

Do you know how much water vs antifreeze you have running through her system? Neither do we; we don't blame you. Those cheeky water top ups (not recommended) throughout the year have kept you going, for now. But, with extreme colds on the horizon you should consider flushing and refilling her whole system (yes, we said it). We recommend market leading Motul Motocool Expert Coolant and MoCool High Performance Coolant for its technology, quality and affordability.

Keep it Smooth

Moisure and acid by-products from your engine can cause problems if they’re left there, especially if the bike is going to be sitting over winter. Get winter ready with a filter and oil change and make cold starts a little less laborious on your engine!

The cold weather increases viscosity so choose a suitable oil for cold conditions. We recommend Motul lubricant and Motul Racing Oil specially formulated for excellent shear resistance, smooth shifting and meets JASO MA2 specifications for optimal wet clutch performance. 100% synthetic motorcycle oil designed with ester technology.

Lubricate her Parts

Rain, hail, salt, dirt and moisture can impact moving parts. Keep them lubed up to avoid corrosion and rust, particularly after wet rides. Motul’s range of chain clean, chain paste, chain lube and E.Z lube are trusted lubricants that are specially formulated for longevity, so won’t be flying off as soon as you’ve finished applying them.

Want to save yourself some time and money? Our tech specialists have bundled together some Motul favourites, and you can get 20% off now! The bundle includes everything you need to tackle the major cleaning jobs, and then some…

Let her shine

If going the full monty isn’t on the cards, give her the once over with Vulcanet cleaning wipes. These are an award-winning multi-purpose wipe designed to clean, shine and protect all surfaces. They can remove tar, insects and stubborn deposits on the alloy. No risk of scratch or damage and no need for water. You can also use these to clean your hands too! A workshop essential we couldn’t be without.

After all that, you’ll probably be ready for a cuppa (or a pint). While we can’t offer too much advice in the way of beverages, what we will say is take the tea bag out before pouring the milk…