Don’t start your bike up every week

Q. I own a 2010 honda vfr800. My bike is used most of the year but could be off the road for a couple of months in bad weather. It is garaged and has a battery conditioner fitted. Can i do any form of damage if i start it up every couple of weeks, and let it run until it reaches normal working temperature? will it soot up the plugs etc? alan brownson, email a. If you are going to store your bike for a couple of months it’s better to lay it up for the whole period, rather than run it up every few weeks.

Don’t put off that oil change

If you didn’t do this when you put it away in the fall, you definitely need to do it now. For detailed instructions on how to change your moto’s oil, click here.

Don’t store a dirty bike

Depending on where you live, you might have to store your motorcycle during the winter months. If so, there are several things you should do to care for your bike properly during the cold season. Putting a cover on it is just one part . Before you do that, you must prepare your motorcycle adequately for all the time it will be parked in a garage or storage area unused. Heres are five recommendations to prepare your motorcycle for winter storage. 1. Buy a motorcycle cover and use it. A cover protects your motorcycle from dust while its being stored inside; and it protects from the elements if the bike is being stored outside.

Motorcycle Winter Riding & Maintenance

If you’re cold, your bike and the road surface will be too, and it’s important to remember that your body is not the only thing that will seize up in cold temperatures. You can get tyres specifically designed for riding in winter and in cold conditions for your motorcycle. Fit modern sport touring tyres rather than sporty track tyres; they will work well on sportsbike during winter perfectly well. Try michelin’s pilot road 5, dunlop roadsmart iii, bridgestone battlax t31- or metzeler roadtec 01 –even on sports and superbikes. They’re superb in the wet, warm up quickly, have loads of life and give more grip than you need in the dry on the road.

This question has a lot to do with personal preference and what you personally feel comfortable doing, but there are some general rules and safety that go into what the limits are. The winter months are extremely harsh on motorcycles, let alone you riding it. I’ve been there, hitting ice and sliding. However, riding in the winter isn’t really impossible, i would still ride (in safe condition) rather than suffocating in cars. Below is what i’ve learned during the winter. So how cold is too cold? it is not recommend ed to ride a motorcycle when the temperature is below 32 degree (0°c) as ice will form at these temperatures.

Your bike takes you places and it’s a joy to ride. Whether it’s the growing warmth of spring, the blaze of summer, or the crispness of fall – you’re gonna be out riding. But, sadly, winter is coming. And it’ll be time to stow that bike of yours away until the return of spring. When you do, it’s important to store it properly . In this article, we’ll give you a thorough rundown on how to store your motorcycle for the winter.

Before you go riding in the winter, it's important to understand what sort of risks come with winter weather. As a motorcyclist, you should be prepared for the following conditions and hazards: extreme wind chill when riding. The harsh wind chills brought by certain winter weather will be even more severe and stinging when riding a motorcycle at 40 miles per hour. Reduced traction on slippery roads. Even with snow tires on your motorcycle, the handling and tracking of a two-wheel vehicle could put you at an increased risk of slipping and falling off of your bike. Sudden changes in weather conditions.

4: Wear the right gear

Winter can present the most demanding weather and the toughest riding conditions for bikers. Whether using a motorbike to commute or for leisure, it can be hard work to get where you’re going safely. However, there are plenty of things riders can do to ready themselves for winter rides. From bike prep to wearing appropriate gear, making sure you’re visible to carrying riding essentials, preparation is always key. At the same time, there are riding techniques that can be employed on the road to ensure even the most slippery roads don’t catch you out.

Be a responsible rider. Wear the right gear when you ride, your gear is "right" if it protects you. In any crash, you have a better chance to avoid serious injury if you wear: an approved helmet. Protective clothing. Helmet use crashes are not rare events — particularly among beginning riders. And one out of every five motorcycle crashes results in head or neck injuries. Head injuries are just as severe as neck injuries — and far more common. Crash analysis shows that head and neck injuries account for a majority of serious and fatal injuries to motorcyclists. Research also shows that, with few exceptions, head and neck injuries are reduced by the proper wearing of an approved helmet.

No other moving part on an adventure bike experiences dirt and debris as much as the chain and sprockets. Usually, the front sprocket wears out the fastest because it rotates more than the rear. It’s also the one that gets overlooked because it’s often hidden under a cover. Eventually, it can get so bad that the chain starts skipping teeth and could even come loose. Ideally, a healthy sprocket will have a flat spot at the top of each tooth; the teeth should also not look like shark fins. It’s highly recommended to replace both sprockets and chain at the same time because they wear best as a set.