Getting Your Bike Ready for Riding In Winter

Do you continue riding into winter months?

A lot of bikers choose to store their motorcycles across colder seasons as it gets colder and the road conditions worsen, however many also choose to continue riding on quieter roads.

This guide will help you get ready for autumn and winter whether you choose to keep riding or store your bike before spring and summer biking comes around again.

PREPARE YOUR BIKE

To tackle the freezing temperatures expected over the next few months, we highly recommend adding some adjustments to your bike to keep your comfortable while you’re out.

Heated Grips

One of our best-selling products. This addition to your bike will set you up for seasonal motorcycling and keep your hands warm in even the coldest temperatures. Ultimateaddons Heated Grips come highly recommended by customers and industry professionals, winning RiDE Magazine’s Best Buy Award in their latest rating of various brands’ grips. With a few models to choose from, we can provide the perfect set of grips to fit your specifications and price point.

Shop Ultimateaddons Heated Grips Here

Battery Protection

The combination of using your headlights more frequently and using other accessories such as Heated Grips or charging accessories can make your battery work overtime in the winter. Not to mention the addition of the cold which can negatively affect the battery life, it is key to keep your battery in top condition, particularly over the off-season. Fortunately, our Heated Grips come with a built-in battery protector however this is something to keep in mind as you use more features of your bike.

Keeping Your Bike Clean

It is imperative to keep your motorcycle clean between trips as the roads slowly start to get covered in salt and debris. Leaving the dirt from the road to sit on the components of your motorbike can cause extensive damage with corrosion to important components. Depending on how regularly you go out and what type of riding you do, we’d recommend doing a deep and thorough wash every week and a base level rinse and clean every time you go out if possible.

MotoClean Bike Cleaner

ADJUST YOUR RIDING

This is something you will be taught in a basic motorcycle course, however it is important to mention and reiterate that over the course of winter, roads will become more slippy with increased rain and could become covered in dangerous black ice in the coldest seasons. This can be a hazard even on roads you are very familiar with. Build-up of debris, manhole covers and drains can be far more dangerous, so it is best to reduce speed over this time, especially on unfamiliar roads, to avoid any accidents.

PREPARE YOUR GEAR

Something to keep in mind when heading out on the bike is that the temperature on the weather app will be significantly reduced once you’re factoring in the wind chill once you’re up to speed. Here in Scotland and across the UK it can get to sub zero on the temperature gauge but feel so much colder in reality. With more water across the roads and spraying up from the tyres on your bike and other road vehicles, it is important to stay dry before biking turns miserable. Be sure to invest in good waterproofing gear and use a base layer to keep yourself as warm as possible.

Top Tip: Get Yourself a fluorescent or light reflecting vest to west over your jacket to increase visibility to other road users for extra safety.

Shop Ultimateaddons Balaclava For An Additional Layer

GETTING READY FOR STORAGE

If you are getting ready to store your bike until next spring, here are a few tips we’d recommend before sending it into hibernation for a few months.

It’s important to have a deep clean over all the motorbike, ensuring all components are cleaned and subsequently dried properly. It is also important to make sure your chain is lubricated, and brakes are cleaner properly. All of this will help prevent corrosive damage and make sure your bike is ready to use again next year.

Another tip is to store your bike on a bike stand which can help extend the lifespan of tyres and gears by taking off the pressure while not in use.

Whether you choose to brace yourself for the cold or tuck your bike away in anticipation for a summer’s day, we hope you find this guide useful and you can help keep your bike running smoothly year-round.

Ride safely!

It’s All About The Journey.