Source
r/MotoUK•
TomTPT

Basic Storage Tips for Motorbikes

Advice

Hello all

I bought my first Motorbike in January - brand new, rubbish Lexmoto (I know, I know). It has around 200 miles on the clock as of today.

I know nothing, and was looking forward to learning more about motorbike maintenance - but now face an extended period of time with the bike being stored in my back garden.

Does anyone have any tips on what I should be doing? I've got a cover on it, and it's secured to a post in the garden. But I've read various things about fuel going bad, tyres needing rotating - and am a bit lost.

Thanks in advance for any advice you can give this newbie...!

Posted Mar 25, 2020, 11:30 AM UTC

1112
UrgeToRideXSR900•

I mean it really is all about how long you plan on storing it. If its for the duration of the lockdown (so lets say 1-2 months) then it really doesn't matter as long as you got a cover on it - the things you mentioned like fuel and tyres needing rotating are really just a bit OCD level of care and def not required for such a short duration and for such a bike (no offense, it's not a race R6).

7
TomTPTOP125cc•

Thanks mate - exactly what I wanted to hear! Yes, for the duration of the lockdown.

No offence taken - I know what I've got, it suits me for now, and look forward to getting something else in the next couple of years!

3
UrgeToRideXSR900•

Good man ! Take the downtime to maybe watch some maintenance how-to videos to kinda get a taster before you get dirty- highly recommend MC Garage on YT who give a pretty good overview of the essentials (plus Ari Henning and Zach Courts are so damn likeable, too bad they left the channel for their own 'Grand Tour-y' show)

2
total_cynicR1, VFR800, FZS600•

If you got it in Jan, if you've ridden it on salty roads you should probably wash it and leave it to dry before putting leaving the cover on it, also make sure the chain is oil to stop that corroding.

Maybe once a month check the tyres are reasonably pumped up?

2
4shwatCBR650R•

Throw a cover over it, lock it up. Clean it if your bored I guess.

Don't worry about it, only a few months.

3
TomTPTOP125cc•

Thanks! Glad to know I was over-worrying!

1
williamsonjdw15Street Triple 675•

Battery may need a charge after a month or 2 too but as other have said, for a month or 2, I wouldn’t worry too much, especially if it’s brand new

Side note - Lexmoto are good! I had one whilst learning and it was great! Still got it actually, never sold it!

3
taoanlaKTM Duke 790•

Don't fret. Couple of months stood will be fine, once back on the road go straight to the garage top off the fuel and check tire pressures.

Depending on electronic security may find the battery is dead, that's easy to sort though with an at-home charger.

3
Bobbler23BMW F800 ST and KTM 990 Super Duke R•

Some ideas for storing bikes short term, I have two and they have been sat in the garage since around October now. One of them longer than that as I haven't put it back together since rebuilding the fork seals.

If you are concerned about flat spots on tyres - paddock stand is a great investment either way. Keeps the wheel off the floor and makes chain maintenance a breeze, wheel cleaning easy too and great for saving a few quid if you can get your wheels off for tyre changes and just take them in. Can also get one for the front too. Just need to make sure you have swing arm mounting points for some bobbins or they do make them with mounts that can go under the arm without them too.

Fuel going bad - no need to worry about it. I leave my bikes for effectively half the year unridden and it's fine. Bit rough to start with but then once you get going it's all good.

Batteries is the one that always gets you. Standard bike batteries don't hold a charge for very long. Either invest in a battery tender and hook it up, or remove the battery and bring it inside. I have found that when they are needing replacement a AGM based battery seems to hold on a lot longer than the standard and they are not that much different in price.

Pre-winter if you are leaving it outside, ACF50 is a worthwhile investment. Clean down your bike with a decent all purpose cleaner, get some brushes out and work over those nooks and crannies (if possible blow any water out of them or rock the bike to get it out) . Lube up your chain. Cover the bike in ACF50 - obviously not on the grips, brake discs etc! and wipe down which should keep the rust from setting in.

3
total_cynicR1, VFR800, FZS600•

Fuel going bad - no need to worry about it. I leave my bikes for effectively half the year unridden and it's fine. Bit rough to start with but then once you get going it's all good.

injected bikes are fine. carb'd bikes can get very unhappy, more due to the fuel drying out in the carbs than it going off. On a carb'd bike, if the fuel tap has an "off" position, definitely worth using it.

1
the_last_registrantTiger 800•

Pre-winter if you are leaving it outside, ACF50 is a worthwhile investment

Excellent advice. NB: ACF50 is great, but XCP gives more protection (downside is that it's a bit more greasy and sticky than ACF)

1
SeseorangPCX125 (JF57), CBF125 MB, CB500XA-E•

If you're not on the bike for a month, remove the battery and leave on a battery tender until you want to ride again. This keeps the battery from deteriorating and making the battery last longer as the climate it is now in (your home) is warmer.

2