How to store a motorcycle for winter: chain, metal, electrics and tyres

To store a motorcycle for winter, wash and dry it, clean and lubricate the chain, protect the metal from corrosion and the electrics from damp, and look after the battery and tyres. Bare metal and fasteners are treated with a rust protection spray, connectors and terminals with Dielectric, and the tyre sidewalls with tyre shine. Rust protection spray protects metal in storage for at least 1 year and Dielectric for up to 1 year, so one treatment lasts the whole winter.

What you need

Rust protection spray

Protective coating

Sizes: 210 ml, 400 ml, 650 ml

Motorbike chain cleaner

All drive chain types

Sizes: 400 ml, 650 ml

Motorbike chain lubricant

Motocross, enduro, trial

Sizes: 210 ml, 400 ml, 650 ml

Dielectric innovative protection

Innovative protection for electrical equipment

Sizes: 210 ml, 400 ml, 650 ml

Black tyre shine, 400 ml

For rubber and plastic

Why a motorcycle needs preparing for storage

Over the winter, condensation settles on cold metal and contacts in the garage. Unprotected chains and sprockets rust, fasteners seize and connectors oxidise, leaving extra work and temperamental electrics in spring. Protective products displace moisture and leave a water-repellent film on metal and contacts.

How to store a motorcycle for winter — step by step

1. Wash and dry the motorcycle. Wash dirt and salt off the chain, sprockets, lower frame and fasteners and let the bike dry completely: protective products go on dry metal free of frost and condensation.
2. Clean the chain. Shake the can of NANOPROTECH Motorbike chain cleaner and spray the chain from 10–20 cm, focusing on the inner side of the links and the sprockets; use a non-abrasive brush or cloth on heavy dirt. Let it evaporate, then wipe the chain with a dry cloth.
3. Lubricate the chain. Spray the off-road Motorbike chain lubricant or the road Motorbike silicone lubricant from 10 cm onto the inner side of the dry chain while slowly turning the wheel. Both suit chains with O-, W-, X- and Z-ring seals and protect metal from moisture and corrosion. Wipe off excess off-road lube with a dry cloth after 10 minutes.
4. Protect the metal from corrosion. Spray bare metal parts, fasteners and paint chips with NANOPROTECH Rust protection spray from 20–30 cm and wait 10 minutes. The film stays oily and does not freeze, as intended. Keep it off the grips, footpegs and seat.
5. Protect the electrics from damp. Disconnect the negative battery terminal and spray Dielectric innovative protection from 20–30 cm onto connectors, terminals, the spark plug cap and the headlight and indicator contacts; wait 10 minutes. The non-drying film displaces moisture from the connectors.
6. Look after the battery and fuel system. Remove the battery and keep it charged in a dry place, as its instructions say. Prepare the fuel system as the motorcycle manual describes.
7. Treat the tyres and take the load off the wheels. Spray a thin coat of Black tyre shine on the dry sidewalls, not the tread: it stops the rubber drying out in storage. Put the bike on a stand so that the wheels do not rest on one spot all winter.
8. Cover the motorcycle. Keep it in a dry place under a breathable cover: condensation collects under dense plastic sheeting. In spring, clean and lubricate the chain again before the first ride.

If the engine is hard to start after the winter, see how to clean a carburettor.

Why it may not work

• Rust protection spray does not dry and collects dust. That is by design: the oily, elastic film keeps displacing moisture. On visible parts, spread out the excess with a cloth so that less dust sticks.
• The products went on wet or cold metal. Apply them to clean, dry metal free of frost and condensation, at above-zero temperatures. In the cold, warm the cans first: the oil thickens and sprays poorly.
• The lube went on a dirty chain. Old lube with sand and grit stays between the links. Clean and dry the chain first, then lubricate it.

Safety precautions

• All the products are flammable aerosols in pressurised cans. Work on a cooled bike in a ventilated garage, away from open flames, heaters and red-hot objects.
• Treat the electrics de-energised, never live. Keep the chain cleaner off painted parts.
• Keep the lubricants, Rust protection spray and chain cleaner off brake discs, pads, callipers and their rubber parts: oil reduces braking efficiency.
• Do not heat the cans above 50 °C, pierce or burn them, even when empty; keep them out of the reach of children.

Frequently asked questions