Winterize Your Motorcycle In Two Easy Steps | The Shop Manual

Winterize Your Motorcycle In Two Easy Steps | The Shop Manual
Read more about winterizing: rvz.la/362SP3Q
Putting your motorcycle to bed for the winter doesn’t need to be complicated. When it comes down to it, there are only two things you really need to worry about: The gas in your tank, and the batter under your seat. In this TSM vid, Ari explains the issues and how to avoid them.
Fuel stabilizer: rvz.la/3kLZL9C
Battery tender: rvz.la/345YOCu
Bike cover: rvz.la/308tBgI

[@RevZilla]

Learn more about winterizing your motorcycle on Common Tread: rvz.la/33Zq0Cz

[@nabeelali2178]

I thought the video is about how to get my bike ready to ride in winter

[@ozzymandius666]

I've watched a few of your vids. I like your "just the facts" approach with your "shop manual" stuff. Subscribed.

[@shogginr557]

CHOWD-ARI! Haha. I have been a true professional technician for over 25 years and I can't wait for these amazing vids. Your presentation and creativity are always enjoyable to watch and sharing you knowledge will save countless people frustration and high shop bills when the weather turns warm:) Please allow me to add to your good info things that I have learned as well. 1) Cheaper "trickle chargers" can still kill batteries over the winter if they are plugged in 100% of the time. A good solution is to plug them into a lamp timer (8 hours on, is plenty to re-charge even parasitic draw for 16 hours off per day) and give the battery a little rest from possible overcharging. 2) Do NOT start the bike during the winter season unless you are going to RIDE the bike and completely warm up the entire thing. Idling in the garage will just fill the oil with acidic blow-by and it will add crankcase condensation to the oil as it cools off again. Water in oil is bad Mm-kay. 3) I would change the oil in springtime (instead of winter) before the first ride for the same condensation reason. I hope you don't mind me adding, you're doing such a great job empowering people!

[@carlossolis9824]

Thanks for the input

[@lstruggy]

So my 2006 Honda vtx 1300r recently came from a bike tech got carb cleaned and fuel tank had rust & was removed was a month ago and it hasn’t been ran just 15 min idle warm ups every week inside the storage it was gifted to me and I don’t even ride or have my license plan to sell it have it on Craigslist atm and will put a few gallons of Shell premium tom and use a fuel stabilizer. I’m having my friend ride her out from one storage to another tom and plan to store her there for the next 5 months until I sell her or get a buyer. But in the meantime I’d like to protect her from gumming gas while in storage. What’s your advice for me? Is filing her up (only take 4gallons) the best way then drop a fuel stabilizer then store it there for 5 months and is it ok if I start idle her up for 15 min every week w the stabilizer in it? I’m a total noob I noticed n read ur comment above about not starting her up but it’s only been a month since I had her cleaned up & pumped a couple of gallons of premium of Union76 fuel when she was picked up from the bike tech and it’s currently spring time my location here is Las Vegas any advice is healthy appreciated sir 🙏🏽 ps my plan is to sell her and will probably be in the same storage unit a 5x10 for the next 5 months and is listed at Craigslist as we speak

[@shogginr557]

@@lstruggy up to a year of storage will be fine as long as you leave it alone. Get a tank full of Ethanol free gas if you can, and put it on a good quality Battery tender. Cover it if you want or if it's outside. Don't do anything else. Starting it and not riding it is very bad for it. When it's time to ride it, check for rodents, tire pressure, and fluid levels, then ride it. No old wives tales, no miracle juice from Pep Boys. DON'T start it, unless you RIDE it. Multi year storage is different.

[@lstruggy]

@@shogginr557 cool thank u so much for the reply and the knowledge bro will b following ur valuable advice! 🤙🏽

[@sriavula]

by ride does chilling around my neighborhood count

[@krittinteerasawasdi4333]

There is no winter here in Thailand, but I still enjoy your videos as always.

[@gooble69]

So jealous. I go to Thailand regularly for Holidays but can't go this year due to Covid 😒

[@krittinteerasawasdi4333]

Sometimes it is too hot for us to go for a ride here, and we are jealous of the chill too. After this ends, welcome back anytime :)

[@cruisingthethaiway6881]

@@gooble69 I too moved to Thailand, so I can ride all year long. Check out my KZbin channel

[@steveman1982]

"Americans don't have accents" said a guy at a gun range to me. I agreed, as he was holding the gun at the time :D

[@BizKwikTwist]

Looooooool

[@bena3341]

This comes from the whole neutral actor accent thing. Heaps of actors who are from all around the country have been taught to speak very neutrally.

[@halvorson566]

@@bena3341*laughs in Bostahn

[@LionessofGod]

Haha

[@floydian25]

After seeing a glimpse of effort that you guys put on your Instagram, I've found newfound respect for the work you do 🔥

[@AriH211]

Glad you appreciate it. I'd be lying if I said I didn't enjoy sawing that tank in half.

[@floydian25]

@@AriH211 haha

[@markfox1545]

I just ride mine through the winter, here in England - there's always one cold but dry day every month that I can go out and put 25/30 miles on my CBR500R to keep it in running order. 😊

[@bena3341]

Yea exactly. Unless you live somewhere that is literally covered in snow for a couple of months every winter you can always find a day to ride here and there.

[@malachii420]

@@bena3341 I don't like the salt from the roads getting on the bike's surfaces, because at least for me, those nice days still aren't nice enough to want to wash the bike after the ride...

[@jeffruebens8355]

For really long term storage or to be extra careful, you can spray marine fogging oil into the intake while the engine is idling, until it stalls. I use the Startron from the Walmart boat section- it is different than the Startron at their car section. One mechanic said that 4 months storage is better with a full gas tank, to keep the carb gaskets from drying out and cracking, and he leaves the fuel petcock at the on position, so that as the fuel evaporates from the carb float bowls, the float valves open and add more fuel to the float bowls. For storage longer than 6 months, he uses the marine fogging oil in the cylinders and inside the carbs, with all of the fuel drained. You can also lift the tires off the floor, or move the bike forward or backward a few inches maybe once a month. Some bikes should have the intake and exhaust openings covered with wadded up plastic bags and some tape, to keep mice from building a nest inside. One of my bikes has a storage area under the back seat, and I added foam pieces to fill up the empty space to keep mice out.

[@WFO.Ian.30]

Thanks for the tips on the mice! I already plugged my intakes and zip tied a bag around my exhaust. I Will stuff the tail and battery box with plastic wrap aswell.

[@maybefrank8345]

Definitely appreciate this on December 13 in western Pennsylvania!

[@Bikeadelic]

I have an alternative: Step 1. Fit softer tyres. Like wets or touring. Step 2. Buy warm bike gear and or heated stuff. Step 3. Be a bit more careful in the corners. Unless theres frost/snow you are good to go.

[@AntaresSQ01]

I ride all year long and winter is always rough, not because of the cold but i'm already lazy with generic cleaning and every winter my bike turns into a rusted pos, It takes me absolutely ages to keep the rust off, tho I've started using acf 50 which is apparently a miracle product so I'll see how much it helps come this winter.

[@Bikeadelic]

Antares meh sportbikes mostly ali and plastic so I’m fine 🤷‍♂️ Gets a bit mudy but thats a simple pressure wash.

[@gwot]

there is a brand "anlas" that makes actual winter tires for bikes. I'd love to ride in the cold, but the roads here stay white with the salt here all winter, they salt the roads if it's hovering around freezing, even if it doesn't snow, I'm not risking the corners.

[@Bikeadelic]

@@gwot thanks for the tip off. However I am currently using michelin pilot road 4's and they are amazing. We've had frosts and they give me bags of confidence. It's not quite the same as summer tyres in summer but it's close. No snow yet!

[@gwot]

@@Bikeadelic I read a review online, he compared them to the Michelin road 5 he used previously, and said there is noticably more grip+no warm up time. I think the no warm up alone is worth while. But then you need 2 sets of tires.

[@chrisnorman509]

This guy is the most phenomenal instructor I have ever seen. Love it; Rev is super lucky to have this YELLOWCARD to bad mechanical processes

[@JDelta87]

That switch to a New England accent caught me off guard 😂

[@badapple65]

Me too! I was only listening to the audio I thought some other dude spoke the N. England accent. He sure pulls that off well, I restarted video to watch it over. This video just came up for me a year later. Tis the season to put the bike to bed.

[@Big.Ron1]

For us here in the desert, its just the opposite. Somewhere around Halloween our riding season starts and ends usually around the end of April. Having said that I can ride the 790 earlier and later than my Heritage as it is liquid cooled and that old Harley doesn't like heat. Thanks for the reminder for me to air down to the proper specs. Be safe!

[@bena3341]

Here in South Australia there are definitely times in summer you don't want to be out in the sun for sure. Winter you can ride whenever you want.

[@markjenkins905]

Another tip, if like me you have 2 bikes and use a work bike all year round. Then when it comes to spring drain out the winter fuel into the 'work' bike and then add fresh fuel into the stored bike ready for its first ride in spring.

[@alfonsofornabaio3482]

Excellent recommendations. Never heard of fuel stabilizers before. Thank you and Cheers.

[@kecabojan]

Fortnine says to just use non-ethanol fuel, stabilizer are not that good: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mZnWeHWed5qabdE

[@carlarthur4442]

Funny you should mention this I've just been out to start my bike . Had to take my battery off to charge it up was a new battery last Year , put it on charge showing 10volts in it , and yes I know I should have put it on earlier the one I have is a trickle charger which switches itself off . I did a full service on it oil change , coolent , filter. Tyres . New plugs . So all rearing to go perhaps tomorrow. Thanks for reminding me your a star 🌟 🤩.

[@LAIRDO-]

I just bought some fuel stabilizer so I'm good there. I was just about to comment about lithium ion batteries and a few seconds later you answered my question. Thank you!!

[@mach5zx10r]

Ride it to full temp and get a little exercise in once every 30 days. Obviously a battery tender. Always worked for me.

[@monsterboomer8051]

Thanks, I use this knowledge for my Honda ... Civic.

[@farmerdude3578]

I ride vintage motorcycles. With them I remove all ethanol from the gas and store the tank full. Also add oz or two of two cycle oil to the tank. Run engine fora time and park. Battery is removed and put inside a heated room.

[@Maxcielle]

Ari is a great addition to the RevZilla crew!!! Awesome!

[@AriH211]

It's a great team and I'm glad to be a part of it.

[@SirSpinalColumn]

Summers coming for us. Woot woot.

[@kristopherbell7158]

Lol what goes around comes around 😊

[@SirSpinalColumn]

@@kristopherbell7158 I live in Australia my dude, there is no off season here.

[@johncunningham4820]

Agree fully . One other thing for those that have a Centrestand . Put it on that . And chock the Front wheel slightly in the air . Scissor jack works .

[@murraehaynes3182]

As usual, good stuff...I also put the bikes on their centerstands with a wood block under the skid plates to get both tires off the ground..we’re at 7200’ here, so my other rule is to not start them unless they’re going to be ridden for at least 20 minutes or until the fans come on to avoid the condensation in the oil..

[@AriH211]

Yup, that's a great rule of thumb. The whole "start it every week" strategy is a bad idea for a variety of reasons.

[@lstruggy]

@@AriH211 dam I’m guilty of starting idling 10-15 mins every week for the last month 😖 I’m a total noob she’s an 06 Honda vtx1300r only 11k miles. Bike was gifted to me by my senior retired neighbor. I’m not a rider don’t even have a motorcycle license. I Recently paid a local bike tech $600 for rust tank removal and cleaned out carburetor n a new fuel filter. I listed her on Craigslist atm I’m here in Vegas. She starts right up n idles nice. Planning on filling her up tomorrow w Shell premium gas (ethanol free) and adding a fuel stabilizer and store her to a new storage for the next 6 months until I get a buyer. Any advice would be nice yaal 🙏🏽 ps should I stop idle starting her every week? I was told by my local bike tech who fixed mine to do that every week but some people say otherwise help!

[@dalepoulette]

You have zero experience with snow shoes, shows what you really know about winter. Cheers from Nova Scotia Canada

[@destroyerxd4499]

Need more New England Ari videos. 😂 Might need some subtitles though. I've heard some pretty strong New England accents and had a hard time understanding.

[@CelestialxPanda]

This guy is the Athlene X of Bikes. Hahahaha! Just subbed.. Thanks for the videos man. I learn a lot. Greetings from Bangalore. GOD bless. 🙏😇🌍

[@alltruckeredout]

You can take the boy out of New England.... Another fine episode! I really love this series

[@rocket3man]

I've been doing the stabilisation and battery conditioning and protective sprays to metal parts and keep it on paddock stands for years and it seems to work!

[@henrywarnell7694]

My bikes have overwintered in unheated garden sheds for 20 years and l swear by the protective spray, Scottoiler FS365.

[@ChitownRon]

Haven’t seen you for a while. Glad you’re back and now with Revzilla

[@AriH211]

Both Zack and I are back, with a bunch of vids for you to watch! I've got TSM, Zack's doing Daily Rider bike reviews, and we team up to go on bigger adventures in CTXP. Check the vid library for what we've done so far.

[@FreedomBaba]

Thanks. I'm storing my bike for a year.

[@marcusgeorge1825]

Great and timely advice for those living in the Northern Hemisphere!

[@midenking9651]

I'd recommend inspection and clean up of calipers to stop seizing as well. Great tip Ari 🤙

[@agamurtuza8963]

Ari is the best presenter indept wise suggestions always. Thanks

[@justinbrown8034]

I normally use a cap full of benzine to reduce moisture in my tank.

[@iamtherealzombie]

So torn, RyanF9 says most of this is unnecessary and Ari says it is... I trust you both, what to do? lol Even after watching F9's video, I use stabilizer and put my Shorai LFX on store mode, old habits die hard.

[@m3ntalcas3]

Good New England accent bro you still got it

[@Hoglife]

I also get my bike in the air as well with the proper bike jack so it’s not adding pressure on the unused forks/shocks

[@DanteYewToob]

Me watching this in FL... "Oh... interesting. ... ... Yeah, I'll just buy an extra pair of socks, and find some warm gloves for those 3 coldish days we get." You frostbitten chumps are welcome to come ride through the winter down here with us. When you put your bike away, we take ours out to enjoy not melting into a puddle at a red light.

[@motobarberdad]

Thank you bro love your videos . You saved me so much just watching your videos and doing things myself

[@mikeellis7499]

Love this! I’m so glad y’all did a video on this because I trust you guys more than anyone else!

[@ktg612]

Thanks for the video. Have a blessed day everyone!

[@Ladosligese]

i would advice people to try ACF 50 .. the non aerosol can version .. works a treat for everything .. plastic steel .. ofc just avoice tires brakes footpegs

[@kaylabailey7328]

Hat tip to a fellow new englander 🤌🏽

[@thurodex]

Good job dude thank you

[@calvinevans8305]

I've got to Summerize my bike where I live with 120 degree heat. Blastfurnace!

[@catmanflorida8545]

we wait all year, for our 2 week winter here. only cool time we get to ride.

[@birdgeekguy]

me watching this, despite riding year round (tho when i move to Seattle, maybe less so lol)

[@TheClarkenstein]

I have a new bike, man I hope we get a mild winter here in NJ. I want to keep riding!

[@saltyprocrastinator]

Ari, that looks like the coziest garage ever, would be really nice to get a brief tour some day

[@AriH211]

I think we can make that happen.

[@uidolmacaya]

Amazing Ari! Is good to see you talking about motorcycles tips again! Great show bro! Some day, when you come here in Brazil you are invited to visit my garage shop.... you will be very welcome!

[@FranBunnyFFXII]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.... The winterize videos are here... The time of great biker sadness has arrived in the northern hemisphere.

[@daytona4life]

Don't even start... I rode in snow Yesterday....

[@doogiehauser3127]

@@daytona4life hell ya that's what's up where at

[@daytona4life]

@@doogiehauser3127 switzerland... just everywhere above 900 meter over sealevel... we normally start to have snow in december...

[@amjrpain919]

I like to use a really big warm Blanket...😃

[@DolfVeenvliet]

There I was thinking the episode was on riding during winter time... which I do... I've actually never had to park a bike up for more than a week or two here in the Netherlands.

[@YangCalgary]

Thanks. You made me laugh and confirmed what I thought was necessary.

[@1122ss]

Ari,, Straight outta Southie! Wicked awesome!

[@andreamunari5800]

ty

[@TerrenceLP]

Love it lol the thumbnail looks like you are holding an electric Bong

[@whiskeyshots]

Winterize your bike in two easy steps: 1. Move south 2. Keep riding You're welcome.

[@cruisingthethaiway6881]

I did that. Moved to Thailand, then bought a new bike. Living the dream!

[@ehart34]

You got any room for me? 😁

[@bena3341]

Yea bro. Grew up in the middle of the South Island of New Zealand. Riding in winter was not really viable a lot of the time. Live in Australia now. Occasionally it gets slightly cold here.

[@Boobtube.]

StarTron, best stuff IMHO.

[@That_Cajun_Guy]

Luckily down here in south Louisiana, I usually only have to refrain from riding on a few especially cold days and some mornings. Doesn't get too brutally cold. Downside... it's SO FREAKING HOT in summer 🤣

[@773superprguy]

Great timing was just thinking this!!

[@CCitis]

Nice gas tank visual aid.

[@ladyluck1616]

Even in Canada I ride my bike too much in the winter to bother with winterizing my bike. -18 Celsius out and you'll still see me riding with my winter tires on (yes they make winter street tires for bikes).

[@gwot]

Anlas? that's the only one I know of

[@KtfoMustang]

I bring my battery inside anyway Can't be good when the average temp in the garage over winter is -20°C 😬

[@Danny-et4wj]

Another nice video 2 years on still helpful. P.s can I get one of those grey Revzilla t-shirts! Need one! Danny Uk! Get in!

[@quanghao204]

Ari Henning 👍👍

[@keithstarkey5584]

Thanks for the vid. What I hate more than anything is I'm a noob to motorcycles, and not a mechanic in the least, not at all. So just trying to figure out how to get the damned seat off to check the battery of my Yamaha V Star 1100 is going to be a chore. I hate stuff like this!! Thanks again, though, for the vid. Oh, one more thing: I hear conflicting reports about tire pressure: a) fill them according to the bike's manufacturer's recommendations; b) fill them according to the psi recommended on the tire. Which is it?

[@sMaShEdToMaToS]

Stabilizer is the single best thing I can do to protect my bike during long term storage? What about ethanol free gas? That seems like it would be the best thing I could do since there isnt a stabilizer that covers all basis.

[@kenwittlief255]

you would have to drain ALL the E10 gas out of the bike first a bottle of Seafoam costs $8, and it will stabilize 4 bikes with 4 gallon fuel tanks = $2 each

[@SweDownhill]

I was waiting for you to say "Aaaaand... polar bears" when you listed things to convince viewers about your winter experience. 😃🤣

[@AlesJezek-xw7po]

Super Labombastic Fantastic Školastic!!!

[@smithjohn8015]

It's that time of the year for a How to "summerize" video now. (not sure if the word exists, but you know what I mean ;) )

[@StaitlyNatters]

Best way to add stabilisers is to ride to service station, fill up add stabiliser ride home. Drive to service station, fill car, top up fuel can. Drive home. Add stabiliser to fuel can, top off bike. Use fuel can as required.

[@ronaldtartaglia4459]

These are so well done, funny and entertaining

[@Rover4387]

Love the New England accent!! Thanks!

[@LudekNesnidal]

Why to put max pressure in the tires? Though opposite (to lower tire pressure) would be good for storage.

[@filmdetective]

What about it I ride a few days per month...? I mean sure, winter can be a bitch, but some days it can be ok and even necessary for me to take my bike rather than the car (if used by my lady). So should I attempt to winterize it still if I might take it out, say, 10 days in 3 months ?

[@AriH211]

Yeah, add fuel stabilizer and keep it on a trickle charger when you're not riding. That way if you do want to ride it, it's ready to go. And if you don't get out to ride it, the fuel and battery are protected.

[@user-cx2bk6pm2f]

More New England Ari please !!!!!!!!!!

[@Darudebwoy337]

Florida here! What is this winter you speak of? 😜😂

[@shishkatian]

Informative as always. Thanks for your time.

[@AriH211]

For sure!

[@pmaint1]

How does the stabilizer make it to the left tank on a carbureted Harley if adding it to a full tank?

[@here2enjoy-bt8jq]

Can someone please tell me how many months is winterizing? Can I ride in the community once every month and not winterize it? Or it's better to just winterize and not touch the poor thing during cold months as mentioned Nov, Dec and Jan? I'm from south Charlotte area and we don't get snow but see freezing temps in these months.

[@SteveJohnsonPHANTOM1984]

I've never really winterized my motorcycles in the 40 years i've been riding . I ride in all weather no matter how cold

[@ShogunMathNinja]

Would it help to use non-ethanol gas in a motorcycle, either year-round or for winterizing? Thanks.

[@IndyPatriot]

If you put your bike in a storage unit does it matter if it’s climate controlled or not? And is it beneficial to use fuel stabilizer?

[@Crozz42o]

Could I just use the fuel stabilizer and fuel with the carburetor Honda navi?

[@bg4406]

Do you have a twin? If not, what program did you use to do the illusion? That was really cool :). Enjoyed the video.

[@thetwowheeledintrovert3367]

Seems easy enough, another great video.

[@AriH211]

It is. Lots of people overthink it.

[@thetwowheeledintrovert3367]

Hi Ari, how long would you plan to leave a bike sitting before you would consider winterising it? With particular focus on the fuel stability.

[@lucmercierqc]

Question! Is it ok to unplug Bats for more then tree mounths with computers motorbikes. I know that the computer will reset all ajustments but i dont care to reajust those ajustments. And shes in a dry place at 10 celcius.

[@josetavaresTJ]

muito bons os seus videos ,eu aprendo bastante !

[@moisymo8199]

If bike is carbureted, after fill up and additive , cut the gas off to the carbs and run them dry for winter sit !!

[@NickVetter]

All I have ever done is add seafoam and take out the battery. I also just move my bike around everyone in a while so the tires don't sit on the same spot.

[@raymondfrank9202]

I ride my BMW all year. Texas

[@ronaldtartaglia4459]

Boston accent! Love it!

[@starboy3735]

Wait people dont just start their bike every few days in the winter? Tip here from wisconsin, if possible, run the bike for 10 minutes every few days, actuate the brakes a few times to make sure they dont seize.

[@randyclark7540]

OK, say the bike didn't get winterized. What is the best way to get it cleaned up to start riding.

[@SimpExterminator]

For a Ninja 250, it says in the manual to drain the fuel in order to winterize it, but would it still be okay to just add new higher octane fuel + fuel stabilizer instead? I assume that would be a lot easier and convenient than the former way.

[@kenwittlief255]

if you drain the tank it will rust and your carbs will oxidize full tank of regular gas + stabilizer = good for 6 months at least

[@lstruggy]

@@kenwittlief255 if I plan to store my 06 Honda vtx1300r carbureted w 4 gallons tank for the next 6 months at a storage here in Vegas is it best if I fill her up via Shell premium gas(no ethanol) then drop a bottle of fuel stabilizer then start idle her up 15 minutes every week? My bike tech advised me to just start idle her up once a week for 10-15 min is that ok? I don’t ride at all motorcycle was a gift to me by my neighbor few months ago w dirty carb and rusty tank. I want to protect her in the next 6 months sitting at a storage she’s listed for sale on Craigslist Wana make sure she remains in tip top shape. Just paid $600 last month to a local motorcycle tech had her carburetor cleaned and rust removed from her tank and a brand new fuel filter she currently starts right up idles nice and since the clean up had couple of gallons of Union 76 premium gas in her been sitting at this storage for almost a month now but I’ve been start idling her up 10-15 mins every week my friends gona ride her to a new location storage tom w the plan of filling her up w premium shell plus the stabilizer then sit at the new storage for the nxt 6 months. Any advice would be much appreciated boss 🙏🏽

[@B1ueStryk3r]

or ACF 50 after wash.

[@johnnzetrockk9404]

I love this type of Videos Also Me kilo ren: Mooore, Moooore

[@NishadAbdulkhader]

Thanks Ari nice video...what about engine oil...do we need to fill with new oil

[@kirbybradley8734]

Excellent!