How to store your winter bike

[nickyboy]

Just about to take delivery of a nice new bike which means my current bike will be relegated to "winter bike".

Now I am hoping to not have to ride the winter bike at all during the summer as I can pick and choose my ride timings so I can avoid going out in bad weather.

So my question is; if my winter bike is going to be unridden for several months, what is the best way to prepare it for this sort of storage so it will be in the best possible shape for when I want to ride it again? I presume if I do nothing, it will be practically seized up and unrideable in a few months

 

[Arjimlad]

I'd deflate the tyres, wipe everything metal apart from the rims over with a clean oily rag and over-oil the chain with mineral oil.

Perhaps also store it suspended so the tyres aren't deformed ?

 

[Sharky]

I have a couple of wall brackets on either side of the garage and tend to hang them up at the end of season without doing anything at all to them. I might pull them down in February/September to give them a health check and if I know anything major needs doing to them, try and get them fixed in the off season.
Keith

 

[MikeG]

Clean it, lubricate it in the normal way, then hang it up out of the way so it is off its tyres. Make sure your storage area is somewhere dry. Take the lights off it, and if you aren't using them on another bike, take the batteries out.

 

[nickyboy]

I'd deflate the tyres, wipe everything metal apart from the rims over with a clean oily rag and over-oil the chain with mineral oil.

Perhaps also store it suspended so the tyres aren't deformed ?

That was my idea, to store it off the ground. I wonder if removing the chain altogether would be a good idea?

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

That was my idea, to store it off the ground. I wonder if removing the chain altogether would be a good idea?

that would be my suggestion...

 

[HLaB]

Other than cleaning it before you put it away, which you should do regardless you don't nees to do anything special. I don't put away my training bike in summer however, the summer bike just comes out more often.

 

[snorri]

Keep it in serviceable condition throughout the summer and give it the odd trip out to ensure all is well . This ensures you have a spare bike ready for instant use and removes the need for any urgency in the event of breakdown or routine servicing of your new bike. Also, as the weather deteriorates towards the end of summer you can changeover without any concerns to the old bike knowing that it is fit for service.

 

[400bhp]

As above, condensation not a great issue in the warmer months. I wouldn't bother taking the chain off unless you have to lie the bike flat or are struggling for space as its handy having it ready to ride just in case your summer bike has a problem.

For what its worth my winter bike does get used in the summer, in particular on wet commutes (albeit it doesn't sound like that's an issue), but you may want to use it if there's a good chance of rain or if there has been rain (I assume the winter bike has guards and the summer one doesn't). Not least to stop you getting covered in crap.

 

[Kestevan]

Clean it properly.
Oil the chain, quick spray of GT40 into the pivot points and a general wipe down with an oily rag.
Slightly deflate the tyres and stick it in the shed.

Should be fine next winter when you do the same with the summer bike.

 

[youngoldbloke]

The tyres will 'slightly deflate' of their own accord .

 

[wanda2010]

*Makes a note to check bike 1 not ridden since June and bike 2 not ridden since.....................*

3, 4 and 5 are ok though!