Keep it indoors, clean and dry, with the weight off its tyres and the battery looked after, so it’s in good shape for spring. You can store a motorbike in a unit with us over the winter, as long as the fuel and oil are drained and the battery is taken out first.
Before it goes into storage
Michelin’s winter storage guide starts with a thorough clean: wash the bike, dry it completely, and pay attention to places where moisture hides, such as the brake discs. It also suggests lubricating the chain, cables and moving parts so rust doesn’t form while the bike stands. Do that at home, and leave the chain lube there afterwards, because aerosols and oils can’t be kept in a unit.
Then, for storage with us:
- Drain the fuel. Petrol is flammable, and keeping anything flammable out of the units protects everyone’s belongings, yours included.
- Drain the oil, for the same reason.
- Take the battery out and keep it at home.
Michelin’s guide suggests a full tank of fresh fuel with stabiliser to stop condensation forming, which doesn’t fit a unit, so ask your dealer or check your handbook for the best way to protect a drained tank on your bike.
Look after the battery at home
Michelin advises keeping a disconnected battery somewhere dry, away from very hot or freezing temperatures, and suggests a battery tender or trickle charger to keep it charged. Our units have no power sockets, so home is the right place for it.
Protect the tyres
A bike standing in one place all winter can develop flat spots. Michelin suggests pumping the tyres up to the recommended pressure before storage and using a paddock or centre stand to take the weight off. Without a stand, roll the bike a few inches now and then to move the contact point. If you cover the bike, use a breathable cover.
Choosing a unit
Call us before you book and we’ll talk through the bike and help you choose a suitable unit, such as one on the ground floor. Our vehicle storage page has more. At Chipping Norton, Shipston-on-Stour and Warminster we also have a limited number of drive-up units, so ask whether one would suit your bike. You can visit to check on it, normally between 6am and 10pm, seven days a week. The unit is for storage only, so any servicing happens at home or at a garage.
Tax and cover
If you won’t be riding it, GOV.UK explains how to tell DVLA it’s off the road with a SORN. You’ll get a refund for any full months of tax left, and you can’t use the bike on the road until you tax it again. Everything stored with us needs cover too, through our contents protection or your own policy, with a motorbike valued at its market value.
Get a price online, or call us on 0800 2545585 and we’ll help you get your bike settled for the winter.
Related questions
- Can I store a car, van or motorbike with Wigwam?
- Can I work on my car or bike inside a storage unit?
- What goods are prohibited from being stored at Wigwam?
Further reading