by Dakota Storage Buildings, on April 26, 2016
If you have a dirt bike, this post is for you. You'll glean cleaning ideas and storage tips.
While you may already know the ins and outs of your particular bike, here are a few pointers that may help you better store and clean it. We also included a few helpful winter storage tips.
Storing Your Bike
If you're not already storing your bike indoors, that is the ideal first step. Not only does keeping your bike indoors shelter it from the elements, but it provides security and, depending on size, an optimal work space.
It seems obvious, but a great indoor storage option is a shed. If you have a shed, clean it out and make it bike-ready. If you don't have a shed, we can help!
We have three main styles of sheds: Ranch, Low Barn, and High Barn. Each come in various sizes. If you just need space to store your bike, a smaller size shed would do. If you want a place to work on your bike, keep tools and accessories, and store your bike, a larger size would be better.
As you fill out our online quote form, you will be taken step-by-step through the shed selection process. You will be able to choose all the details of your shed from window type to exterior color and more. You can even add a garage door and a built in shelf for a space-saving worktable if you'd like. After you've submitted your quote form, a customer service representative will contact you with an estimate and will be happy to answer any questions you may have.
Cleaning Your Bike
Check out the video below. It describes all the tools needed for a deep cleaning and shows step-by-step how to do it.
Winter Storage Tips
- Wash: Before putting it away for the winter, wash your bike thoroughly, then ride it around for about five minutes to speed up the drying process.
- Lube & Fluids: Once every part of the bike is clean, spray the chain, footpeg pivots, shock threads, shift lever, breaks, throttle cables, and any other folding, moving or bending parts with lubricating oil. Wipe off the excess.
Brake fluid is prone to collecting water over time. Your best defense against this is to make sure that all the master cylinders are full. If the fluid is old, replace it with the recommended grade for your bike.
Change the engine and transmission oil. Smaller bikes may not need to change engine oil.
Fill the coolant reservoir with antifreeze. NOTE: Water-cooled bikes need to have the correct antifreeze in the cooling system.
Fill the gas tank to about 90%, add a fuel stabilizer, then run the engine long enough to get the stabilizer throughout the fuel system’s lines. - Battery: Remove the battery from your bike and trickle-charge it, or store your bike with a fully-charged battery making sure to check it monthly while it’s not being used.
- Tires: Fill the tires up to 15 pounds of pressure.
- Stand: Store your bike on either a motorcycle or ATV stand. While stand styles vary, the key is to keep tires off the ground.
- Cover: Don’t cover your bike with a sheet of plastic as it can trap condensation and possibly cause discoloration. Instead, use an old blanket, cloth tarp, or a commercial all-season cover to keep dirt and grime off your bike.
Want more hints and tips? Check out these resources.
- 10 Things You Need To Know About Storing Your Bike For Winter by Motorcross Action Magazine:
- How To Properly Store Your Dirk Bike or ATV For Winter by On All Cylinders.
- How to Clean Your Dirt Bike via YouTube.
Be sure to check out our Riding, RVing, Boating & Snowmobiling Pinterest board or, if you don't already have a shed or garage for your dirt bike, Design Your Own on our website.
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