Getting your motorcycle and garage ready for winter
By storing your motorcycle properly over winter, you can protect your motorbike against damage and avoid unnecessary costs. Comparis explains.
16.10.2024
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1. Storing your motorcycle away for winter: what preparations are needed?
Many motorcycle enthusiasts store their two-wheeled companion away in the winter. With proper preparation, your motorcycle can survive the cold months unscathed. This will allow you to get back on the road quickly after the winter break.
Giving your motorcycle a winter break: what is important?
When storing your motorcycle away for winter, the following protective measures are usually worthwhile:
Give your motorcycle a thorough clean – ideally at a car wash you trust. Make sure to dry it well afterwards so that it doesn’t rust. You should also clean hard-to-reach areas.
A rule of thumb is that metal fuel tanks must be filled to the top before storing your motorcycle away for winter to prevent corrosion and rust. If your motorcycle fuel tank is made of plastic or aluminium, it should contain as little fuel as possible.
Chrome, paintwork, leather and plastic are especially sensitive materials. Use care products recommended by the manufacturer to treat these surfaces.
You can remove dirt from the engine and exhaust by using special cleaning agents. Important: while carrying out this work, make sure to use gloves and goggles. In the case of motorcycles with a chain drive, grease can accumulate on the engine housing and needs to be removed.
Change the oil while the engine is still warm. Replace the oil filter. Dispose of the old engine oil properly.
Empty the float chambers of the carburettor via the drain plugs. Otherwise, the evaporated gasoline may leave residue.
Increase the tyre pressure. Relieve the strain placed on the tyres by placing the motorcycle on a centre stand. The tyres should not touch the ground. If the motorbike does not have a centre stand, use additional mounting stands.
Tip: if your bike’s tyres are worn out, winter is the perfect time for a tyre change. Prices are usually lower than in spring, when everyone gets their motorcycles out of the garage again.
To prevent corrosion from occurring, you should prevent any possible air from circulating within the motorcycle’s engine and components. To do this, take a rag, soak it in oil and put one in each of the air filters and exhaust openings. It’s easier to do this with special exhausts made from rubber or plastic.
You can also cover the bike with a tarpaulin. The cover should be air-permeable. Otherwise, condensation can accumulate.
Winter is a good time to carry out maintenance on your motorbike. This includes checking the battery: remove the battery and charge it according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Check the acid level.
Please note: modern batteries do not need any maintenance and should not be removed.
Make sure to also observe the manufacturer’s maintenance and care instructions. Depending on the model, specific requirements may apply to the battery, the engine oil or the chain lubrication. This information is important for preventing wear and tear as well as for prolonging the service life of your motorcycle.
2. How can I get my motorcycle garage ready for winter?
During winter, you need to protect your motorcycle against moisture above all else. Therefore, it should be stored in a cool and dry garage that is well ventilated. You can also store your motorbike in your basement or cellar. Remember to ventilate the room regularly.
If you leave your motorcycle outdoors, you must take additional protective measures. Throw a waterproof cover over the vehicle, making sure that it reaches the floor.
To get rid of condensation, ventilate your motorcycle when it’s dry outside. In addition, special measures need to be taken to prevent rust from forming.
Good to know: if you park your motorcycle on public land, the licence plate must always be visible. You can get special tarpaulins for this purpose. If you have deregistered your motorbike in winter, you are not allowed to park it on public land.
3. Can I cancel my motorcycle insurance in winter?
Do you leave your motorbike in your garage during winter? If so, you can hand in your licence plates to the road traffic office. This process is also known as suspension. During this time, your motorcycle insurance “takes a break” and you save on premiums. Any taxes already paid will be refunded to you.
Handing in your vehicle’s licence plates is not always the best option, however. The administrative costs and effort involved often offset the potential savings. A suspension is therefore more likely to be worthwhile if you do not intend to use your motorcycle for a longer period of time.
Suspension waiver as an alternative
Alternatively, you can apply for a suspension waiver for your motorcycle when taking out car insurance. Depending on your insurance policy, you can save around 25–30% of the premium.
Motorcycle insurance companies assume that you rarely ride in winter anyway. With a waiver, you reduce the administrative work involved on both sides – and thus benefit from a reduction in premiums.
Another advantage is that your motorcycle remains ready to go at all times and the partial casco cover continues to apply.
4. How long may I hand in my licence plates for?
You are only allowed to hand in your licence plates for a limited period of time. In some cantons, the maximum is 24 months, while it is 12 months in others (with the possibility of an extension).
Important: the licence plate is only reserved for you for the maximum amount of time. Once this period of time has elapsed, the road traffic office may give the licence plate to new owners – without having to notify you.
5. Getting your motorcycle ready for winter: how much will this cost?
The cost of storing your motorcycle away for winter varies depending on the model. Typical expenses are:
Cleaning costs: Professional cleaning costs around 100–300 francs. If you clean your bike yourself, it’s usually much cheaper.
Maintenance costs: The bill for work carried out in the workshop, such as oil changes and battery maintenance, can quickly exceed 100 francs.
Material costs: Care products such as chain grease and antifreeze are available from around 15 francs.
Service costs: If a workshop takes care of the work involved in getting your motorcycle ready for winter and then subsequently for spring, you should expect additional costs of around 100–300 francs.
The road traffic office charges fees for registering and returning licence plates. In the canton of Zurich, for example, handing in licence plates costs 40 francs per year.
This article was first published on 18.10.2022
