You could change it before AND after. Then you wouldn't be taking any chances.

 

some do exactly that... drain the old out/replace with cheap dollar store oil, drain and then put in the good stuff come riding season,
I actually did that.......... once.

 

Wow, I must walk on the wild side... When it gets to cold to ride or the snow flies I push the bike in the back of the garage and throw a cover over it. Maybe put some Sta-Bil in the gas tank. I don't go through a whole ritual of changing the oil before and after winter, firing it up every week, wrapping it in an electric blanket, praying to the H-D gods that it survives the winter... Every spring I turn the key, hit the starter button, and it pops off like it was just running the day before. I'll take it out for a ride, change all three oils, and ride it spring thru fall without an issue. Actually more like winter to winter. Runs and rides perfect. Don't loose any sleep over it, change it if you want, otherwise wait till spring.


Relax people, it's just a motorcycle!

 

Harley engines are dry sump.. The parts don't sit in oil.

Mark

 

With over forty years of riding I've only ever changed oils at the due point of either mileage or time. I know there are different opinions, but the simplest thing to do is ignore them and change when it is convenient!

 

The Transmission and Primary sit in the old oil all Winter.

 

Oils cheap compared to engine parts. It's your bike do what you want with it. I have a rough idea how many miles I do in a season and plan my oil changes according to that, so that last end of season change is usually very close to needing to be done anyway. It's only oil...they make more every day