Hey everyone in colder climates. What do you park your bike on for the Winter? I park on bare concrete. In a non heated garage. A friend of mine says he parks his on an old rubber pickup bed mat. Also in a non heated garage. I told him that I thought the rubber would attract moister. We disagreed and I told him I would ask everyone here. He doesn't have a computer right now. Thanks.

 

Not sure how the rubber mat would help anything. If it's porous rubber it would hold moisture but not sure if that would affect the bike; maybe stink if it got moldy? Big issue is unheated storage in really cold weather as the polished aluminum ( moisture cannot evaporate) may pit and the rubber o rings, cork or paper type gaskets/seals will harden esp. on the older bikes with OEM style seals, gaskets, o rings, etc. IMO.

 

your car sits outside on unheated concrete, How's your car tires? light oil on all your shiny stuff to protect it, Full fuel tank to keep out moisture, Battery on a tender at least 2 days per month.
i pull mine apart every winter just so I can play until spring.

 

never heard of gaskets drying up and seals

 

Here's a copy of a handout we give out when asked this question.

Fuel System: We recommend the use of a fuel stabilizer to keep your gas fresh and to protect your carbs and gas tank from corrosion and residue deposits. STA-BIL Marine (#53-0055) has been reformulated to offer double corrosion protection as well as protection from the ETHANOL additive in gasoline. Fill your tank and add stabilizer using the directions on the bottle. Run the engine for a few minutes to circulate the mixture in to the carbs. Fuel injectors are less affected but still greatly benefit from this additive. Get the big bottle!! It works great in Lawnmowers, Jet Ski’s and Snowmobiles also.

Tires: Tires are affected by heat, sunlight and dampness, as well as ozone, which is given off by electric motors. Keep your bike out of direct sunlight and away from electric motors such as refrigerators, freezers, etc. Store your bike with the tires fully inflated in a cool dry place. Use your center stand to keep weight off the tires.

Battery: The easiest way to prolong battery life is to keep it fully charged. We recommend the BikeMaster 365TD (#15-0917) which works well on all batteries including the new TRU GEL models. We also carry the BATTERY TENDER and YUASA chargers. All of these chargers can be left plugged in indefinitely and will self regulate to keep the battery charged. USE CAUTION!!!! Follow the manufacturers instructions when working with your battery.

Lubrication: During regular use, your engine oil becomes acidic from combustion. Prior to storage we recommend that you change your oil and filter, and run the engine for a few minutes to circulate the new oil. You may want to change it again in the spring as condensation can form in your engine during the cold weather. It is also a good idea to apply a liberal coating of lubricant to your chain. Cables, lever pivots, linkages, etc. can be protected against corrosion using Motorex Anti-Rust or Maxima MPPL.

General: It is a good idea to cover your motorcycle during storage. We carry the COVERMAX line of covers as well as covers by DOWCO. Also, a good washing followed by a liberal coating of wax or polish is an excellent way to protect your investment during the winter months. Products from S-100 or Original Bike Spirits work very well.