De-Winterizing Your Harley-Davidson® Motorcycle

That glorious moment has arrived - it's time to take your Harley-Davidson® motorcycle out of storage! You've been waiting months for the weather and road conditions to get back to normal so you can get out on the street where you belong. But you can't just take your bike from the garage to the highway. You'll need to go through the proper de-winterizing process first.

Here at St. Charles Harley-Davidson®, we strive to make your life easier. We've created the following guide to taking your motorcycle out of storage below. If you have any questions, talk to the experts at our dealership! We proudly serve those in St. Louis, St. Peters, St. Charles, and O'Fallon, Missouri.

Look for Pests

You may not think of your Harley motorcycle as an ideal winter home, but it is enticing to a range of critters needing somewhere dry and warm to hunker down in the bitter cold. Mice, bugs, and other pests may have set up shop in your vehicle and you'll want to get them out before you do anything else. Check spots such as your exhaust pipe, your cover, and your luggage compartments. It's better to get these pests out now than when you try to start up your engine!

Your Battery

The way you stored your motorcycle battery over the winter will dictate what you'll need to do now. If you disconnected it and then connected it up to a battery tender, it should still be charged. Simply connect your battery back up and you should be good to go. If you left your battery on your Harley bike, it's likely been drained. You'll need to charge it up again before you can get back on the road.

The Fluids

Your Harley-Davidson® motorcycle requires a range of fluids to function properly. Start with your oil. It's the same inspection process as you use in your car. Put in a dipstick, wipe it off, put it in again, then check that the oil's color looks right. If you spot metallic shavings in the oil, know that this could indicate internal damage. You'll want to head over to a service department.

Then you'll want to look at your brake fluids. Position your Harley bike so that it sits upright without tilting to one side. Then look at your fluid level. It's likely your vehicle has both front and rear reservoirs, so be sure to check both. If you are running low, top off the fluids now.

The Tires

Storing your Harley-Davidson® motorcycle can cause pressure to push down on your tires and expose it to cold temperatures, both of which can impact the air pressure level. You'll want to use a tire pressure gauge to measure the air pressure and ensure it's compliant with the owner's manual suggested levels.

Brakes

Before you head out on your first ride of the season, you'll want to do a brake test. Take your Harley bike out on the road and then engage half pressure. Then come to a full stop. If you notice anything odd, such as grinding, slipping, or bizarre sounds, you'll want to get your vehicle inspected.

If you've gone through this process and everything is ready to go, then you can head out on the open road! If you have any questions about de-winterizing, head over to St. Charles Harley-Davidson®. Our expert staff is happy to chat with you and provide more advice. If you are looking for Harley motorcycles for sale, come check out our collection! We proudly serve those in St. Louis, St. Peters, St. Charles, and O'Fallon, Missouri.