Do you ride your bike all winter or do you put it in the shed until spring?

Whatever you choose, you need to take precautions. If you ride your bike all winter, then it is important you protect it against the brine. When you put it away for the winter, you have to take some precautions as well, if you don't want to find a pile of rust in springtime.

You start by washing the bike. There are special bike-cleaners, spray it on, leave it for a few moments and rinse it off. Then it is essential to dry the bike properly. Easiest way to do so, is to take it for a ride for about 5 or 6 miles. While you are at it, you should fuell-up. If stored for a longer period, always make sure the fuell-tank is full. The inside of the fuell-tank is rust-sensitive. There, where is fuell, rust won't have a chance. Now that the engine is warm, it is the best time to have an oil-change and change the oil-filter in the process. Let the fresh oil go through the engine for just a few seconds. New spark-plugs should have a little copper-grease on them, so they won't rust in their sockets.

With fluid-cooled engines, the coolant needs to be changed every 2 years. Best time to do it, is before you put it away for the winter. Do protect it against frost.

All socket-boxes can be protected with multi-purpose-spray. This spray greases, cleans and is moist-preventing. Don't spray the contact-points. The battery should be stored on a frost-free place, preferably in a well ventilated area on a special battery-charger. All metal parts and chrome can be sprayed with a silicone-spray. Doesn't look very nice, but it protects and a good wash makes it disappear again. The cable-ends could do with a drop of multi-purpose-spray as well. Go by all grease-nipples and grease them. Wax the body of the bike.

If you have the bike in a shed, cover with an old sheet or swanskin, against dust and scratches. If the bike is outside, then cover with a water-resistant cover. Make sure that ventilation is possible, otherwise you would only encourage rusting. It is wise to put the bike on the centre-stand and get something underneath the engine, so that both tires are no longer touching the ground. Be sure that the bike is stable and can't fall over. It is important that while spraying, you don't spray the break-discs. Otherwise you can clean them with a break-cleaner. Breakfluid is hygroscopic and attracts water. It is wise to change it before the winter. It has to be changed once a year anyway.

In springtime, first thing you check, is if the breaks let the disc go, when you no longer squeeze the handle or footpedal. When replacing the battery, be sure that the ventilation-pipe does not hang over any "vital" parts, it could do damage, when a droplet comes out. Put some vaseline on the battery terminal clamps. Check the tire-pressure. Check the throttlecable and the clutchcable, if they go smooth. Push the bike outside and try to start the engine. If it works in perfect order, let the engine get warm, before you take it for a ride. After getting back, check if there are any leakages. If you do go on the road and there is still brine on it, just rinse the bike with just cold running water.