In Virginia and North Carolina, motorcycle enthusiasts are pretty fortunate: it usually doesn\u2019t get bitter cold here, and even during those months when some areas are buried under several feet of snow, we can get surprised with a short string of days when the sun is bright and the temps remind you of spring. So unless you\u2019re headed somewhere warmer for a couple of months (in which case \u2013 why aren\u2019t you taking your bike with you?), a full winterization is not only overkill, it could rob you of the chance to take advantage of those intermittent warm days. So here is part one of what you might call \u201cWinterization Light\u201d.
\nTreat Your Gasoline
\nIf you do only one thing, do this. Gasoline goes bad, in a manner of speaking, when it\u2019s just left to sit. Not only does it tend to lose octane, it can actually gum up your carburetor or fuel injectors. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and a few bucks spent on fuel stabilizer is worth a couple hundred for a professional carb\/injector cleaning. Start by filling the gas tank (a full tank helps prevent moisture from getting in the system as it sits), then adding a stabilizer per the instructions on the label. And remember: if you do get a chance to ride every now and then, top off the tank on your way home, taking care to add a bit more stabilizer when you park it.
\nChange Your Oil
\nGasoline isn\u2019t the only thing that breaks down over time: motor oil does as well, even when it\u2019s not running through the motor on a daily basis. Most motorcycle owner\u2019s manuals recommend oil changes either every few thousand miles or every few months for this very reason. And considering the low cost of purchasing oil and a filter compared to the cost of your motorcycle, it\u2019s hard to argue this is a bad idea. So change your oil when you start parking more than riding, and change again when spring rolls around.
\nWe\u2019ll have the second part soon. In the meantime, if you need motorcycle insurance in VA or NC, get in touch with us. We\u2019re glad to help.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
In Virginia and North Carolina, motorcycle enthusiasts are pretty fortunate: it usually doesn\u2019t get bitter cold here, and even during those months when some areas are buried under several feet of snow, we can get surprised with a short string of days when the sun is bright and the temps remind you of spring. So<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n