How to Winterize a Dirt Bike
The morning after the first frost of the season, it’s time to winterize your dirt bike. The first thing you need to do is adjust your tire pressure. This will ensure that when the temperature drops, you’ll have enough grip on the road without having to worry about a blowout. Next, make sure that all of your fluids are at their optimum level before you start riding again.
You want to change out the oil in both the engine and gearbox this fall because they break down with use over time and can’t handle below-freezing temps well, either. If you want to know more about how to winterize a dirt bike, then read the full blog, and you can start preparing your dirt bike for winter with the following guidelines.
Methods: How to Winterize a Dirt Bike
Step 1: Put Fuel Stabilizer in the Tank
The first thing you want to do is put a fuel stabilizer in your dirt bike’s tank. Fuel stabilizers will keep the gas fresh for months longer than they would otherwise last by stopping oxidation.
The best type of fuel stabilizer to use is one that also prevents water from collecting inside your dirt bike’s carburetor because water is a common cause of fuel-related problems.
Step 2: Change the Oil and Filter
Next, you want to drain out all of the oil (the engine and gearbox), along with any other fluids such as coolant, brake fluid, etc. Make sure that you have enough clean and fresh oil in your dirt bike so that you can ride the bike for about a month without having to worry about changing it again.
Make sure you have fresh oil in your dirt bike before winter because if your engine gets cold enough, it won’t be able to warm up on its own and will seize. Using an air compressor is a great way to remove the oil from your dirt bike quickly without having to do it by hand.
Step 3: Check the Chain
Check your chain for any signs of wear, and if it’s loose, have a professional tighten it so that you won’t have any issues riding on bumpy roads in the wintertime. You can also use a paraffin block to help keep the sliding parts of your dirt bike lubricated.
Step 4: Disconnect the Battery
Your battery will be one of the most vulnerable components on your dirt bike because it can freeze if left outside. So make sure that you take the time to disconnect it from the bike and store it indoors, where it’ll be safe until you’re ready to ride again in spring.
Step 5: Clean the Dirt Bike
To have your dirt bike ready for use next spring, it’s also essential to make sure that you clean the bike thoroughly, oiling any difficult-to-reach parts. If you’re unsure what to do when cleaning a dirt bike, consult the owner’s manual for instructions.
Step 6: Change the Spark Plug
When you get your dirt bike back out in the spring, your spark plug is going to need changing. The good news is that it’s easy to do and only takes a few minutes of your time. If your spark plug looks old and worn, consider replacing it with one of the same type or another high-quality part.
Step 7: Test the Tire Pressure
If your tires are still good and not worn out, you can adjust the tire pressure so that they grip better in cold weather. However, if you leave them inflated to the same level as when it was warm outside, you run the risk of popping a tube or otherwise damaging your tires (especially if they have studded rubber) when riding on ice or snow.
Step 8: Check Your Lights
Before you start riding in the winter, be sure to check that all your lights are working and that any salt doesn’t block them from below-freezing temperatures. If your taillight is dim, clean it up with some glass cleaner to make sure it’s visible during night rides in the winter.
Step 9: Get Winter Tires
If your local weather is too cold or snowy for you to ride safely during those months, you can swap out your regular dirt bike tires for snow tires. They’re designed specifically to ride on slippery surfaces and give you more traction and stability when going fast downhills in winter or riding in snow or ice.
Step 10: Store Your Bike Properly
When you’ve completed all of the above winterization steps, the last step is to keep your dirt bike in tip-top shape for winter and spring; make sure that you store it in a warm place where it won’t be exposed to moisture. Whether you put a cover on your bike or not, if the location you’re storing it in has any moisture at all, such as from a hot water pipe leak, then you should definitely use a cover to protect it from moisture damage.
Things To Consider When Winterizing Your Dirt Bike
1. Don’t Drain the Tank
If some of your gas drains out during the winterizing process, make sure you add an extra can when filling it up again in spring.
2. Protect the Seat
To avoid damaging the seat over winter, take a heavy-duty garbage bag and cover it with clear packing tape – that way, if moisture or condensation does get on it, the packing tape will keep it protected and shield any damage from a metal garbage bag.
3. Consider your Gear
Make sure to check that everything else you need to ride is in good condition too (helmet, goggles, etc.). You don’t want to be caught with gloves or other riding gear left out over winter, and have them ruined due to moisture or low temperatures.
4. Get it Inspected
If possible, get your bike looked at by a mechanic before riding it again in the spring – you want to make sure everything is in good working order before you go out on any long rides.
5. Clean the Carburetor
Even if a gas station flush doesn’t do the job on all the gunk clogging your dirt bike, you can at least make sure it’s clean yourself if you remove the carburetor and use a cleaning solvent.
6. Don’t Use a Cheap Cover
Make sure you go with a high-quality cover that will keep your dirt bike protected from moisture and condensation.
7. Don’t Forget to Change the Oil
If your motor is in good shape, you still want to change the oil before storing it over winter. It’s worth doing this at least once between spring and fall, even if you don’t winterize your bike.
8. Use a Battery Tender
Most dirt bikes require some battery tender to run properly, so be sure that you have one and use it before storing the bike over winter.
9. Change the Spark Plug
Dirt bike spark plugs wear out over time, even when you keep them clean. So to make sure your bike fires up in spring, swap out the old spark plug for a new one before storing it over winter.
10. Don’t Overinflate Your Tires
Although overinflated tires have more traction, it’s actually easier to skid or slide with properly inflated ones.
5 Tips For Winterizing Your Dirt Bike
With the cold winter months fast approaching, now is the time to learn how to winterize your dirt bike. Here are some tips on how to winterize a dirt bike so that you get a chance to show off your skills once spring comes back around too!
Tip 1: Start With a Clean Machine
You don’t need to wash your dirt bike thoroughly after every ride, but getting all the mud and grime off before you winterize will help keep your bike from developing rust or corrosion.
Tip 2: Change the Oil
It may not need to be replaced every time you ride your motorcycle, but there’s no harm in changing it once a year. All kinds of dirt can get into your oil and your filter and will only damage your bike if left in place for long.
Tip 3: Wash Your Chain
Dirt has a funny way of getting into all kinds of places it shouldn’t be, including around the links on your bike’s chain. So washing it off once in a while to remove this dirt will help keep things running smoothly for a long time to come.
Tip 4: Clean Your Air Filter
Dirt can clog your carburetor’s air filter, making it harder for your dirt bike to rev up and not run as well. By washing this filter once in a while, you’ll get better mileage out of your fuel too, plus help prevent an accident if the carburetor is clogged.
Tip 5: Lubricate Your Chain and Sprockets
It’s important to keep your bike rolling smoothly, especially when it gets colder outside. By lubricating your bike’s chain and sprockets, you’ll be keeping all the moving parts from seizing up or getting stuck together, which will make everyday riding easier as well.
Conclusion
If you are a dirt bike enthusiast, then this article is for you! We have explored the steps of how to winterize a dirt bike. These steps include checking and filling fluids, changing motor oil, cleaning and lubing your chain, adding a fuel stabilizer to prevent corrosion in gas tanks and carburetors.
We recommend putting on new spark plugs before storing your dirt bike to start easier next season. The main part is to make sure everything is securely fastened down so when the snow comes, it doesn’t fly off. With these easy steps, you can be prepared for all types of weather conditions!
Darren Matlock
Hi, I'm Darren. I love dirt bikes and everything about the off-road lifestyle. I'm passionate about motorbikes, cars, racing sports and going on adventures. If you're like me and enjoy extreme sports, you've come to the right place! I like to write articles about dirt bikes to help beginners get started. Whether you're interested in buying a dirt bike, ATV, motorcycle or want to ride for hobby, I hope my articles will inspire you to learn more about how this machine can be used to ride.
