Stay safe out on the roads this winter with a FREE motorcycle tyre and battery check at SRT Motorcycles Ltd
In winter, not only do we have to ride to suit the conditions, we also have to deal with additional constraints, both to ensure that we ride safely and to preserve our trusty speed from corrosion.
Don’t forget to keep moving parts lubricated. The cold makes the controls stiffer, leading to less precision and the possibility of worn cables breaking (clutch, throttle, speedometer, brakes on old motorbikes). If possible, remove the parts before lubricating them and work them to let the grease penetrate. Keep an eye on lever pins and pedals as well.
The cold also causes moisture to collect and stand in the terminals and electrical connections of the harness. Spray each of them with an anti-corrosion product (contact cleaner).
Grease the chain more frequently: it’s not at all keen on moisture and even less on road salt.
Generally speaking, salt corrodes all of the mechanical components very quickly. Each time you come back from a ride, spray all of the bottom part of your bike with cold water. Above all, don’t use hot water! Hot water dissolves the salt and lets it penetrate everywhere, whereas cold water washes it off in large crystals. .
Think about the condition of your tyres: tread depth suited to wet roads (less than 50% wear) and suitable pressure (under-inflation serves no purpose at all). Pay particular attention to hypersport rubber compounds which remain rock hard until they’ve reached their ideal temperature, which is almost impossible to achieve in winter.
Protect the chrome on your bike: it’s not very fond of road salt either. Treat the whole bike with a “bodywork and alloys” protection product, apart from the brakes and the exhaust pipe, obviously!
Pay attention to your braes, as the callipers can seize very easily. If possible, treat the inside of the callipers (piston side) with brake cleaner (degreaser), which should then be cleaned off with an air gun (ask nicely at a garage if you don’t have a compressor at home). And avoid hyper-biting “racing” brake pads.
Make sure that the battery reports for duty each morning. Replace it before it’s too late or invest in a special slow charger for motorbike batteries. Take a look at the terminals and grease them if necessary. A battery does not like the cold unless it is kept charged all the time. You must therefore make sure to maintain an optimum charging current by brushing the connections and protecting them against corrosion (solid Vaseline or paraffin).
Suspensions must be set soft! A shock absorber set firm reduces grip on slippery surfaces. The setting of the spring (pre-stress) can be left as t is (base value), but the hydraulics of the shock absorber must become more flexible.
A complete check-up by your usual dealer can’t do any harm at all.
This article is taken from the “ 96 virées à Moto” (96 Motorbike rides) guide published by Michelin
and available from the Michelin shop
To book your pre-winter service or a FREE motorcycle battery and trye safety check simply contact us here at SRT Motorcycles Ltd Birkenhead your local Michelin Motorcycle Tyre Dealer..
