When it comes to ensuring the longevity and performance of your motorcycle, proper storage plays a crucial role. Whether you’re planning to store your motorcycle for a short vacation or for the entire off-season, your vehicle needs the right care and attention at a secure storage Perth facility.
At Titan Storage, we understand the intricacies involved in the process and aim to provide the most comprehensive solutions for your storage needs. In this article, we provide you with a detailed guide on how to store your motorcycle effectively and illustrate why choosing Titan Storage can give your motorcycle the protection it deserves.
Pre-storage maintenance
Before you can safely store your motorcycle, there’s a series of pre-storage maintenance tasks that need to be carried out. This preparation phase ensures your motorcycle will be protected during storage and ready to ride upon your return.
- Cleaning and waxing: Start by giving your motorcycle a thorough clean. Remove any accumulated dirt, salt, or grime that could lead to corrosion if left untreated. Pay particular attention to hidden and hard-to-reach areas where grime often collects. Once your motorcycle is clean and dry, apply a protective layer of high-quality wax to guard the paintwork against potential damage.
- Changing the oil: old oil can contain contaminants that may cause engine damage over time. Changing the oil and replacing the filter before storage can help preserve the engine’s condition. This is particularly important if your motorcycle will be stored for an extended period.
- Checking the coolant: If your motorcycle will be stored during colder months or in an unheated space, ensure the coolant has sufficient antifreeze properties to withstand cooler temperatures. Drain and replace the coolant if needed. However, with Titan Storage’s temperature-controlled units, this won’t be necessary.
- Lubricating moving parts: Apply a lubricant to chains, cables, controls, and any other moving parts. This step prevents rust and keeps them in good, operational condition.
Detailed battery care
Your motorcycle’s battery can lose charge over time when not in use. To prevent this, there are certain steps you can take:
Trickle charging
Motorcycle batteries can lose their charge over time, particularly when the bike is not being regularly used. A trickle charger or a battery tender is a device specifically designed to maintain the charge in your motorcycle battery during periods of inactivity.
- Understanding trickle chargers and battery tenders: Trickle chargers and battery tenders work on the same principle—they supply a slow, consistent electrical charge to your battery. The primary difference is that a battery tender has ‘smart’ technology that allows it to switch to a float (maintenance) mode when the battery is fully charged, preventing overcharging. In contrast, a basic trickle charger continues to charge and could potentially overcharge your battery if not monitored.
- How to use them: To use either of these devices, connect the charger or tender to your motorcycle battery following the manufacturer’s instructions. Typically, you’d connect the positive lead (usually red) to the positive terminal on your battery, and the negative lead (black) to the negative terminal. Then, plug the charger into a wall outlet. The charger will maintain a steady flow of electricity to your battery, compensating for the natural discharge that happens over time.
Titan Storage provides a trickle-charging service for only an additional $20.
Battery storage
The environment in which you store your battery can significantly impact its lifespan and performance.
- Temperature effects: In colder climates or during winter, batteries can discharge more quickly. This discharge happens because cold temperatures slow the chemical reactions within the battery. In some cases, extremely low temperatures can cause a battery to freeze, leading to permanent damage.
- Choosing a storage location: If you’re storing your motorcycle in an unheated space during the winter or in a region with colder temperatures, it’s advisable to remove the battery entirely and store it in a warmer, dry place. An ideal storage location is a dry, room-temperature environment, like a heated garage or inside your house. Fortunately, Titan Storage offers temperature-controlled units, so you won’t need to worry about this.
- Storage preparation: Before storing your battery, clean the terminals to remove any corrosion (a mix of baking soda and water works well for this). Also, make sure it’s fully charged before storage, as a discharged battery can sulphate and lose its ability to hold a charge.
- Maintenance during storage: Even during storage, the battery should be maintained. If you’ve removed the battery from the motorcycle, consider connecting it to a battery tender. The tender will ensure the battery remains fully charged and in good condition during the storage period. Titan Storage offers trickle-charging for an additional $20 so you can leave your battery installed on your motorbike without worry.
Taking these steps to maintain your battery’s charge during your motorcycle’s storage period will ensure that when it’s time to ride again, your motorcycle will be ready to go.
Protect your fuel system
Stagnant fuel can lead to damaging deposits in your engine and fuel system.
- Fuel stabilisers: If your motorcycle will be stored for a month or longer, it’s essential to protect the fuel system. Fill up the tank to prevent moisture from building up inside and add a fuel stabiliser, following the product’s instructions. Run the motorcycle for a few minutes to let the stabiliser work its way through the system.
- Draining the carburettor: In motorcycles with a carburettor, drain the carburettor to prevent any residual fuel from gumming up.
Tyre care
Tyres need special attention when storing your motorcycle for extended periods.
- Inflation: Inflate your tyres to the recommended pressure to prevent flat spots from developing during storage. Flat spots can occur when the weight of the motorcycle presses down on one section of the tyre for an extended period.
- Elevation: Consider investing in a motorcycle stand to lift the tyres off the ground. If that’s not possible, rotating the tyres slightly every few weeks can also help avoid flat spots.
Protective cover
Investing in a high-quality motorcycle cover is a simple and effective step that can offer an additional layer of protection to your precious vehicle. A motorcycle cover acts as a barrier against multiple potential harm factors—such as dust, insects, scratches, and dings—making it an essential accessory for any motorcycle owner, particularly when considering long-term storage.
Selecting the right storage facility
Choosing the right storage facility is paramount, particularly if you don’t have a suitable space at home.
- Temperature-controlled units: The Australian climate can be harsh, with hot summers and cold winters. A temperature-controlled unit is a type of storage space that regulates the temperature within a specified range, regardless of the external weather conditions. These units are often used for storing items that are sensitive to temperature fluctuations, such as electronics, artwork, antique furniture, and in this case, motorcycles. Temperature-controlled units provide an ideal environment for the long-term storage of motorcycles. They protect against the potential damage caused by freezing temperatures, excessive heat, and large temperature fluctuations, which can affect various components of the motorcycle, such as the battery, tyres, and fluids. Titan storage offers high-quality temperature-controlled units for your motorcycles.
- Security: A reputable storage facility will offer 24/7 security to protect your valuable possession. At Titan Storage, your motorcycle will be securely housed in our warehouse. Irrespective of the size of the storage unit you select, vigilant surveillance is maintained for each unit to deter any unauthorised entry. Our secure storage Perth warehouse is fortified with cutting-edge CCTV cameras, round-the-clock surveillance, and advanced alarm systems, complemented by robust industrial-grade gates on the perimeter. Access to this secure environment is exclusively reserved for members.
As an Australian storage company, we are fully versed in local climate conditions as well as the potential for theft, and the impact they can have on your motorcycle and your peace of mind. Our facilities offer all the above features and more. We ensure your motorcycle is stored under optimal conditions, ready to be taken for a spin when you are.
Did you know Titan storage is also offers storage for a whole host of other vehicles such as caravans, trucks and vans, boats, and trailers?
Conclusion
At Titan Storage, we understand that your motorcycle is not just a vehicle, but a valuable asset that deserves the utmost care and protection. From preparing your motorcycle for storage, to ensuring it’s maintained and secured in the perfect environment, our priority is to keep it safe and ready for your next ride.
With our temperature-controlled units, your motorcycle is shielded from extreme Australian weather conditions. Additionally, our state-of-the-art security systems keep your investment safe, and our range of services, such as trickle charging, ensure your motorcycle is always ready to hit the road.
Our team at Titan Storage is well-versed in the unique storage requirements of motorcycles, and we’re here to help make the storage process as effortless as possible for you. So why wait? Choose Titan Storage for your motorcycle storage needs and rest assured, knowing your motorcycle is in the safest hands. Contact us today for more information and to reserve your unit.
