Lay your bike up for winter with this step-by-step guide

Do these vital jobs before resting up your bike over winter

1 Start with a clean sheet

Give the bike a thorough wash with a dedicated motorcycle cleaner. Use a brush to get into all the awkward places and scrub behind the exhaust downpipes. Leave the cleaning agent to dwell for a few minutes then rinse well. Use a clean sponge to wipe over bodywork before rinsing.

2 Banish excess water

With the bike cleaned and rinsed off it needs a thorough drying. Any dampness or water that remains will dry off and catalyse the oxidation process, leaving rust on steel or white powdery deposits on alloys. Use an airline or a soft towel, remember to check for any hidden pockets of water in places like under the fuel cap flap, behind mirror glass, etc.

3 Prepare your chain

Make sure the chain is clean and dry. You should treat it as an individual component with its own cleaning routine, using dedicated chain cleaning products. If it needs adjusting now is a good time to do it. Lubricate the chain carefully all over, take your time and give each segment of the chain the same amount of lube.

4 Coat of armour

Invest in some anti-corrosion spray and apply it to your bike while it’s completely clean and free of road salt. A little goes a long way, so do not spray it directly on to the bike. Apply to a clean cloth then wipe the surface to be treated. You can apply it to any metallic or plastic surface. ACF-50 is popular but there are other products out there.