By Alan Dowds
IDEALLY, you'd be riding right through winter, but even the most stubborn year-round motorcyclists can get fed up when the weather's like it as at the moment.
If that's you, don't just park it and wack a cover on it - and especially not without cleaning the road salt off. That's a recipe for it looking like a barn-find by spring. Instead, make use of our tips for ensuring it comes out of hibernation in perfect condition…
1: Storage beater
We're assuming you don't have a climate-controlled, air-conditioned, low-humidity storage facility with military-grade security - otherwise why are you here? In practice, most of us have a chilly lock-up at best. But you can still take steps to keep dampness and moisture away: counter-intuitively, better ventilation can help prevent condensation and damp building up in outside garages or sheds.
If you can stretch to the cost, a low-wattage oil-filled radiator or electric greenhouse heater will help maintain a dryer atmosphere. Avoid oil or wood burners though, which can cause condensation from their combustion. They're also more of a fire risk.
A decent breathable bike cover will help keep dust and grime away, and of course you'll need appropriate security in place. Bolt-down wall or ground anchors are relatively easy to fit. Sinking one into a concrete floor, as shown, is more complicated and expensive but offers the greatest chance of finding your bike where you left it.
Main picture: Johan Viirok
Join the conversation!