Motorcycle maintenance at the end of riding season
Hello,
Temperatures started dropping around 9C (48F) here in my region so people advise it is end of riding season.
So following that advice i wanted to also stop riding my CBR for at least till march when it gets warm again.
Tires i want to get are michelin street pilot 2.
I have few questions:
1.I wanted to do annual motorcycle maintenance service now in the end of the season instead of start of the season, is this bad idea?
2.I wanted to change new tires now, would prolonged keeping motorcycle in one place affect tires in any way
3.why would i even stop riding in cold weather? It is not rainy yet or too cold for me.
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1. There's no harm in doing maintenance now. In the next few months, nothing should degrade enough to warrant waiting.
2. You should be fine changing your tires now, but if you want to make sure you don't get any flat spots from prolonged sitting, move your bike periodically and make sure you have good tire pressure in the tire, or (ideally) place your bike up on front and rear stands to keep the tires off the ground.
3. If you feel comfortable and safe rising in low temperatures, by all means go for it. There are some things to watch out for;
a. In colder temperatures, your hands and feet could get cold so it could become difficult to control the bike. That's an obvious one, so I'll assume you have good or heated gear.
b. Your engine oil have a viscosity rating; its viscosity when it's cool and when it's at operating temperature. If you don't have a heated garage, or park outside at work, it might be worthwhile to change your oil to be more appropriate for the colder temperatures if you plan to ride deep into the season. alternatively, if you don't plan on riding all through the season, just make sure you let your bike warm up properly before riding (no throttle revving). If it gets really cold, or you want to ride all season long, I've seen someone ziptie a large piece of cardboard over the front of their radiator to keep temperature in the motor.
c. The road, ambient temperatures, and especially your tires will all be much colder. This dramatically impacts your traction. Be gentle on the throttle, or if you have it, change your map/ABS settings to RAIN. Give yourself ample time to brake, don't bomb down the twisties, and generally ride more carefully.