Getting a Harley-Davidson Ready After Winter Storage

The first warm weekend in Virginia makes every Harley owner look at the garage. Before you pull the cover off and thumb the starter, give the bike a little attention. A few months of sitting can leave behind a flat battery, stale fuel, tires that have flattened or aged, and the occasional rodent that moved in for winter. A careful hour now beats a breakdown on Route 3.

Car Doctor+ in Locust Grove services Harley-Davidson products, and owner Brian Riley spent 21 years at Harley-Davidson's York, Pennsylvania plant before opening the shop. The list below is the one any rider can run through at home. Where something looks off, that is when to call.

Look the bike over before you start it

Walk around the motorcycle with a flashlight. Look for fluid drips on the floor beneath it, cracked hoses, and anything chewed or nested in. Mice love air boxes, exhaust openings and the space under the seat. Pull the air filter cover and look inside. Check the exhaust tips. A nest in the wrong place can cause a lean-running bike, a smell, or even a fire.

Battery, fuel and fluids

The battery is the most common casualty of storage. If you left it connected without a maintainer, it may be too far gone to recover. Check the terminals for corrosion, clean them if needed, and charge the battery with a charger designed for motorcycles. If it will not hold a charge after a full cycle, replace it. A weak battery can also cause odd electrical behavior that looks like a bigger problem than it is.

Gasoline left in a tank for months can go stale, and in some cases gum up the system. If you added a stabilizer before storing, you are probably fine. If you did not, and the bike sat for the whole winter, consider draining old fuel and refilling with fresh. If it starts hard, runs rough, or hesitates for the first few miles, tell the shop what the fuel situation was. It helps them find the problem faster.

Check the engine oil level and condition. Look at the primary and transmission fluid levels where your model has them, and look at the brake and clutch fluid reservoirs. Fluid intervals vary by model and year, so use the owner's manual for what your bike calls for. If the bike was due for service before it went into storage, now is the right time to do it, because oil and fluids age even when the bike does not move.

Tires: pressure, cracks and age

• Set the pressure to the number in the manual. Tires lose air over a winter.
• Look for cracks in the sidewalls and between the tread blocks, which show up as tires age.
• Check for flat spots from sitting in one position.
• Check the tread depth and look for plugs, nails or other damage.
• If you do not know how old the tires are, look for the date code on the sidewall and ask a technician what they think of them.

Brakes, controls and chassis

• Brake lever and pedal should feel firm, not spongy, and return smoothly.
• Pads should have material left, and rotors should look clean without deep grooves.
• Clutch lever, throttle and cables should move freely and snap back.
• Look at the belt or chain for cracks, fraying and correct tension.
• Check that fasteners are snug on the handlebars, mirrors, footpegs and axle.
• Lube pivot points and cables as the manual describes.

Lights and the first start

Switch on the ignition and test the headlight, brake light, turn signals and horn before you start it. When you do start the engine, let it settle into a steady idle and watch for smoke, odd noises, or fluid appearing underneath. Do not rev it hard on a cold engine. Take the first ride short, and keep it gentle while the oil warms through.

When it is time for a shop

Bring the bike in if the battery will not hold a charge, if you found a leak, if the brakes feel off, if the engine runs rough after fresh fuel, or if you simply want a trained eye on it before the season. Car Doctor+ offers tune-ups and repairs for Harley-Davidson motorcycles, with same-business-day estimates and most work done in 2 to 3 business days, so you can plan around the first good weekend rather than waiting out the best of spring.

Call (540) 972-7090 or stop by 4219 Germanna Highway in Locust Grove, Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 5 PM or Saturday from 8 AM to 1 PM. Riders from Lake of the Woods, Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania and across Orange County are welcome.