8 Super-Smart Motorcycle Storage Tips
Let’s be honest. Your motorcycle isn’t just a vehicle. It’s a relationship. When it comes to motorcycle storage, most blokes will tell you it’s not something they take lightly – because some of them will openly admit they’ve spent more time thinking about their bike than about their own birthday. It gets washed more regularly than the car. It gets talked to. It gets looked at for no reason other than the fact that it’s there and it’s beautiful.
So when life intervenes, and you have to put the bike into storage, it feels a bit like dropping your mum off at a care facility. You want to know she’s going to be looked after. You want her to come out the other side in good nick. Ideally, better than she went in.
This one’s for the people – just like you – who really love their bike. None of the obvious stuff here – it’s how to do motorcycle storage properly, in the way that even experienced riders might overlook.
How to prepare motorcycle for storage – 8 Tips
Let’s dive straight in:
1. Don’t just drain the fuel – Treat it
Most riders know you shouldn’t leave a full tank sitting for months. What fewer know is that simply draining the tank isn’t necessarily the best move either.
Modern ethanol-blend fuels are hygroscopic – they attract moisture – and an empty tank left sitting is an invitation for condensation and rust on the interior walls.
The smarter approach?:
- Fill the tank completely
- Add a quality fuel stabiliser.
A full tank leaves less airspace for moisture to form, and the stabiliser prevents the fuel from breaking down into varnish that clogs carburettors and injectors. Just run the engine for a few minutes after adding it so the treated fuel circulates through the whole fuel system.
2. Change the oil before storage, not after
The instinct is to change the oil when you bring the bike back out – fresh oil for a fresh start, right?
But used engine oil contains combustion byproducts and acids that sit against your engine internals for however long the bike is stored. Fresh oil going in before storage means your engine is bathed in clean, protective fluid the entire time it’s sitting. It’s a small thing that makes a genuine difference over long-term motorcycle storage.
3. Pull the battery out – Or get a tender
A battery left connected and sitting will self-discharge over weeks and months, eventually dropping below the threshold where it can be properly recharged. At that point, you’re buying a new battery.
So, either remove the battery entirely and store it somewhere with moderate temperature, or connect a battery tender – a trickle charger that maintains charge without overcharging. If you’re going into a motorcycle storage unit for several months, a tender is the better option if you have access to power.
4. Overinflate the tyres slightly
Tyres sitting stationary under load develop flat spots – particularly in cooler temperatures. Overinflating slightly (check your manufacturer’s recommendation for storage) reduces the contact patch and minimises flat spotting.
If you can get the bike onto a paddock stand to take the weight off the tyres entirely, even better. For long term motorcycle storage, this is worth the 10 minutes it takes.
5. Fog the cylinders
Fogging oil – sprayed into the cylinders via the spark plug holes – coats the cylinder walls and prevents corrosion during storage. It’s standard practice for boat engines and powersports equipment in markets with long winters, but Australian riders rarely think about it:
- Remove the spark plugs
- Spray a short burst of fogging oil into each cylinder
- Replace the plugs
- Turn the engine over a couple of times without starting it to distribute the oil.
Your cylinder walls will thank you.
6. Cover every opening
Exhaust pipes, air intakes, and any other openings are an open invitation for spiders, mice, and moisture:
- Stuff the exhaust pipes with clean rags
- Seal air intakes with plastic bags secured with rubber bands.
- Make a note somewhere obvious – on the handlebars or the seat – so you don’t forget to remove them before you fire it up again.
Don’t forget: starting a bike with a rag in the exhaust is a bad day for you and your bike!
7. Lube everything that moves
Before the bike goes away, go over every moving part that benefits from lubrication.
We’re talking:
- The chain and cables
- The pivot points and levers
- Even the footpeg pivots.
Cables in particular can stiffen and fray from the inside during storage if they’re not lubricated. A bike that goes into storage well-lubed comes out ready to ride rather than stiff, corroded, and reluctant.
8. Think about what size storage unit you actually need
What size storage unit do I need for a motorcycle? It’s a question we’ve heard plenty of times over the years – and it’s definitely worth answering properly before you book.
A standard motorcycle fits comfortably in a 3×3 metre unit – which also leaves room for motorcycle gear storage – all the important stuff like your helmets, jackets, panniers, and anything else you want to keep together.
If you’re storing the bike alongside other gear or equipment, step up to a larger unit. It’s worth getting the size right rather than cramming everything in and risking damage.
Can you store your motorcycle at Jim’s?
Oh, absolutely!
Jim’s Self Storage in Williamstown is a genuinely good option for motorcycle storage in Melbourne’s western suburbs. Some riders look into a motorcycle storage pod as an alternative, but a dedicated self-storage unit gives you far better security, access, and conditions than a portable container sitting on a driveway.
Our facility has:
- 24/7 CCTV
- Individually alarmed units with personalised PIN access
- A resident on-site manager
- Over 950 units in a range of sizes.
That makes us the kind of motorcycle storage Williamstown riders keep coming back to us for. The motorcycle storage cost at Jim’s is competitive, and the team will help you choose the right unit size for your bike and gear without paying for space you don’t need. Whether it’s a short break or long term motorcycle storage across several months, the security and conditions at Jim’s mean your bike is in good hands – better hands than your garage, in a lot of cases.
Motorcycle storage at Jim’s also means you can store your full kit alongside the bike – no more gear spread across three different spots at home. Give us a ring or get in touch online, or use the online space estimator to work out exactly what you need. Your bike deserves better than a dusty corner under a tarp.
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