Winterization: it's easier than you think

If you're like me, you'd rather be riding than wrenching. So let's have a quick look at the easy way to winterize your bike, and be sure it's done right and won't give you troubles in the spring!

Winterization in a few easy steps:

1. Fill the fuel tank with a no-ethanol fuel (here in Ontario that's basically any 91 octane fuel) - This reduces the chance of condensation forming in the fuel over the winter, especially important if you are in an unheated or outdoor storage situation.
2. Add a good fuel stabilizer, and warm up the engine. - Not all fuel stabilizers are created equal! We recommend Sta-Bil or Star-Tron brands
3. Change your oil and filter - this removes contaminants built up over the season, and it's one less thing to do in the spring!
4. On carbureted bikes, drain the fuel from the float bowls and close the petcock.
5. Pump up the tires to 60psi or their Max Pressure indicated on the sidewall. - This prevents radial tires from flat-spotting over the season -- Don't forget to adjust pressures before you ride in the spring!
   5b. If you'd rather store it tires-up, only use stands that allow the weight of the bike to sit on the suspension. Using a front steering stem stand for example puts undue strain on the fork internals.
6. Check your air filter fork seals, shock seals, steering head and swingarm bearings, chain and sprockets, hoses, cables, calipers, and lighting, and make a list of anything that needs attention.  If you decide to put off maintenance til spring, put the list on the dash of the bike to remind yourself once the weather warms up.
7. For bikes using regular lead-acid batteries, you could remove it from the bike and put on a trickle charger, you could leave it in your bike with a pigtail to a trickle charger, or you could charge to full and bring it in somewhere warm - I like to mark it with the bike it came from on a piece of tape if you are storing more than one. 
   7b. - For bikes with Lithium batteries (LiFePO4) simply removing the ground cable after ensuring it is fully charged should suffice. 
8. Give it a good cleaning and toss a breathable cover on it.

That is basically it!  
Did we forget something? Do you have a better way to do it?   Comment below!