What should you do when you leave your motorcycle parked?

Whether you're just stopping briefly or preparing to store your bike away for the winter, it's vital to keep certain key factors in mind. These practices are not only essential for maintaining a smooth riding experience but also for safeguarding your motorcycle's mechanical well-being and battery longevity. So, what steps should you take when leaving your motorcycle parked? Let's explore some suggestions in this article.

Comply With Local Regulations

Traffic regulations vary greatly depending on local laws, underscoring the importance of understanding the specific requirements and parking limitations in the region where you'll ride your motorcycle. Disregarding these rules could lead to unwanted consequences such as receiving a parking ticket or, in more serious scenarios, having your cherished bike towed away.

Choose The Right Location

Selecting the appropriate location for parking your motorcycle is essential, and the choice depends on where you'll be leaving it:

• Urban Parking: Opt for well-lit areas with high visibility to enhance the security of your motorcycle against theft and vandalism. Ensure there's ample space around your bike to maneuver if needed, minimizing the risk of accidental collisions with other vehicles that could damage your bike or inconvenience other drivers.
• Roadside Parking: In the event of a breakdown or emergency requiring roadside parking, pull over sufficiently away from the edge of the road. This ensures safe dismounting away from passing traffic, reducing the likelihood of accidents if a distracted driver fails to notice your presence. Always exercise caution before dismounting.
• Home Parking: When storing your motorcycle in your garage, allow for ample clearance for easy access and maintenance. Additionally, when leaving the bike parked for an extended period, rest it on its kickstand to alleviate stress on the tires and minimize the risk of accidental tipping.

Secure Your Motorcycle

When parking your motorcycle on the street, if permitted by local regulations, consider securing it to a fixed object such as a bike rack or a light pole. Alternatively, invest in a high-quality brake disk lock for added security. However, always remember to remove the brake disc lock before riding. Some riders also suggest using motorcycle covers to deter unwanted attention and shield your bike from weather elements.

Since motorcycles typically lack a parking brake, except for rare exceptions, it's crucial to never leave your bike parked in neutral, particularly on inclines. This precaution helps prevent rolling, tipping over from its stand, or causing accidents.

Long Term Storage

This section provides guidance on what to do when leaving your motorcycle parked for extended periods:

Prepare Your Bike for Storage

Before storing your motorcycle for an extended duration, it's essential to take precautions to prevent deterioration and ensure it remains ready for immediate and trouble-free use when needed.

• Check Tire Pressure: Verify tire pressure and inflate if necessary to maintain optimal performance.
• Inspect for Leaks: Check your bike for any leaks and promptly address them. Top up fluids as needed to maintain proper levels.
• Address Mechanical Issues: Attend to any mechanical issues that may arise. While vehicles are built for motion, some components are susceptible to deterioration when left unused for extended periods.
• Invest in a Quality Battery Charger: Consider purchasing a high-quality battery charger such as our CT5 POWERSPORT. Unused batteries tend to self-discharge over time, particularly in modern bikes equipped with electronic features like fuel injection and ABS, which continue to draw power even when the bike is off.

Stay Charged Stay Ready

Ensuring your motorcycle battery remains charged is vital, particularly during extended periods of inactivity. Whether your bike is equipped with a standard lead-acid battery or a modern lithium LIFEPO4 model, both types experience self-discharge at varying rates. This drop in charge can hinder your bike's ability to start, particularly after prolonged storage. Self-discharge contributes to sulfation and crystallization in lead-acid batteries, while it degrades internal components in Li-ion types. Regular charging prevents self-discharge and can extend your battery's lifespan by up to threefold.

For optimal charging when your motorcycle is parked, consider using the CT5 POWERSPORT intelligent charger. This versatile tool is adept at both charging and maintaining batteries, allowing for prolonged connections without risk of overheating or overcharging.

Moreover, the CT5 POWERSPORT is compatible with CTEK's exclusive CONNECT EYELET M6 and INDICATOR EYELET M6 accessories. These convenient additions are particularly useful for motorcycles with batteries that are challenging to access. Simply attach them to your battery terminals for quick and accessible connections, eliminating the need to disassemble your bike for charging. The INDICATOR EYELET M6 offers an additional benefit with its three LEDs indicating battery charge status: red signals the need for immediate charging, yellow suggests planning for a charge, and green signifies readiness for immediate use.

When considering how to best maintain your motorcycle during periods of inactivity, remember to address regulations, parking location, storage, and battery charging, utilizing CTEK solutions for reliable performance!