Motorcycles & Cooler Temperatures: What You Need To Know

As Fall kicks into high gear, and the weather gets cooler, a number of concerns arise this time of year.  Be sure to properly use the choke on your carburetor as the temperature dictates when starting your bike.  Also, it is imperative that riders maintain as full of a tank of gas as possible. With the fluctuating temperatures between the outside air and inside the tank, condensation can easily form inside the tank and that is a real problem.  The engine will spit and sputter, and die frequently. Water in the fuel is a simple fix, but inexperienced and uneducated riders will think something is terribly wrong and will let a motorcycle waste away because they don't want to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars that they think it will cost to repair their ride. 

Drain the carburetor. Takes 5-10 minutes to do and you can do it yourself.  You should not have to remove your carburetor from your motorcycle.  Find a clear cup or Tupperware container that is the proper size to fit under your carburetor.  If your motorcycle has an accessible pepcock (valve that can turn on/off your fuel), turn it to the "off" position.  Place the clear container underneath your carburetor where the drainage port is located. Directly above that port, is a small screw.  Ensure that you carefully loosen the screw (my carb doesn't require the complete removal of the screw) and the fuel should begin to drain into your container.  If you have water in your fuel, it will be obvious to see.  The water will settle to the bottom of the container and collect in a bubble.  Do not add the contaminated fuel from your carburetor back into your tank, dispose of it properly.  Re-tighten the screw on the carburetor, return your pepcock to the "on" position.  Top off your tank with fresh gasoline, and ride.  Your motorcycle will return to normal with time, the best thing you can do is ride frequently to run clean fuel through your engine.

Another very important aspect of motorcycle maintenance involves your tires.  Cooler temperatures causes air to compress, so keeping an eye on your tire pressure becomes increasingly vital during Fall/Winter.  It is a normal safety practice to check your tires before every ride, but this becomes a true necessity this time of year.  Riding a motorcycle with low air pressure can be deadly.  A simple 30-second pressure check before you ride could mean the difference between life and death.  Use a tire gauge.  Do not use the "kick the tire" technique, as it does not give you an accurate reading on tire pressure, and it can also be misleading as rubber tires tend to stiffen in cold weather.

These simple (and basic) checks are very simple, and very vital.  Keep an eye out for a future post regarding Winter riding and proper long term motorcycle storage!

-J