Guides · 28 June 2026
Winter motorbike storage: how to lay a bike up properly
A plain guide to storing a motorbike over winter: prep, where to keep it, and when indoor storage with collection makes more sense than the shed.
Most bikes in Britain do their fewest miles between November and March. A bike left standing through a damp winter can come out the other side with a flat battery, soft tyres, gummed fuel and the first signs of corrosion. Laying it up properly takes an afternoon and saves a frustrating spring.
Prep before you store it
Clean and dry the bike first, because road salt left on overnight is what starts corrosion. Top the tank up and add a fuel stabiliser to stop the fuel going stale and the tank sweating. Put the battery on a trickle charger or take it off and keep it somewhere dry. Set the tyres a little above normal pressure and, if you can, get the wheels off the ground with paddock stands so they do not flat-spot. A breathable cover keeps dust off without trapping moisture.
Where you keep it matters
A dry, stable indoor space is what a bike wants. A garage is fine if it stays dry. An unheated shed or a tarp in the garden is where trouble starts, because damp and big temperature swings are exactly what cause condensation and rust. If you do not have suitable space, that is the case for proper storage.
When indoor storage makes sense
If you rent, have no garage, or simply want the bike out of the way and properly looked after, indoor storage solves it. Bladespeed offers secure indoor motorbike storage at £60 per 4 weeks, and because it also runs transport, the bike can be collected from your door, stored, and delivered back when the clocks change. You are not riding a cold bike across the country in February to put it away.
Collected, stored, returned
The neat part of storing with a company that also moves bikes is that the whole thing is one arrangement. Enter your postcode in the booking tool to set up collection, the bike is kept indoors over winter, and you book the return run for spring. No van hire, no riding in the cold, no bike sitting in a damp shed.
Bringing it back in spring
When the bike comes out, refit the charged battery, check the tyre pressures and look them over for age cracking, and give the brakes a gentle test before you rely on them. A bike that was put away dry and clean usually wakes up well.
Common questions
How should I prepare a motorbike for winter storage?
Clean and dry it, fill the tank and add fuel stabiliser, keep the battery on a trickle charger or take it off, set the tyres slightly high or use paddock stands, and fit a breathable cover. The aim is a dry bike kept somewhere dry and stable.
Is it bad to store a motorbike in a shed over winter?
An unheated shed or an outdoor cover is where most winter damage starts, because damp and temperature swings cause condensation and rust. A dry, stable indoor space is much better, which is why many riders use indoor storage.
How much does indoor motorbike storage cost?
Bladespeed offers secure indoor motorbike storage at £60 per 4 weeks. Because Bladespeed also runs transport, the bike can be collected from your door, stored over winter and delivered back in spring as one arrangement.
Can my bike be collected for storage and delivered back?
Yes. Enter your postcode in the Bladespeed booking tool to set up collection, the bike is stored indoors, and you book the return run for spring. There is no van hire and no riding a cold bike across the country.
Fig. 1. Bladespeed coverage
When can Bladespeed collect your motorbike?
Bladespeed runs weekly scheduled routes across England, Scotland and Wales. Enter your postcode in the booking tool and it shows your collection day and a firm price before you pay.
Northern Ireland collections and deliveries are arranged on request. Storage from £60 per 4 weeks.