When is best to service - Before or after winter?

It is a question we get asked all the time, should I service the bike before putting it away for the winter, or should I service it in the spring? There is no right or wrong answer, it really comes down to personal choice. But here are a few things you may wish to consider.

PRE-WINTER SERVICE

If you chose to get your bike serviced before putting it away for the winter you should have made the decision that you are properly putting the bike off the road. Removing the battery and stabilising the fuel. The last thing you want to be doing is periodically firing the bike up over the winter and generating lots of condensation which will work its way into your fresh new oil.

1. Any issues with your bike will have been identified during the service and therefore they will be resolved, so when you hit the road in the spring, you can do so with confidence.
   
   
2. You wont be caught in the Spring Service rush as everyone rushes to get their bike serviced at the first blink of spring sunshine. At Evolution Motor Works, we are extremely busy in the Springtime and it is not uncommon to have 3-4 week wait-time for servicing slots so make sure you book ahead.
   
   
3. A Pre-winter service at Evolution Motor Works will always include additional corrosion control for free. We apply a coat of anti-corrosion material to the undersides and exposed parts of the bike to help minimise the possibility of surface corrosion expansion and leave the bike ready for the winter hibernation.
   
   
4. A pre-winter service means you are ready to roll when the spring arrives. Pop the battery back into the bike, inflate the tyres and give it a gentle clean, and you are ready for the months ahead.

SPRING SERVICE

If you chose to put the bike away for the winter and get it serviced in the spring, a lot of the same principals apply. Checkout this recent article for advice on storing the bike, but come the spring there may be some un-welcome surprises.

1. If there are any issues with the bike, these may only be picked up in the spring, when workshops are very busy. Serious issues will take much longer (and cost more) to be repaired in spring when workshop time is at a premium.
   
   
2. If you need to fit new tyres and brake pads, on top of the service cost, this may amount to a rather large bill when you were only expecting a service bill. A pre-winter service would have identified the need for new tyres and given you time to save or plan for their fitting.
   
   
3. Holding off until the spring for a service allows you to do any modifications to the bike over the winter months. Fitting heated grips, sat-nav or phone charger are well within the capabilities of the average diy’er so give it a go. When you are dropping your bike in for its service, always mention the winter work to the service engineer. At Evolution Motor Works we have no problems throwing a trained eye over your work, just to make sure it is tiketyboo.
   
   
4. Over winter we often get some crisp fresh dry days so if you have a notion that you might ride the bike over the winter, you are better leaving the main service until the spring. Just be careful after the roads have been salted. On a dry winter day the road may look dusty. That dust, is salt, and it will cause havoc if left to settle on your bike. Make sure you give the bike a good rinse down after riding in winter, particularly after the roads have been salted.

As you see, there are no real downsides to servicing before or after winter, it really comes down to a personal choice, however the fact that your bike is correctly serviced is of paramount importance.