But sometimes things beyond your control can affect the care and treatment of your pride and joy. Like winter. When cold temperatures or - in some parts - the monsoon convinces you that sadly, it's time to put your Hog in storage for a while. This guide is for you. We'll tell you how to put your Harley away safely so that it'll look and ride its best when the weather turns better.

But what if you live where the snow doesn't fall and the weather remains pretty good? Well, you can use this guide as a checklist for your basic fall / winter tune up. (Just send a sunny postcard to us in Blaine, MN)

You'll be able to perform many of these operations yourself, and we'll even list some specific products to use. You'll protect your motorcycle's parts from corrosion, preserve the battery and prevent the buildup of gum and varnish in the fuel system. All in all, we'll give you plenty of reasons to spend some quality time in your garage with the greatest riding machine ever created. Your Hog. And if you want to turn the radio way up, who's gonna complain?

If you live where weather dictates long-term storage, be sure to follow these important guidelines so that your Harley-Davidson has the best chance for trouble-free operation during the next riding season. If you do not want to perform these tasks yourself, contact your Harley-Davidson dealer. Your dealer has the trained technicians who can complete the work according to the service manual procedures using proper tools and equipment. But if you're the type of do-it-yourselfer who likes to get your hands really dirty, first wash your hands thoroughly (don't forget under the nails!) then consult your Owner's Manual or Harley-Davidson service manuals for proper procedures.

As John D. Rockefeller once said: "Fuel is flammable," So if you're going to store the bike with fuel in the tank, do not store your motorcycle where it will be exposed toflames, pilot lights or sparks.

FUEL CONDITIONING
Ride the motorcycle, or run the engine in a well-ventilated area to bring it to operating temperature. Turn off the engine. Add a fuel stabilizer to the tank to prevent varnish buildup, and top off the tank with an appropriate type of fuel to prevent corrosion over the winter. Continue to operate the engine long enough to assure that the treated fuel has been run through the carburetor. When you're ready to store your bike, turn off the ignition and the petcock, but leave the treated fuel in the lines and carburetor.

MOTOR OIL
Contaminants trapped in used oil can etch engine bearings and settle out over the winter, forming a sticky goo, so be sure to give your motorcycle a thorough oil change. After replacing the oil filter and draining the warm motor oil, be sure to add Genuine Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Oil, which is specially formulated for air-cooled motorcycle engines. Do not store the bike without oil, as this invites corrosion.

SPARK PLUGS / CYLINDERS
Remove the spark plugs and squirt approximately one ounce of Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Oil onto the walls of each cylinder through the spark plug holes. Replace the spark plugs. With the transmission in neutral, activate the starter motor for several seconds to distribute the oil over the cylinder walls to inhibit corrosion, but do not start the engine.

DRIVE BELT OR CHAIN
Adjust the rear drive belt. If your motorcycle is an older model Harley, adjust the rear drive chain and lube it with Chain Lube Plus. Wipe off excess lube.

BATTERY
Winter storage is notoriously tough on batteries. Non-use can render them incapable of holding a charge. In fact, it's been common for uninformed riders to have to purchase a new battery every spring. To keep this from happening, Harley-Davidson now offers a product called Battery Tender Plus, an intelligent battery charger that can remain plugged in and hooked up to the battery all winter. It will maintain a battery in a charged condition indefinitely.

Unlike a conventional trickle charger, the Battery Tender Plus senses battery condition and shuts off periodically so it will not overcharge. Also, a fully charged battery is not likely to freeze during typical winter weather, so it is not necessary to remove the battery from the motorcycle if using the Battery Tender Plus. Unless you have a sealed battery, replenish electrolyte to proper level with distilled water before charging.

If you do not use the Battery Tender Plus, at least follow these instructions: Always work with a battery in a well-ventilated area away from sparks and flames, and keep in mind that battery acid will harm exposed skin and paint. Keep the battery from freezing , and charge it every three or four weeks throughout the winter. Replenish electrolyte with distilled water. (Refer to your Owner's Manual for model-specific battery information.)

CLEANING
A clean bike is the key to longevity. So give your Harley a thorough cleaning. Hose it down and wash it with Harley Wash, which will keep road grime and insect parts from eating at the various surfaces during its hibernation period. Avoid spraying water directly into themuffler. If the baffles get wet and are not dried through operation, internal rust could form. Also, don't spray water directly into the air cleaner housing. If the air cleaner becomes saturated, it could act as a choke making it difficult to start your motorcycle. We suggest drying your Harley with a new Harley-Davidson Chamois. Clean its polished aluminum and stainless surfaces with Harley Bright Metal Polish. Finish up with a coat of Harley Glaze to polish and seal painted and chrome surfaces, available through your dealer.

TIRES
Using an air-pressure gauge, make sure there is enough air in the tires. This helps keep them from developing problems while the motorcycle is stored. While in storage, don't allow hours of direct sunlight to contact the tires. This dries out the tires prematurely and causes sidewall cracking. Also, due to advanced tire technology, motorcycle tires don't need to rest on blocks while the bike is in storage.

DOWNTIME MYTHS
You might have heard by now the myth about the enthusiast who bought a Harley-Davidson at a garage sale. The tale goes on the explain that when the enthusiast cleaned up the dusty old motorcycle, he found under the seat an inscription that read "To Elvis, Love Pricilla." Nice. But as far as we know, untrue. Just as there are myths like this circulating from coast to coast, there are also myths about motorcycle storage.

THE NASTY COVER-UP
While it's a good idea to use a bike cover, it's folklore that a big plastic sheet is acceptable protection. Plastic will hold in moisture over the winter, promoting corrosion, and if it's breezy, the constant fluttering of that stiff, cold material against the bike can scuff painted and polished surfaces.

COVER
The best covers are both porous (so moisture can escape to avoid corrosion) and soft (to avoid scratching). Your Harley-Davidson dealer offers covers specifically made for Harley-Davidson motorcycles that will protect your bike all winter.

ABSOLUTE DEATH
Every few weeks through the winter, some well meaning riders start their bikes and run them for a few minutes, thinking they're doing "a good thing" because they're circulated the oil. But periodic cold starts dump raw gas into the engine past the choke, which washes oil off cylinder walls- exposing them to corrosion. The raw gas can seep past the rings and mix with the engine oil, where it gets stirred up with the condensation and promotes acid formation. Finally, this practice is tough on the battery and starter.

With this said, don't be afraid to take a ride on a rare warm winter weekend. Warming the bike fully helps re-charge the battery, circulate the oil and vaporize the condensation. Just be sure your license and insurance are current.

SHOPPING GUIDE
Here is a list of products you will need when putting your Harley away for the winter. Products include the part number from the 2000 Genuine Motor Accessories & Motor Parts Catalog.