When to Store Your Motorcycle in Scottsdale, AZ
In Scottsdale, the first 32°F nights near December 5 mark the end of comfortable riding and the time to lay the bike up with a full stabilized tank, fresh oil, and the battery on a tender. Riding tends to open again after the last freeze near February 13. The early-odds date runs roughly 22 days ahead of the median, so build in that buffer.
Typical first first 32°F freeze near Dec 5; local deadline about Dec 5. The live 10-day outlook loads here.
Local freeze dates for Scottsdale
| Threshold | Early (1-in-10) | Median | Late (9-in-10) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 32°F (light freeze) | Nov 18 | Dec 5 | Dec 24 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Nov 27 | Dec 19 | Jan 19 |
| 24°F (severe) | Dec 4 | Dec 31 | Jan 24 |
NOAA station: Tempe Asu · 4.7 mi away · 1,167 ft elevation.
- Scottsdale rarely freezes hard, so when it does, unprepared systems are the ones that suffer.
- With about 53 days separating the early and late dates, watch the live outlook rather than banking on the median.
Numbers for Scottsdale come from Tempe Asu, 4.7 miles away at 1,167 feet, where the medians fall 32°F by Dec 5, 28°F by Dec 19, 24°F by Dec 31. The 28°F freeze has come as early as Nov 27 and as late as Jan 19, a 53-day spread. Spring's last 32°F freeze clears around Feb 13.
The freeze arrives in two steps in Scottsdale: 32°F around Dec 5, then a hard 28°F near Dec 19. The 32°F date swings from Nov 18 at its earliest to Dec 24 at its latest, near 36 days. The last spring freeze averages Feb 13 and as late as Mar 9, which sets the safe window for reopening outdoor water and de-winterizing gear. Snow barely registers here; the freeze date, around Feb 13, is the one that matters.
Your motorcycle checklist
- Fill the tank and add fuel stabilizer, then ride or idle a few minutes so treated fuel reaches the injectors or carbs.Helpful gear: Fuel stabilizer — Recommended pick
- Change the oil and filter before storage so acids in used oil do not sit on internal parts all winter.
- Put the battery on a tender for the whole layup rather than starting the bike for a few minutes now and then.Helpful gear: Battery tender — Recommended pick
- Set tire pressure to spec and, if you can, lift the wheels with stands so the tires do not flat-spot.Helpful gear: Front paddock stand — Recommended pick
- Lube the chain and wipe down bare metal with a light protectant to fend off corrosion.
- Plug the exhaust and airbox loosely so mice cannot nest, and set traps nearby as a backup.
- Cover the bike with a breathable cover indoors so moisture does not get trapped against the paint.Helpful gear: Breathable motorcycle cover — Recommended pick
- In spring, remove the plugs, check tire pressure and brakes, and reconnect the battery before the first ride.
What to have on hand
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What this means locally
Scottsdale freezes close to Tempe (Dec 5) and close to Mesa (Dec 5) — a reminder that even nearby towns differ by days. Statewide, Arizona prep dates run Jan 3 through Dec 29, which is why Scottsdale gets its own number rather than a Arizona-wide average. The same freeze also decides when to test your car battery and winterize a boat.
Other winter jobs in Scottsdale
Every task below is dated to Scottsdale's own freeze and snow normals.
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Frequently asked questions
Should I start my motorcycle during winter storage?
Do I store a motorcycle with a full or empty tank?
How do I keep mice out of my motorcycle?
Battery tender vs trickle charger?
When does riding season end in Scottsdale?
How do I prep a motorcycle for spring?
Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals via Tempe Asu, live outlook by Open-Meteo. Sources · Methodology. Last updated: July 11, 2026.