How many weeks between rides before winterizing?

[KitsapFJR]

Hi,

New 06 FJR owner here near Seattle. I've only put about 900 miles on the bike so far but the rain has set it here in the Northwet.

I'll probably be able to ride the bike at least once every two weeks or from now (early Nov) until late Feb or so. After that I should be able to ride much more consistently. The longest I'd most likely go without riding might be three weeks (although we've seen 100 out of 110 days of rain in the past... 36 days straight last year!)

The bike is garaged, it rarely goes below freezing here and even when it does it's only into the lower 20's. The garage is unheated but almost always above freezing.

I've already started using Stabilizer in the fuel. The battery is new.

My question is how long can I go between rides and still not have to pull the battery out, put oil in the cylinders, etc...? I really don't want to go through the entire winterizing thing if I don't have to. Frankly, when it comes to pulling the plugs and cycling the cylinders and such, I really don't even have the skills.

Thoughts?

Steve

 

[markjenn]

If you can get out every couple weeks or so, and are sure to get the engine up to full operating temperature during these times, I wouldn't worry about it. I have seven bikes in my garage right now in this Seattle muck and only a couple will see much more than every-few-week use until spring. A battery tender is not a bad idea, but I doubt you need to use fuel stabilizer - just top off the tank once a month or so.

It's the "parked it in October and didn't touch it until April" episodes that are really hard on bikes. They'll survive it a season or two with a fresh battery, but eventually all that sitting with stale fuel, stale oil, stale brake fluid, etc. takes it's toll and systems get gummed up.

- Mark

 

[warsw]

If you can get out every couple weeks or so, and are sure to get the engine up to full operating temperature during these times, I wouldn't worry about it. I have seven bikes in my garage right now in this Seattle muck and only a couple will see much more than every-few-week use until spring. A battery tender is not a bad idea, but I doubt you need to use fuel stabilizer - just top off the tank once a month or so.
It's the "parked it in October and didn't touch it until April" episodes that are really hard on bikes. They'll survive it a season or two with a fresh battery, but eventually all that sitting with stale fuel, stale oil, stale brake fluid, etc. takes it's toll and systems get gummed up.

- Mark

X2 Well said.

 

[Afast03nNJ]

I've parked my bike in an unheated barn for over 4 months every winter. Never did a thing except fill the tank up with fresh gas and I've never had a problem with any bike I've ever owned including the FJR. A good battery should hold a charge for a few months with no problems. I actually got 7 years out of an OEM Yuasa battery on my old 1989 FJ1200.

Battery tenders tend to dry up a battery keeping it fully charged and warm all winter long, actually shortening it's life. It's better to leave it be and possible just jump start it if it's down slightly or charge it up before your first spring ride.

 

[Dan23]

If you're putting Stabil in the fuel, I wouldn't worry about winterizing your bike at all. The worst you could suffer is a dead battery. You could potentially hook up a Battery Tender OTOH and suffer damage to your bike's electrical system... if you don't first disconnect the battery. But in that case you've placed a hurdle to actually riding the bike during weather breaks.

Does anyone think that bikes sitting in dealers' showrooms over the winter are winterized? Nope. How about the millions of cars sitting unsold? All this worrying about crap would take the fun out of motorcycling for me... so I don't do any of it. And I would NEVER put oil in my bike's cylinders.

 

[TriggerT]

I've parked my bike in an unheated barn for over 4 months every winter. Never did a thing except fill the tank up with fresh gas and I've never had a problem with any bike I've ever owned including the FJR. A good battery should hold a charge for a few months with no problems. I actually got 7 years out of an OEM Yuasa battery on my old 1989 FJ1200.
Battery tenders tend to dry up a battery keeping it fully charged and warm all winter long, actually shortening it's life. It's better to leave it be and possible just jump start it if it's down slightly or charge it up before your first spring ride.

Better yet, pull the battery, and keep it in your house. I have had batteries crack from the cold. Granted, the temp got down to -38 that winter, but better safe than sorry.

 

[radman]

FWIW, only dead batteries freeze, at least in temps the US is capable of producing.

 

[mech 1 twa]

Stabilizer has a few benifits. Keeps fuel fresh, absorbs moisture in fuel and cleans injectors a little.

Its not a bad idea to use a little during off season. Rains a lot won't hurt.

Battery tenders won't harm electrical system. Most are only 1 Amp. Won't overload anything.

Never jumpstart your bike with a car, while its running. Auto systems put out much higher Amps.

90-120 Amps. will do some damage.

 

[Dan23]

Battery tenders won't harm electrical system.

What a BT can do is this: if your battery is shorted and dead, it can attempt to charge the battery by pushing enough voltage through the battery that it exceeds what some diodes can take... burning them out and sending current places not intended.

If your battery is reasonably good and not completely discharged it would admittedly be a case of very bad luck for this to happen... but the possibility DOES exist and those who use BTs should be warned of it. IMHO.

 

[FJRski]

I'm finding it ironic that I worry about whether I should winterize my bike for a month or two. I keep a ride log, and noticed that during 2 months this year, June and August, I barely rode it. Gas should degrade faster during hot weather, assuming the blend is the same (which it isn't), and hot weather can be almost as hard on a battery as cold weather. My point is, the more I think about it, the more I think that IF I can burn through a tank of gas by riding just 1 day every 6 weeks or so, there's really no need to take any special precautions. At least not here in PA.

 

[Dan23]

I'm finding it ironic that I worry about whether I should winterize my bike for a month or two. I keep a ride log, and noticed that during 2 months this year, June and August, I barely rode it. Gas should degrade faster during hot weather, assuming the blend is the same (which it isn't), and hot weather can be almost as hard on a battery as cold weather. My point is, the more I think about it, the more I think that IF I can burn through a tank of gas by riding just 1 day every 6 weeks or so, there's really no need to take any special precautions. At least not here in PA.

I almost NEVER drive my pickup truck... somtimes a tank of gas lasts 3 months. Never a problem.

Winterizing motorcycles is a bit like oil changing. Some people agonize over it, when in fact, the greatest threat to one's beloved ride is themselves: a low speed lowside.

 

[Duff]

Hi,
New 06 FJR owner here near Seattle. I've only put about 900 miles on the bike so far but the rain has set it here in the Northwet.

I'll probably be able to ride the bike at least once every two weeks or from now (early Nov) until late Feb or so. After that I should be able to ride much more consistently. The longest I'd most likely go without riding might be three weeks (although we've seen 100 out of 110 days of rain in the past... 36 days straight last year!)

The bike is garaged, it rarely goes below freezing here and even when it does it's only into the lower 20's. The garage is unheated but almost always above freezing.

I've already started using Stabilizer in the fuel. The battery is new.

My question is how long can I go between rides and still not have to pull the battery out, put oil in the cylinders, etc...? I really don't want to go through the entire winterizing thing if I don't have to. Frankly, when it comes to pulling the plugs and cycling the cylinders and such, I really don't even have the skills.

Thoughts?

Steve

+1 on the Stabil

Winterizing? We don't need no stinkin' winterizing. That takes away from being able to jump on it the first above zero day that come out of nowhere! Of course now, I don't have that problem. :yahoo:

 

[Bagger]

If you're putting Stabil in the fuel, I wouldn't worry about winterizing your bike at all. The worst you could suffer is a dead battery. You could potentially hook up a Battery Tender OTOH and suffer damage to your bike's electrical system... if you don't first disconnect the battery. But in that case you've placed a hurdle to actually riding the bike during weather breaks.
Does anyone think that bikes sitting in dealers' showrooms over the winter are winterized? Nope. How about the millions of cars sitting unsold? All this worrying about crap would take the fun out of motorcycling for me... so I don't do any of it. And I would NEVER put oil in my bike's cylinders.

Dan23 ... I would need some proof that battery tender devices harm batteries. I've used such tenders for years with excellent results.

When I had Harleys, the batteries would last 2 years ... max ... without tenders. And, usually, I'd have to jump start the damn bikes. But, once I installed battery tenders, the batteries lasted many years and starting the bikes in the dead of winter for a ride was 'cake'.

I have batteries in many vehicles, lawn tractors, motorcycles, etc. that I don't use regularly during the winter months. I've never had a problem with BTs. One of the lawn tractors was left hooked up to a BT for over 2 years .... it started with only a bit of extended cranking. The battery was 4 years old.

The battery in my WING was over 5 years old when I replaced it. I replaced it because I didn't want to be stranded on a trip, but it was working fine. A BT had been in use during the time in winter that I did not ride.

Plus, I would think that batteries in unheated garages in cold climates would discharge at a faster rate than those sitting in a dealer's showroom. And, I see battery chargers hooked up to new cars quite often here as well.

Please supply some evidence that Battery Tenders cause damage ... and I don't mean some hypothetical deal, either.

Thanx. BTW, I just bought 3 more BTs from Sears at like $18 each. Kewl.

BAGGER

 

[Dan23]

Please supply some evidence that Battery Tenders cause damage ... and I don't mean some hypothetical deal, either.

Did you happen to read the words in bold?

If your battery is reasonably good and not completely discharged it would admittedly be a case of very bad luck for this to happen... but the possibility DOES exist and those who use BTs should be warned of it. IMHO.

As for the source, look in Motorcycle Consumer News. I've used them for years as well. From where did you decide I'd defamed your choice of battery charger? Bottom line of my advice is not to put your bike away for the winter with a battery in it that is showing signs of failing... hooked to a BT. Take the advice or leave it... I could care less. OK?

 

[Bagger]

Please supply some evidence that Battery Tenders cause damage ... and I don't mean some hypothetical deal, either.

Did you happen to read the words in bold?

If your battery is reasonably good and not completely discharged it would admittedly be a case of very bad luck for this to happen... but the possibility DOES exist and those who use BTs should be warned of it. IMHO.

As for the source, look in Motorcycle Consumer News. I've used them for years as well. From where did you decide I'd defamed your choice of battery charger? Bottom line of my advice is not to put your bike away for the winter with a battery in it that is showing signs of failing... hooked to a BT. Take the advice or leave it... I could care less. OK?

Whatever ....