Putting it away for the winter

[wingshot]

When the road frosts over or snow comes (last year it was after Thanksgiving); I ride up ramp and park in living room after changing oil and stabilizing fuel. This year the bike will get farkled during its stay in the living room with less :dribble: compared to last winter.

 

[Gizmo]

Fill the tank with fresh gas and treat it with Sta-bil. Change the oil and filter and keep the battery on a tender, not a low amp charger. If possible put the bike on the centerstand with two pieces of 2x4 under the front fork tubes so no weight is on the tires. Cover and store for the winter.

+1...Don't drain the gas. A full tank with Sta-bil reduces the likehood of condensation building up in the tank and lines. Fresh oil removes all of the 'junk' the old oil has accumulated. Battery tender, occasionally, keeps battery strong. I also keep a piece of carpet remnant under the wheels to prevent them from coming in contact with the concrete floor which can suck the moisture out of the tire. I've even heard of people putting an oily rag in the exhaust to prevent mositure build-up in the pipes and putting a teaspoon of oil in each cylinder. Probably overkill, but I would rather do too much than too little. You'll get more opinions, that, I'm quite sure of. Sift thru the info, read the manual, talk to a few 'experts' and decide for yourself. But you can't go wong with the basics...

 

[Pierre]

Never change the oil before storing the bike because I am using 50-50 synthetic.

Do you think I should replace it even if I am using that mix ?

 

[Bustanut joker]

Shit! I forgot!

Make sure ya shave yer anus before putting her down for the winter...

:jester:

 

[0Face]

Shit! I forgot!
Make sure ya shave yer anus before putting her down for the winter...

:jester:

Ya sure she won't get angry?

 

[juniorfjr]

When the road frosts over or snow comes (last year it was after Thanksgiving); I ride up ramp and park in living room after changing oil and stabilizing fuel. This year the bike will get farkled during its stay in the living room with less :dribble: compared to last winter.

I've seen it, he actually does it. Hope he washes it this year.

The first thing I did was insulate the garage, put in a 220 wall heater and store the bike at 60 degrees. Makes it lots nicer when I go out to do the Vroom-Vroom thing.

 

[HaulinAshe]

Come ride with me in Zone-8.

 

[radman]

Never change the oil before storing the bike because I am using 50-50 synthetic.
Do you think I should replace it even if I am using that mix ?

Yes.

 

[Cdogman]

Come ride with me in Zone-8.

Jeff, Yer killin me here.. It was 36 deg on my last ride.. I aint even had a turkey yet... hell I ant even dressed up like the great pumpkin and gone trick or treating... Pffffffffffff

I would love to ride with you on your turf bro. Just dont push me into the bushes while I am not looking

 

[CODan]

Thanks to all for the suggestions.

I rode to work today (only 2.5 miles) and it was 15 degrees. It probably get to about 45 or so today. I think the season is about over - I don't ride to work when it's -40.

 

[FJR1300Mark]

Everyone is pretty much in line. I ride all year round so I don't store the bike for the winter. I did however store several airplanes for longer than a month. The one month time frame is the magic number with piston planes and certified engines are expensive. The only change I would mention (as apposed to suggesting) is to change your oil just prior to your last ride so you have new clean oil next to all the moving parts for the resting (rusting) period.

 

[bigdolma]

You may want to move to Dubai, UAE...

Winter lows is about 60s.

Summer, now that is a different storry.

July August, you lookin 120+ with 90% Humidity...lovely!

Bazzbord foto pleaze?

Armand

 

[PapaUtah]

Don't think I can ever remember truly "putting it away" for the winter. Here in the frigid Midwest winter is the time of renewal for our chariots of summer. Forks get drained, cleaned and refilled with new fluid. The fleet feet are treated to a new set of supple, sticky shoes. Rear shocks are sent off to our favorite vendors(GP) for a rebuild for the next season. The skin is subjected to a luxurious swathing with leveling compound and polish topped with a glistening coat of carnuba. Creaky stiff joints are loosened and given the balm of Honda Moly and other full synthetic greases. The connections of the nervous system are freed of dirt and corrosion and resealed with dialectric grease. The life blood of the beast is refreshed by Yamalube and YamaCool.

Ahh, and all of you wondered what went on when the Midwest is covered under that thick frosty blanket of water transformed…

 

[Bustanut joker]

Dood, put down the romance novel... Grab a cycle rag.

That kind of loving, tender chatter ya just posted? Well it's rather unsettling

:jester:

 

[dduane1]

Here in the mountains of Colorado the riding season is just about over until next April.
My bike will stay in the garage, but that will get around 0 (yes zero or perhaps a bit less).

I plan to:

1) wash it carefully

2) drain gas

3) periodically put the battery on a low amp charger

I wondered if folks had tips for long term storage.

Thx

Put Stabil in the gas per recommended amount per gallon,lude cables with wd40,attach battery tender,detail if iot makes you feel better and cover it up.

 

[dduane1]

move to Ca. and ride all year. 80 degrees today in the bay area of san fran.

Stay away from the radical left gay bay!

 

[oldryder]

i store a bunch of bikes every winter. it gets a LOT colder than zero in my barn. I've read a lot on this topic and had good success for the last several years

1. right before storage run the tank down low and fill it with no alcohol gas if you can get it. if its too late to run the tank down siphon it and use th gas in the mower. fresh gas is important as Stabil works by preventing the loss of the more volatile fractions of your gasoline. even gas a few weeks old has already lost some. So ... fresh gas plus stabil.

2. change the oil and filter. this is based on a recommendation from an airplane mechanic that said he has seen a surprising amount of internal corrosion on aircraft engines from the combustion by product contaminants that pollute even relatively fresh oil. also makes me feel like I'm treating her good.

3. store it on the center stand. if you have a chain lube the chain.

4. if stored anywhere you might have mice put mothballs around the bike. Mice hate mothballs but, for some reason, love airboxes and sucking a mouse nest into your engine is a BAD thing. I have also encountered cases where mice set up housekeeping in a muffler. this can be very hard to diagnose. if you want to be extra cautious stuff steel wool in the air cleaner and muffler openings. mice won't chew thru steel wool. (I don't do the steel wool because I have 1/2 dozen or so semi-starved cats hanging around my barn.)

5. make a list of whatever the bike needs for spring and tape it to the mirror. you'll be surprised what you can forget over a winter. if you stuffed steel wool into openings note it here.

6. battery; either remove and store inside or leave in the bike; either way constant or periodic use of a battery maintainer will keep the battery fresh thru the winter. I put the maintainer on for a day or two once a month and this seems to be more than adequate to keep the battery healthy. best is to bring it inside but in the event you have a warm enough day to ride during the winter (doesn't happen here in MN very often) you have more work to do to get the bike out if the batt has been removed.

7. clean it up good and cover it with a "breathable" cover. it'll still be dirty in the spring.

8. put some nice farkles on your christmas list. be specific. nothings worse than getting a farkle for a harley from you wife or girlfriend.

 

[Afast03nNJ]

Been storing bikes during cold NJ winters for over 20 years.

Fill the tank with gas, make sure the oil is clean, up the tire pressure, put the bike on the center stand and leave it alone.

Gas will not go bad in just a few months. It is not necessary to put any gas treatments in the tank.

 

[jim oneill]

When the road frosts over or snow comes (last year it was after Thanksgiving); I ride up ramp and park in living room after changing oil and stabilizing fuel. This year the bike will get farkled during its stay in the living room with less :dribble: compared to last winter.

I have 2 bikes, an FJR and a Honda Valkyrie. I live in northern NJ and simply garage both bikes with nothing more than full tanks of gas. No stabil or battery tenders come spring, both bikes run fine and I get 3 years out of a battery

 

[Jaycen]

I actually like the mice in my air box over the winter. The cat likes to watch them shoot out the pipes in the springtime.

That reminds me of a funny story. One year I started up my ECHO backback blower for the first time. It was really doggy, wouldn't spin up at all. All of a sudden .......*BAAAAANG!*.......That poor mouse and nest left the barrel of that blower at much faster than the poor little guy could handle.....oh, BTW, blower ran fine after that.......