What if I don't winterize it...
- Thread starter keithaba
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sks700
Well-known member
I'm in central Minnesota and I ride mine year-round. I rarely goes for more than a couple of weeks without at least a short ride. Get some heated gear (I have Gerbings) and just ride it. I work 3rd shift and ride home at 6:30 AM. One morning last week it was in the low teens on my way home, but I was toasty warm. Cold weather riding takes some extra care, but is well worth it in my opinion.
Lee
Lee
Inlaw1
Well-known member
Skippy
Well-known member
I rest my case, from the knumb nuts that think it has a "heat" problem, to the "on of throttle glitch" to the "too short mirrors", to the "weak suspension" to the "hard seat" to the "stiff throttle".... to the what the hell ever, there are too many turds on here with analysis paralysis that it is worse than a freaking a soap opera.Hey Skippy,
Which part of winterizing: oil changing, gas stabization, or battery charge maintenance is "too freaking anal"?
Inquiring minds like to know. A little technical explanation why any one of these steps is "too freaking anal" is required to help us northern, snow bound FJR riders understand your point of view...
otherwise, your post is just a bunch of hoo-hah... B)
Also, how do you know my FJR is not my trophy wife?
Absorb the info, discern the BS, mine included if you wish and get out and ride the darn things as they were intended. If it's too cold to ride where you live, move, if you can't ride in the rain sleet or snow, get a trike or a car.
I grew up in Banff, Scotland, my only form of transport that I could afford was a motorcycle, and irregardless of the weather, if I wanted a paycheck, I went to work and clocked in, rain sleet or snow, and that included riding with both feet on the ground so I didn't tip over while changing lanes, ya bunch of wussies
And your right, I couldn't give a shit about this mechanical piece of equipment, it was designed to outlive and survive the abuse from cavemen like me/
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ionbeam
2 FUN
:blink: Let me guess...you ride alone a lot, eh?
RadioHowie
I Miss Beemerdons!
Do you guys bring "her" breakfast in bed and do her nails for her?
Ya bunch of cycle-whipped mofos.
:****:
Ya bunch of cycle-whipped mofos.
:****:
cota95
RI Beach Pop
FJRski
Well-known member
Where are the Myth Busters when you need them?
I wonder how much fact and how much fiction is behind the winterizing thing? Motorcycle batteries have small plate size, and that has more to do with how long they last than weather or not they whether it out. I've never winterized anything yet (mostly because it stops me riding) and never had a problem. You do need to run the bike every few weeks till it gets good and hot. Moisture in oil causes corrosion. But gas doesn't go bad that fast. i think you will be fine if you ride it once every 2 weeks for 30 miles. Heck, mine sits longer than that during the summer sometimes when I'm away, and I'm sure that is actually harder on it (and me). Now my friends who put their bikes up in September and don't get them out till April need to winterize, of course, their low-milage Harleys will hold their value a lot longer than my FJR, but hey, it's a bike, it was meant to be ridden (in all kinds of weather), and sit outside on the porch when it isn't. [[My 3rd visit to this post & I just had to get it out now I feel better.]
I wonder how much fact and how much fiction is behind the winterizing thing? Motorcycle batteries have small plate size, and that has more to do with how long they last than weather or not they whether it out. I've never winterized anything yet (mostly because it stops me riding) and never had a problem. You do need to run the bike every few weeks till it gets good and hot. Moisture in oil causes corrosion. But gas doesn't go bad that fast. i think you will be fine if you ride it once every 2 weeks for 30 miles. Heck, mine sits longer than that during the summer sometimes when I'm away, and I'm sure that is actually harder on it (and me). Now my friends who put their bikes up in September and don't get them out till April need to winterize, of course, their low-milage Harleys will hold their value a lot longer than my FJR, but hey, it's a bike, it was meant to be ridden (in all kinds of weather), and sit outside on the porch when it isn't. [[My 3rd visit to this post & I just had to get it out now I feel better.]
keithaba
Well-known member
I agree. I wish there would be some difinitive research on this topic. It is a difficult one to study given that you would need a large number of bikes to attribute for individual differences, especially differences in weather, riding conditions, and how hard the bikes were ridden.
I think the conclusion would be "It's not terrible for the engine so long as you use gas stabalizer, however, there is higher risk for corrosion issues if you do not change the fluids." By the way I'm a psychologist, not a mechanic, so I don't really know... and I'm not about to ask the bike how it feels...
Maybe I should repost this in the Technical Discussion part of the forum to get some mechanics to reply. Every mechanic I've ever spoken to has said to winterize if your not gonna ride.
v65
ouch
There will be no definitive research, as the technology changes too much. Older motorcycle batteries could fail if you looked at them cross-eyed. The last gel battery I put in took a lot more abuse. To quantify the effects of not changing oil would take a LONG term study, and todays oils are better at handling combustion byproducts than older oils were, so the study would have to be repeated uh repeatedly. Then throw in ceramic cylinder liners, etc.
Has it occured to anyone that there is some difference in the way you approach maintenance based on how long you plan to own the bike? If you only plan on owning it for a couple of years then you are inlikely to notice any damage to the bike with poor maintenance. For some that will mean why bother. Which is directly related to this post, why did I bother? Nobody's opinion is getting changed here, go ride your bike if you can, your significant other if you can't.
Has it occured to anyone that there is some difference in the way you approach maintenance based on how long you plan to own the bike? If you only plan on owning it for a couple of years then you are inlikely to notice any damage to the bike with poor maintenance. For some that will mean why bother. Which is directly related to this post, why did I bother? Nobody's opinion is getting changed here, go ride your bike if you can, your significant other if you can't.
FJRMGM
FJRMGM
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Noting names of you guys who don't think proper preventative maintenance is worthwhile and won't ever purchase a motorcycle or anything else from you.
charismaticmegafauna
Well-known member
Now you've done it! Brought-up the term "preventive maintenance". If you think "winterizing" is a hard-sell? It's nothing compared to "preventive maintenance" -- very few are interested in adhering to the strict guidelines stipulated by some manufacturers. Periodically change the brake fluid, for instance? Many say, "If it ain't broke, don't mess with it." Auto companies have been pressed by consumers to go 100K miles with little-or-no maintenance. Preventive maintenance (in America) is definitely, imo, a hard-sell.
I asked PussyKat yesterday, and she said "get your candy ass on me and ride.....so I did. Through torential rains for 75 miles to work, then home in regular rain but big gusts of wind. She looked satisfied when I garaged her. And she got me home safe through bad weather and lots of cagers with shocked looks
I even put a portable heater on low setting near her so she didn't get cold.
Am I going overboard?
charismaticmegafauna
Well-known member
Dear Shiny,Anthropomorphism is, in itself, not usually harmful (altho viewed by some as a little strange). But, if the inanimate object keeps answering back you may want to consider seeking professional help.
Sincerely,
A.L.
Thanks for the advice. Actually my job is almost entirely psychopharmacological management of people with problems....gotta love those drugs.
As for anthropomorphism, I agree it is usually harmless :friends: -- But who wants to know?! :man_in_love: :detective2: :jester:
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