Winterization Tips

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I don't want to talk about this..la,la.la. I didn't get enough riding in this summer! ;)

 
I don't want to talk about this..la,la.la. I didn't get enough riding in this summer! ;)
Hey, I just came in from a ride.. 5C (about 40F) and strong north wind/overcast.

I *LOVE* my heated jacket liner and my lined mesh pants! I actually had to shut the liner off because I was baking. Pfft.. we've got another 30 or 40 days at least. With the right gear. Now I'm gonna finish my lunch, then head back out and see how many cagers I can make point at the crazy assed 'frozen' biker.

(Oh, I did see one other bike out. Looked like an HD, beanie, chaps genuine HD unlined leather jacket with a vest OVERTOP of it - the guy looked like an HDsicle. If it were only cold enough to freeze the snot congealing in his moustache, I woulda taken a pic)

 
I can't believe you guys are already having to think about parking your bikes for the winter. It's just now getting COOL enough in Texas to enjoy the ride.

 
Even with a long, cold spring, and cool, wet summer, I managed to get 10,000 miles done - 9,000 on the Feej and 1,000+ on the DL 1000 V-Strom (brother-in-law added 2,500 on the Strom). Pretty satisfying numbers for a Big Sky boy. And we may yet do a late-season southwest tour: trailer to Southern UT in late Oct./early Nov., then ride New Mexico, AZ and maybe a little California. Another 2,000 mile tour would be nice before finally shutting things down for the year.

 
Winterizing? It's got antifreeze in it, ain't that enough? :cold:

Damn, over 20 winters with bikes in NJ and all I've ever done is put them on the center stand.

They always seem to start right up in the spring too. :exhappysmiley:

Maybe I'm doing something wrong?

 
OldRyder, I like you!

Ship your bike to my sun shiny ranch.

I'll keep it exercised for you, and even let you ride it if you want to fly out to visit her..

I'd do that for you.. :lol:

Great advice, Thanks..

 
Exellent stuff oldryder. Especially the steel wool idea.

Now this winter thing.......whatzat all about?

Don't get it either. Seems to be the NOW topic on a lot of boards. I think we in Cali should offer a free service to our brother riders that if they pay to have the bike sent out here and returned to them, that we will ride and store the bikes. This way they stay running all yr round which we know is much, much better for the machines in the long run.

Benefits to them:

They don't have to perform this "winterize" ritual

Fluids in the bike continue to be run thus keeping all seals lubed

No dead battery to contend with in the Spring

No battery tender required

They won't have to look at their machine in the corner getting dusty and dirty becuase it has been neglected for the last 6 months thus this will remove the guilt they should be feeling for allowing such a fine machine to do nothing but sit and age.

The list could go on and on.

Just a free service I am willing to provide.

 
I have room in my garage for several FJR's. I will gladly keep them in running condition for you, ready for you to ride when you thaw out. Don't send your bikes to California, hell they're broke. They might sell your bikes and you'll never see them again. We in Texas have money in the bank. Now who should you trust?

 
It's about that time of year here in the waaay north....
I have about a dozen bikes I keep in unheated storage every year in MN. I have found the following procedures to give me troublefree start-ups come spring.

1. Run the tank near empty and then fill with non-oxygenated (no alcohol) fuel. Immediately add stabil and run for a few minutes to get the treated fuel all the way thru the fuel system. (I have never had a spring fuel problem using this approach. I have had problems from draining it.)

...
Presumably you have at least 1 carb'd bike. I've found it helpful when running after adding fuel stabilizer, run it for a minute or two in "reserve" too. Eliminates problems of clogging the petcock and fuel lines with gunk.

 
This sucks. I usually ride the Feej at least weekly through the winters here. Now because of lack of funds for much needed extensive maintenance, I need to store the FJR for a few months. Looking at a thread like this: Sucks Sucks Sucks.

Yes, it [SIZE=18pt]SUCKS[/SIZE]

:angry2:

 
I hate this time of year, too.
64 degrees at sunrise this morning. 92 degrees at 3pm.

Damn Mother Nature!
If I feel your finger in my eye socket again over this winter ********, I will stud the FJR's tires, ride to Floriduh, knock on every door 'til I find you, and kick your ass!

-Joe

(PUI)

 
I hate this time of year, too.
64 degrees at sunrise this morning. 92 degrees at 3pm.

Damn Mother Nature!

Bite me Howie. :p I don't think it hit 64 here...

:jester:
In the words of Rodney King: Can't we all just get along! Man RadioHowie, they don't know how we're suffering in our moto endeavors where we both live. When Son Seth and I rode to Superior for menudo at lunch today, we ran out of sunscreen!!

 
[in the words of Rodney King: Can't we all just get along! Man RadioHowie, they don't know how we're suffering in our moto endeavors where we both live. When Son Seth and I rode to Superior for menudo at lunch today, we ran out of sunscreen!!
Don, I share your pain, but I wouldn't drive anywhere for menudo to save my life!

:puke:

 
I hate this time of year, too.
64 degrees at sunrise this morning. 92 degrees at 3pm.

Damn Mother Nature!

Bite me Howie. :p I don't think it hit 64 here...

:jester:
In the words of Rodney King: Can't we all just get along! Man RadioHowie, they don't know how we're suffering in our moto endeavors where we both live. When Son Seth and I rode to Superior for menudo at lunch today, we ran out of sunscreen!!

:finger: :finger: :finger:

:D

 
Oldryder,

An excellent winterization outline only I'm a little confused about the chain and the side stand. If it is a "universal" guide then the part about the chain makes sense, but I would suggest getting as much weight off of the tires as possible. If the bike in question doesn't have a center stand then blocks under the frame/engine and swingarm should be considered.

OBD

 
Thanks for the good tips.

I'm thinking my winterization plan is to try to bring the FJR inside the the house. Don't have a garage, only a carport. Don't have a table in the dining room so the FJR would fit in there nicely. Don't be thinking I'm a neanderthal who eats all my meals by the computer or on the recliner, because I only do that 50% of the time. I do have a counter top and stools for civilized dining. With the FJR inside I could do some work on it over the winter, just have to figure out how to maneuver it through the front door or if I trust that the rear deck and ramp is robust enough to bring it in via the sliders.

 
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