[fshrmn76]

I finally took my bike off the road for the winter. I have some questions as to doing maintenance and cosmetic work during the cold months. My brother bought me a set of stands to keep the bike off the concrete. Is it safe or even recommended to do simple things like change the fluids, remove the fairings etc. while on the stands or should I leave it on the side stand like I have been doing all summer.

[phobiaphobe]

Is the garage heated?

If you do a search you'll find dozens of threads on this topic, but at a minimum I would recommend:

-putting it up on stands
-changing the oil
-taking the battery out (or hookoing up a trickle-charger)
-topping up the fuel tank and adding stabilizer
-put a cover over her

[Hammer]

Phobe,
I usually leave my old oil in the bike through the winter. I have read that over time the oil creates toxins and you do not want to run that oil through the motor when spring hits thinking you have good oil in it. I usually just leave the old oil in the bike through winter and put fresh in before my first track day. I just don't see the need in changing new oil again. I may be wrong but who knows.

[seamus]

-take it off the stands
-change the oil
-put the battery back in (or take it off the trickle-charger)
-top up the fuel tank
- throw on your cold weather gear
- ride every day there isn't snow on the ground

[Custom900]

Originally Posted by seamus

-take it off the stands
-change the oil
-put the battery back in (or take it off the trickle-charger)
-top up the fuel tank
- throw on your cold weather gear
- ride every day there isn't snow on the ground

That was my thought.

Winter prep for me means putting on a different jacket and a thicker set of gloves.

[NanoSfere]

And down here, there is no winter. Just like Custom, ride all year.

[HondaGalToo]

Originally Posted by Hammer

Phobe,
I usually leave my old oil in the bike through the winter. I have read that over time the oil creates toxins and you do not want to run that oil through the motor when spring hits thinking you have good oil in it. I usually just leave the old oil in the bike through winter and put fresh in before my first track day. I just don't see the need in changing new oil again. I may be wrong but who knows.

Nah, you're better off changing it before Winter storage, as you don't want all those acids and stuff sitting in there all Winter. I change mine prior to storage, and use that oil in the Spring. Unless it's stored for more than 6 months, changing the oil again in Spring isn't necessary. The reason for the second change is because the oil might accumulate moisture, but it's unlikely that'll happen in just a few months. That's the reason for using a battery tender and not just starting it up periodically to charge the battery without actually riding the bike. Just my two cents.

[gt702]

Originally Posted by HondaGalToo

Nah, you're better off changing it before Winter storage, as you don't want all those acids and stuff sitting in there all Winter. I change mine prior to storage, and use that oil in the Spring. Unless it's stored for more than 6 months, changing the oil again in Spring isn't necessary. The reason for the second change is because the oil might accumulate moisture, but it's unlikely that'll happen in just a few months. That's the reason for using a battery tender and not just starting it up periodically to charge the battery without actually riding the bike. Just my two cents.

mostly. You will get moisture build up even in just a few months if the temperature floats above and below freezing (or close to it). So for your first ride in the spring (or even if just running it) be sure to let it warm up to the point the thermostat opens and everything gets up to full operating temperature for at least 10 minutes. The water will evaporate off, and this will burn off any extra fuel that runs down the cylinder into the oil while trying to get the cold engine started.

Definitely change it before winter. The combustion by-products are corrosive and are in the oil. This is what you want out before the oil gets water and starts the reactions going

[fshrmn76]

thank you for all the replys, but i still am unsure if it is safe to do all of these things while the bike is on the stands or should i drop it down and do it on the side stand. sorry if it sounds like a dumb question i am new to this sort of thing.

[gt702]

Originally Posted by fshrmn76

thank you for all the replys, but i still am unsure if it is safe to do all of these things while the bike is on the stands or should i drop it down and do it on the side stand. sorry if it sounds like a dumb question i am new to this sort of thing.

Might depend on the stands. I do everything on the stands. You have to be careful losening and tightening bolts, but otherwise it works. I like to put the bike on the side stand for draining the oil because that makes the drain the low spot on my bike.

[Hammer]

I do all my maintaince on the stands as my bike does not have a side stand.

[JBODIE]

Originally Posted by Custom900

That was my thought.

Winter prep for me means putting on a different jacket and a thicker set of gloves.

My thoughts also.