winter storage

robert mcvey · 12-15-2007, 5:35 AM

i have put my bike to bed for the winter , I have taken the battery out and sprayed the bike with wd40 is there any other advice you could give

pmlavigne · 12-15-2007, 6:14 AM

Store the bike off the ground, front and rear, on stands. Make sure the coolant can handle the lowest temperature for your area (as I write this it is -15 C). Fill the fuel tank to the very brim so that most of the air space is eliminated and add stabilizer to the fuel. I stuff a rag in the muffler so the mouse can't set up shop in there over winter. You might even stuff the air intake for the same reason. And use a battery tender on your battery all winter to maintain the charge. Pray for an early spring.

robert mcvey · 12-15-2007, 7:55 AM

Thanks very much sounds like very good advice i will sort those things out. The winters here are not quite as bad as yours it is about +4 here at the moment . the winters here are a long drawn out affair BORING with the bike parked up.

Red Rider · 12-15-2007, 9:03 AM

If nothing else, definitely change the oil (and filter depending on age). Clean and lube the chain, check tire pressures, and wash and wax if desired...

HondaGalToo · 12-15-2007, 9:30 AM

...and add Stabil to the gas and run it for about 5 mins.

08cbr600rr · 12-24-2007, 11:09 PM

what kinds of stand would you recommend? Does it put the whole bike in the air? Do you recommend cranking and running the bike often or is idling bad for the bike? All tips are appreciated, i Just purchased my first bike and need all the good advice I can get!

lanbrown · 12-24-2007, 11:12 PM

I like these stands:
Pit Bull Motorcycle Stands-Motorcycle Accessories

Don't run the bike, all you do is is more harm than good.

Doomwitha929 · 12-25-2007, 12:40 AM

Running the bike or a car for that matter is OK IF you can do it for long enough to get to operating temp and be there for a while. If not all you do is cause more water to condensate in the oil/engine etc. If properly winterized as covered above you do not need to run it. Bike batterys SUCK. Takes almost nothing to kill one and sitting for a long time and being run a lil every once in a while should kill it right nice. take it out and put it on a tender.
If you cannot put the bike off the ground raise the pressure in the tires some to keep them from flat spotting. Better yet give me your bike and buy a new one come spring.

robert mcvey · 12-25-2007, 6:43 AM

can u give me your adress so i can post u my bike

Doomwitha929 · 12-25-2007, 5:01 PM

LOL I'll PM it to ya. Shipping is gonna be a killer!

robert mcvey · 12-26-2007, 10:17 AM

it is no problem ,i have got loads of cash i was thinking of giving away a few grand as well

08cbr600rr · 12-26-2007, 9:45 PM

I appreciate all the information. Do I really need to put the bike on a stand. Here in N.C we, out wintere are mild and some days are warm enought to ride. If I actually rode the bike at least twice a month, would I have to put it on a stand or charge the battery? What about maintenance free batterys? Thanks everyone!

Twincam · 12-27-2007, 2:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doomwitha929

LOL I'll PM it to ya. Shipping is gonna be a killer!

How many bikes have you got now? Ive seen a lot of your posts asking for riders bikes..

Bikes dont NEED to be put on a stand, but its better if you do. I dont have enough stands for all of my bikes, so ive laid left over carpet in my garage, proped as many bikes as i can on stands, filled the tanks with the stablizer (have to run it for a bit to get the stabilizer in the system) and then fuel, covered the exhaust tips, filled air pressures in the tyres, removed the batteries and taken them in doors... Every so oftern i will connect on another battery for charging and remove the "topped" up one.(i use an Optimate SP3)

Basically you cant do much more, unless you want to play with you bikes...

08cbr600rr · 12-30-2007, 11:26 PM

Cool, I appreciate all the help with my questions.

FB1000inPA · 02-01-2008, 10:04 AM

I really don't do that much to winterize. I wash my baby, add stabilizer, connect the trickle charger, park it in the garage corner and put two moving blankets over it. Never had a problem.

HondaGalToo · 02-01-2008, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FB1000inPA

I really don't do that much to winterize. I wash my baby, add stabilizer, connect the trickle charger, park it in the garage corner and put two moving blankets over it. Never had a problem.

That's adequate. The only addition I'd suggest is changing the oil prior to storage. Not good to store old oil with it's acidic break-down byproducts. I change it prior to storage, and use that oil come Springtime.

FB1000inPA · 02-01-2008, 10:38 AM

I am using syntec oil and found during research that it holds up better than regular oil including storage.

HondaGalToo · 02-01-2008, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FB1000inPA

I am using syntec oil and found during research that it holds up better than regular oil including storage.

Good to know. I'm kinda old-school!

FB1000inPA · 02-01-2008, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HondaGalToo

Good to know. I'm kinda old-school!

Nah, just like good wine.