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Thread: Long-term/Winter Storage tips

  1. #1
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    Long-term/Winter Storage tips

    Found this in one of the regional forums & thought it deserved a place here (click "Expand" or "View Post" for the details):
    Quote Originally Posted by Bashed";p="154095
    Just wanted to help some people out to remind them if you are not going to ride much or at all for the winter please take care of your bike:

    1)Battery Hook up to a battery tender

    2)New oil & filter

    3)Clean airfilter

    4)Drain Carbs or Throttle bodies & or add fuel

    stablizer to a full tank

    5)Clean bike

    6)Put up on stands

    7)Air up tires

    Check coolant

    If you are going to ride once in a while,start your
    bike at least every two weeks and let it get all the
    way up to operating temperature,IE: 180-190F.
    You should still hook up to a Tender more so if
    your storage is not heated.

    If anybody has anything else relevant to add feel
    free to do so.

    If anybody needs help please PM me.

    Late Bash

  2. #2
    Account Deactivated at users request metalnicx's Avatar
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    Re: Long-term/Winter Storage tips

    Why is it necessary to put the bike on a stand?

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    Quote Originally Posted by metalnicx";p="160924
    Why is it necessary to put the bike on a stand?
    I think it because, the tires would get flat spots if they are not moved for a long time, so a stand is needed
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    Does it matter much if my bike has a full or close to full tank of gas? I haven't used Stabil or anything like that before. Do you need to use a certain amount for the amount of gas in your tank, etc?

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    Quote Originally Posted by Tronner";p="165476
    Does it matter much if my bike has a full or close to full tank of gas? I haven't used Stabil or anything like that before. Do you need to use a certain amount for the amount of gas in your tank, etc?
    Having a full tank of gas helps to prevent condensation from building up which can cause rusting. Although Stabil helps prevent this too. On the bottle it will tell you much you need to add to your tank.
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    Re: Long-term/Winter Storage tips

    So I'm a bad winter bike owner. I haven't done any of that nor have I even started it since Nov.
    I'm pretty sure it won't start. What should I do, jump it with a car battery (out of the car)?
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    Take it out and charge it with a battery tender. I probably wouldn't recommend jumping it off of a car though. (although it can be done)
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    I'm not sure how valid this is, but I heard that if you are going to jump it from a car, make sure the car IS NOT running when you do so.

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    now with bi-turbo goodness Site Admin Mel's Avatar
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    Re: Long-term/Winter Storage tips

    So mine has been sitting pretty much since I broke my foot back in OCtober (I know I took it for one ride with a broken foot, but I think that was early November). ANyways, I am a horrible gixxer mommy, I did not to anything to it other than the stand, battery tender and tuck it in with the blankies. Went to start it up today....started without killing the battery! A little crabby at being left alone in the corner for so long, but as soon as I started twisting on the throttle......
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    Re: Long-term/Winter Storage tips

    Winter Storage... what a depressing subject.

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    Senior Member Cleveland's Avatar
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    Re: Long-term/Winter Storage tips

    Quote Originally Posted by olso9";p="231612
    Winter Storage... what a depressing subject.

    It's still August!!
    Cleveland




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    Re: Long-term/Winter Storage tips

    CAn anyone tell me where to get a good battery tender?

    Scott
    2003 600rr

  13. #13
    now with bi-turbo goodness Site Admin Mel's Avatar
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    I am sure all the usual places (most shops) carry them, I personally bought the Battery Tender Jr. up at TFOG like 2 years ago and they gave me a good deal on it. Might hit them up (just look in site sponsers for their info).
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    Quote Originally Posted by Guest";p="170812
    I'm not sure how valid this is, but I heard that if you are going to jump it from a car, make sure the car IS NOT running when you do so.
    I got about 3 jumps from a car before i fried the battery. First jump i think is what did it in, after that the second time i had to jump it because unlike the first time, the bike didn't get any juice at all. I got it started, rode it from about 5 blocks to the gas station. after i filled up, nada, wouldn't turn over or anything. The last jump i got was later that day, after riding around it died on me in Broomfield and i had to call GDRider to come out and jump it for me. (maybe its just not good to jump it 3 times in one day )

    After that it was toasted, done, finito. Kept it on a battery charger for a day, tried it, nothing, a couple more days, nothing. found out i had blown/fried a fuse and the battery was well beyond the afterlife.

    So, this winter i'll be sure to fill up the tank, get her on stands, and wrap her up nice, tight and snug
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    Re: Long-term/Winter Storage tips

    Sorry, I'm on break and don't have enough time to read the attached forum article so if any of this is redundant, sorry.

    I've had no problems what-so-ever with storing my bike for several months in MN by doing the following:

    1. Move the bike every couple weeks if you don't have stands so that you use different contact patches on the tires and don't get flat spots.

    2. Make sure you have a full tank of gas and fuel stabilizers help to keep the carbs from varnishing, as stated above. If you do use fuel stabilizer be sure to run the engine for a while or go for a quick ride to get the stabilized fuel into the float bowls so its not just in the tank. And if you have a manual fuel shut off valve turn the fuel off so that if your bike develops a fuel line/pump leak it won't get on the floor. Yes, fuel pumps can leak out the casing I've seen it several times from storage on other people's bikes from the diaphram going bad.

    3. Start the bike at LEAST once a month in order to move fuel around in the carbs and help prevent varnishing.

    4. Top off your blinker fluid, lol

    5. And last but not least: find a winter sport like snowmobiling and/or snowboarding to take your mind off riding.

    L8ter.

  16. #16
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    Re: Long-term/Winter Storage tips

    Dont forget to trickle charge the battery once a month.

  17. #17

    Re: Long-term/Winter Storage tips

    Best way to store your bike over the winter is to put it in the garage when it snows, then ride it when the roads are clear. Even when the weather's bad, mine hasn't sat for more than two weeks.

  18. #18
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    Re: Long-term/Winter Storage tips

    the reason for stands is the temperature of the concrete floor in the winter, prolonged contact with cold surfaces tend to make the rubber hard if you dont have stands get a cheapo rug or chunk of carpet to park your bike on
    If your gonna be dumb you gotta be tough


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    Re: Long-term/Winter Storage tips

    Excellent post and thanks for the info. I am new to sport bikes but own snowmobiles so I was going to store mine away much like I do my sleds. Tell me if I am missing something
    Put the bike on carpet
    Fog the carbs
    Sta-bilt in the tank and carbs
    Air up the tires
    Lube up the zyotes (can not spell but know they are grease nipples)
    Wash/Wax really well
    Cover

    Then in spring I will do the full service with the filters/plugs/fluids

  20. #20
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    Re: Long-term/Winter Storage tips

    Or better yet, put in a full tank of gas, park on carpet and then wait for a sunny day. Really I rode almost 200 days last year, many of them in the dead of winter. One advantage to living in denver!

    Scott

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    Re: Long-term/Winter Storage tips

    Real quick here is what I do.

    Empty about all the gas. Add some stable, and some BG44 (I think that's what it's called) and then I run it for a bit. Then I take care of the chain. Then I put it on the stands. THE BIG THING, run it every month either just in garage or better yet on the street (addding a little new gas when necessary).

  22. #22
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    Re: Long-term/Winter Storage tips

    Quote Originally Posted by Cleveland View Post
    It's still August!!
    not anymore.

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    Re: Long-term/Winter Storage tips

    Quote Originally Posted by Anonymous View Post
    Found this in one of the regional forums & thought it deserved a place here (click "Expand" or "View Post" for the details):
    The most depressing Zombie post on this site.

    Here's an idea. Get out and ride year 'round!!! That's possible here.
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  24. #24
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    Re: Long-term/Winter Storage tips

    I am gonna be too busy snowboarding to ride. But then again I want to turn it into a track bike this winter anyway.

    What is the benefit of changing the oil before you store it? Why not after?

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