[Gas Man]

I know it's nothing we like to talk about but I need to hear some more techincal posting. Just getting a bit Off Topic'ed out!

Let's hear what you do to put your bike to sleep for the long winter...

I know that there is alot of website links out there with crazy amounts of things to do for winterizing your MC! I also know alot of people that don't do anything! Park it, and just recharge the battery in the spring!

I like to go somewhere in the middle of all that craziness!

I usually only pull the battery, stabil the gas, wash/wax, oil change, put 'er up on stands and that's it. This year I went a few steps farther...

1. Rode to gas station, put in stabil, filled it WAY up!
2. Rode it home
3. Changed the oil & filter, while motor was hot (always the best time to change oil on any motor)!!!!!
4. Re-start with petcock off
5. Let run till it started to chug pretty good (may foul out spark plugs a bit but they get changed every spring anyway)
6. Actually pulled the spark plugs out and put a few drops of oil down the cylinder
7. Chain lube
8. Wash & Wax
9. On the front and rear stand
10. Nice n tight bike cover
Night Night!!

In all actual reality, that is my norm, besides the oil drops.....I have at times, not pulled my battery out (knowing it was junk and replacing it in the spring). I have also, parked it before with slightly used oil in it (like 1 month old & barely any riding)...

Let's hear it guys/gals...

 

[ShanMan14]

Winterize? What's that? I ride year-round. :

 

[Need4Speed]

we need to preface this thread with, all you year-round riders need not post in here..cuz you suck !! :wink: :lol:

Ive been putting it off, but it'll be done by the end of december. All Im doing is pulling the battery, putting her on the center stand, and a chalk under the front (since I dont have "official front n rear stands", change the oil/filter, full tank of 94 octane & stabil, lube the chain, wash n wax, and most likely pull the plugs like everyother year, but because they are brand new, as in just put them in about 2 months ago, I might just leave them in..havent decided yet.

 

[GSXR1000DJ]

Winterize? What's that? I ride year-round. :

You would have to say that.

Just change oil/filter. Will filler her up and add stabil. Will not be pulling battery since I am going to be starting her twice a week to let her know that I have not forgotten her and miss her. Looking into a set of stands as well. Wash and wax.

 

[SpeedWerks.com]

Do you guys keep your bikes outside during the winter or inside a garage, etc.? If your bike is inside...don't bother taking the battery out. Get a battery tender. It's about 25 bucks for the smallest one and it's what we recommend to our customers. All of our street bikes get hooked up to one in the winter. Let's put it this way, we recommend them so highly, I did a product spotlight for them on our site.

http://www.speedwerks.com/spotlight/m92

Just a thought for ya'.

 

[GSXR1000DJ]

She will also be in a garage as well. :dthumb:

 

[Gas Man]

Oh, yeah I use a small battery tender on my bike all year around. I highly recomend one!!!

N4S, chalk the front?????

Shan...you suck... :sorry:

Stands, are the best! Once you get a set, you'll never want to be with out them!

 

[Big Kahuna]

I just but on warmer clothes.

 

[GSXR1000DJ]

I just but on warmer clothes.

LOL you would out there in Cali.

 

[Need4Speed]

Oh, yeah I use a small battery tender on my bike all year around. I highly recomend one!!!

N4S, chalk the front?????

Shan...you suck... :sorry:

Stands, are the best! Once you get a set, you'll never want to be with out them!

Since I have a center stand, that keeps the rear tire off the ground, but the front rests on the cold ground all year long, so I put a small block of wood under the front tire or I'll bunch up a nice thick towel, to keep the front wheel off the cold cement..and then I'll rotate it regularly to keep ti from cupping. quite resourceful if u ask me. !

 

[bumblebee]

Winterize? What's that? I ride year-round. :

Me TOO!!

I zip the goretex liner into my riding jacket and I wear my full leather gloves instead of 1/2 fingers

 

[ShanMan14]

Okay, okay! While I don't completely stop riding, I do slow down.... a lot. I actually add gas stabilizer (just bought some today). I could go a few weeks between rides, so I need to make sure the fuel isn't all gummy.

I guess that's what we call Alabama winterizing.

 

[larryg]

Will not be pulling battery since I am going to be starting her twice a week to let her know that I have not forgotten her and miss her.

Don't do that unless you are going to be able to ride it long enough to get up to full operating temperature. By just starting it and letting it run for a few minutes, you get condensation and other contaminants in the oil. The bike needs to be ridden so it is good and hot to burn these off.

It really is better to put it away properly and leave it until you are ready to ride again.

Larry



BTW - I think N4S meant to use "chock" instead of "chalk"

 

[Need4Speed]

ur right larry..sorry bout that typo...

plus, starting it up every now and then would also drain down ur battery, and if done consistently thru out all the winter months, that could cause undue battery wear, correct ?

 

[Gas Man]

I've heard that before as well Larry, but wasn't going to say anything....

 

[GSXR1000DJ]

Will just store it and use battery tender over the winter. Thanks Larryg. :dthumb:

 

[larryg]

plus, starting it up every now and then would also drain down ur battery, and if done consistently thru out all the winter months, that could cause undue battery wear, correct ?

Actually, cycling the battery is healthy for it as long as it regains full charge each time. If he insisted on starting and idling the bike, it would probably still need a battery tender to help it recover fully between starts.

Larry

 

[Gas Man]

Battery Tenders ROCK!!!!

 

[Big Kahuna]

The battery won't charge unless the bike is above 3000 RPM. So if you're going to just idle your bike every now and then during the winter, you'll need a tender for sure. Trust me.

 

[Mudpuppy]

To winterize I usually drink mass quantities of tequila and talk alot of sh!t.. Oh you meant the bike.. Pull it into the garage, put in stabil and call it good.