Topic: Winter storage? How do all of us prepare and prep for winter?

[78 k550]

Winter is not till the snow comes...its only September!!

That's what i'm thinking.
there may only be a month here of no riding.
I don't winterize my bike just ride it.

Paul

[strynboen]

vhy not just thange the oil and filter before store...and just run the bike at new seson.(.then it rest with new oil hole vinter.).oil dont get bad for a winter in a engine..and then thange filter and oil  before"next "vinter rest..

[70CB750]

Here's a little paper I did for some customers a few years ago on the subject...YMMV and all that...

That's good, Shane, thanks for sharing.

I have a big role of Stretchtite in my shop and use it regularly to prevent mud daubers from filling every hole on things like clean carburetors with mud.    Just an idea that works for me.

[matt mattison]

my "winter" is three months long (December, january, february). So I park it inside on the center stand. If the roads are clear I am on the bike. I overinflate the tires to maximum the tube can handle. battery tender, petcock off. Usually I am chomping at the bit to ride during the winter months anyway so I'll start it at least twice during those months just to be near something running with two wheels. I don't bother with, stabil (I used to but it got expensive - now I just drain tanks if the bike is in deep storage). I have owned this bike for a long time and I haven't cleaned the carbs in 10 years. She runs sweet as a top and I usually check the sync in march but she hasn't needed a sync in a couple of years.

+100, I do the same thing and never had a problem. 3  month winter isn't long enough to pull plugs and spray WD 40 everywhere . I like to use a fuel stabilizer. Just start it once a month and warm it up. Then march/ April i do the 3000 mile tune up thing

[bjatwood]

I fill up my gas tank, add Stabil to it. Ride the bike home and put it on the centerstand. Change the oil and filter. Clean the drive chain and re lube it. I then start the bike up again and let it run for 3 to 5 minutes to warm up the new oil for a level check. About a minute after starting (after the oil change) I turn the petcock to off. And when the bike is hissing and popping and barely running (the 3 to 5 minutes) I shut it off. I feel the fuel bowls are very low at this point. I put a 1"x2" notched board in wedged in front of the frame and motor where the cross beam is at to lift the front wheel off the floor surface (no flat spots for me) Put a cover over the bike. And that is my K3's winterizing. I will and do go out 1 or 2 times a month to fire it up and hear the music of the HM341's for 5 minutes. My month long start up procedure is this...Gas on-Choke on-2 kicks of the kick starter with the key in the off position-key on- starter button VROOM everytime. Kind of like pumping an old carburatedcar to start. Remember having to pump are old pre-injected cars up guys Back in the Day?!?! LOL

[Johnie]

I have been changing the oil / fliter and using Stabil for a long time for winter storage. I have also been draining the carbs by removing the bowls to check for dirt and wiping them out. This will be my 2nd winter with the bikes in a heated shop so I was considering NOT draining the bowls and instead trying to ride a few miles each month in winter if the roads are clear. Our winters in WI usually go from December thru March. I leave the battery in the bikes on a Battery Tender. Had one battery last me 9 years, but I changed it out so I would not get stranded if she died. So I may NOT drain those bowls this year and see how it goes. In the past I have had the bowl gaskets dry out from no gas and leak a bit which is a reason I was thinking of not draining those bowls. Plus, if the bowls are full I can just hop on and ride if weather permits.

[grepper]

I do pretty much the same as everyone else.  Petcock off and drain the carbs.  Top off tank and a bit of Stabil.   Since the aluminum on all my bikes are raw and polished, I fog with wd40 to keep them from oxidizing.   Then cover and say goodnight.

[RAFster122s]

I understand the old Stabil has problems with the new ethanol fuel, but I am not sure if it is true or rumor...

[Johnie]

Not sure about the Stabil problem with ethanol fuel, but I do not run ethanol fuel in any of my bikes. It causes more problems than just with Stabil. There was a number of posts about it.

[750K]

Stabil makes a version for ethanol blends, I see it at the auto parts store and in the rv section at Walmart. It's green in color vs. the old red one, can't comment on what is like to use as I've still got a bit of the old one left and don't use an ethanol blend of gas unless I can't find a shell or a cheveron station.

[David B]

The stabil to use, at least for those of us stuck with ethanol gas, is either dark green or black. The blackish stuff is their marine version and is formulated for use with ethanol. The red version does NOT work to prevent ethanol issues. I've heard this from several sources including a mechanic at a local dealer who put on a little winterizing seminar.

[DH]

i just drive in ...and park it

me too.........

[sammermpc]

I'm thinking of getting a shed or something to keep it outside -- I'll try and ride a bit on my CB500 over the winter, but because I don't commute with it, I don't think I'll be giving it regular rides (I do ride my bicycle through the winter ;0).

Anyhow -- I'd guess a big reason to keep your ride inside during the winter are the thermal issues that come with winter -- freezing, unfreezing, etc. Is keeping it in an unheated shed not much better than keeping it under a regular ol' cover?

[Wobbly]

Don't stop riding...

+1
The winter is my favorite time to drive the Alps. The morons are gone, and the passes all mine. The mountains never look better. Preparing for winter? Get a new snow brush?

[Deltarider]

I must admit: fabulous riding in the Landstuhl area but in winter... I guess I'm one of the morons.

[andy750]

Bike prep for winter:

1. Install heated grips - switch above the airbox



2. Install Heat-troller for heated gear - located below the airbox



Heated gear leads



3. Phone charger or batter tender lead



4. Install 12-v mount for GPS



5. 106 Db horn for people who dont see you



6. Attach fairing and hand guards



Upgrade your stock Alternator with Anders super-charged alternator to handle all this .

Ready for winter! 

cheers
Andy

[tlbranth]

Don't stop riding...

That's it. I have 4 bikes and I just ride one of them when there's a break in the funk.