winter ?

[xaeniac]

I know this post is a bit early, but I was wondering what does one do when the winter time comes around with their GS500.  Do you start it every week?  If it's too cold to ride?  Can you explain everything one should do with a motorcycle that will not be ridden much in the winter.  I am a n00b and must be prepared for when winter rolls around.  I tried searching and did not find much.

[perfdrug]

it says in your manual. i haven't read my manual yet, but i'm going back to school next weekend so i'm going to drain the gas, unplug the battery, and clean the bike up really well.

[Edsel]

[The Buddha]

I actually prefer to have carbs full of gas... The O rings dry up and leak (much more common on the damn CVK Keikeins that my kawi's use), every month I put it in prime... and tank is full, and we could use stabil... and of course drain the tank in spring... Oil change after the last ride too... I aso douse many of the rubber parts intermittently in winter - every month or so... with silicone spray. On my vulcan especially... cos no matter what... I didn't want to get into its carbs.
Cool.
Srinath.

[tdan553527]

Just bundle up and ride her.

[dsmirnov83]

I'm with ^
I did it last winter, and it was great. A skirted windshield and a winter "spartin" suit and I get to ride all year round (for around $100) When it got to the 20F I'd take a couple of days off until it got warmer. One thing though. If you want that thing to start, remove the battery when not riding around. (I put mine in my closet)

[noodle]

I ride mine through winter too! Since I have no other form of transport - I just don't go as far...

[Rema1000]

Wipe-down the fork tubes with oil a few times over winter.  You may also want to bring the bike down off the stand and bounce the suspension to do the same for the shock.

I would recommend treating the fuel with sta-bil;  parking the bike with the wheels up; changing oil at the start and end of winter;  changing the break fluid every year; and cleaning the chain after every ride.

[Caravan]

...Winter?!  :lol:  We ride!  The rest of the year we ride, sweat and get deluged with rain.  Florida, as strange as it may seem, is good for a few things.



Gene

[Roadstergal]

Winter here just means a little more rain.  People get freaked out when it gets below 40F.

[manofthefield]

I'd love to ride all winter.  Anybody know where to buy snow tires in 110/70-17 and 130/70-17?

[noodle]

Winter here means wet and windy, despite christmas cards having nice snow scenes on them.... If it does snow the country grinds to a halt!

p.s. I don't ride in ice and snow

[MarkusN]

I'd love to ride all winter.  Anybody know where to buy snow tires in 110/70-17 and 130/70-17?

Probably better get a n XT bike for that. The GS isn't exactly fun to ride when it's slippery. I ride all winter, but when forecasts predict ice and snow I walk.

[Skim]

Someone lock this thread!  i hate winter!!!  (to be exact: Canadian winter)

anyways, i was thinking of keeping the bike in a heated garage.  If this is the case,  what winter prep-work should I do?  Can i just leave it as is with normal maintenance work?  and how many times a month would I need to start the bike in the garage?

[frankieG]

in canada we store the bike in beer then when spring comes....oh say about august, we jump in drink all the beer and voila ready to go eh!

[JohnNS]

You just HAD to go and say the W-word didn't you!  

Some great info so far. Only thing I'd add is to clean your bike VERY thoroughly, then go over everything with a fine-toothed comb. Look for loose fasteners, loose connections/cables, look for cracks in things...and just check everything for wear and tear.

Winter is a great time to work on things that need doing, and giving your bike a thorough inspection at the start of storage will give you a good idea of exactly what needs to be done. It'll also give you lots of time to get it done (and come up with the money if needed).

Now....back to denying the fact that everything will be buried in snow in 4 months...  

[proudlom]

Yeah! I'd love to ride my bike when winter comes too! I'm new at this so can someone tell me the best way to start my bike when it reaches -30C (-22F).  And can someone give me tips on how to keep my helmet shield from icing up too much... Oh, and is it a bad idea to ride when the snow is deep enough that it's touching the chain?

[manofthefield]

Thanks proudlom, I was kidding, well for the most part.  I too would have the problem of snow up to the chain.  Other than that you could rejet rich and wear a snowmobile suit and helmet.  I don't think it would be too bad once we really get into winter and we get dry, packed snow on the roads for two monthes straight.  Plus once the snow completely takes over the roads they stop using salt, as it would only ice things up.  I can see it now...  

[proudlom]

Hahah, that's be great  :lol:

[noodle]

Or you could move somewhere with a sensible climate