Putting the bike away...

[coll0412]

Just getting ready to put the old GS away for the winter. Up here in Minnesota the snow may not come till November, but once it dips into the 40's it is just too cold to ride.  

Anyone have any suggestions for storing besides
- putting Stabil in the tank
-fogging oil in the cylinders
-changing the oill
-putting preload on rear spring to lowest setting
-putting the tires on wood

Thanks,
I am totally bummed because this riding season was short in Minnesota thanks to the cold temps and lots of rain.
Always next year though....

[Rema1000]

You're a stronger man than me, Coll!  I go nuts waiting for spring.  I find that with the right application of polyester, you can be pretty comfortable much colder than this.  I wear:
very thin balaclava from REI
fleece jacket under the riding jacket
long underwear
smartwool socks
women's glove liners under riding gloves

The limiting factor becomes ice on the road, and poor grip of tires.  Last winter, I found that there was at least one day with rideable streets in every month of the year (sometimes the riding days were more than 6 weeks apart, and the freeway was usually not worth the risk).

But, OK, to answer your question: the big thing is the battery; either take out, or put it on a battery tender, or both.  We also get mice and their food and droppings in the exhaust and airbox here; stuff both openings full with a couple of oily rags.  Try to park on concrete that isn't damp.  Lay some plastic down underneath the bike to keep moisture from rising and causing rust.  I like to put the bike up on centerstand, then put a car battery on the pillion, which balances the bike almost perfectly on the centerstand (taking all the weight off both wheels), then I slip a 1" board under each wheel.

[Blueknyt]

wood under the wheel, stored for months of winter? think i would setup blocks to keep both wheels off the ground so flat spots dont occur. oily rag in the orifaces goood, BATTERY OUT and on a tender or charger no more then 2 amps, change the oil also good.

no one here will the stones to put snow tires on the GS eh?
i ride my bike year round in FLA, even with coldsnaps down into 30's (damn humid cold is like a knife)

[coll0412]

What do do if you do not have a center stand...

The Previous Owner had removed it and I dont know what happened to it...

What do you recommend to do to get the wheels of the ground?


Maybe Kerry will have some pics

Thanks

[Blueknyt]

concrete blocks, or bricks work well. ive used jackstands under the swingarm and a block with wood ontop under the engine. alsong as noone sits on it or bumps it, it will be fine.

[Kerry]

What do do if you do not have a center stand...

The Previous Owner had removed it and I dont know what happened to it...

What do you recommend to do to get the wheels of the ground?


Maybe Kerry will have some pics

Thanks

Sorry - not this time!  

If you had a centerstand it would be a matter of a few 2x4's under the engine, but without one you'd almost have to go with an official bike stand.

Any DIY bike stands out there?  :dunno:

[scratch]

Blocks of wood under the ends of the swingarms and either the frame rails or engine block (avoid the oil filter cover, but you can use the 'lip' of the engine forward of that area). How do Harley owners block up their bikes? With lots of wood.

[geekonabike]

Don't you have room in your living room?

[sprint_9]

When I was looking to buy a Harley I looked into cheap stands, one guy had a big block of wood for his stand.  One side was flatter then the other so you could slide one side underneath the bike and then rotate it with a metal pipe inserted into it and raise the bike up with the taller side.  I tried finding that article and cant seem to find it.  I think it would be hard to do with the GS because it is so high up in the air as compared to a Harley.

[Ed_in_Az]

This thread highlights one of the things I love about Arizona, mild winters. I might go a week or two at a time without venturing out for a winter ride, but there is no need for winter storage.  :mrgreen: