Winterizing routines

[dmp221]

Most riders in northern climates are some 6-8 weeks away from the very sad day    that the bike will be winterized and put to sleep for the long hibernation til spring.  Here's my routine:

1. wash & wax bike
2. clean & lube any moving part I can reach
3. fill tank, add fuel stabilizer
4. pull battery, keep indoors (charge once a month)
5. lightly oiled rag stuffed into end of exhaust (blocks frost and mice)
6. cover, store bike in unheated garage (temps can go to -30F and even lower some nights up here)
7. wait for the first rideable spring day  

I don't do anything special with tires, and I don't pull the plugs & use oil in the receptacles.

So far this has worked for me..  
Anyone have any other tricks?

[JohnNS]

Just do what I do. Move into an apartment building with heated underground parking and spend the winter in denial by riding it in there.  

John

[Lars]

Change the oil before putting your bike away. Acids in old oil will attack the metals inside the engine.

I don't winterize the bike myself. I just ride on until the roads get slippery. If it freezes for a long time, I take the battery out to prevent freezing and draining of the battery.

[dmp221]

I guess I did not mention oil change, but of course, you're correct...that's a definite.

[vtlion]

can somebody go into a little more detail on charging the battery?

equipment needed?
Procedures?  

(probably in the manual, but I'm not sure exactly where mine is these days   )

[spotswood_suzuki]

There are several battery chargers on the market...I have the Battery Tender Jr.  It only cost about $35 and comes with instructions, but basically you attached it to your battery leads, plug it in and leave it.  It is made not to overcharge your battery, so it won't hurt to leave it on.  My battery was iffy at the end of last season.  I pulled it in for the winter, put it on the charger, and its been great all year...of course it hasn't been cold yet so we will see....

Wayne

[glenn9171]

When you put in the fuel stabilizer, be sure to allow it to get into the carbs before shutting everything down for the season.

[Jeremichi]

Last year I rode into mid-november.  I'm not sure what the hell I was thinking though.  The rides home from work at night sure are getting nippy.  DAMN WINTER! :x

[glenn9171]

I know what you mean.  I got home at 8:00 tonight from work.  It was like 86 degrees.  BBBBBRRRRRRR!!!!!   :mrgreen:  :nana:

[yamahonkawazuki]

  i plan on riding mine through the winter. but will invest in something to put on my head under the helmet. to keep my face from freezing. too bad i still dont live in phoenix. mid dec. like 75 during the day, :mrgreen: but about 31-32 at night :x    

[dmp221]

I know what you mean.  I got home at 8:00 tonight from work.  It was like 86 degrees.  BBBBBRRRRRRR!!!!!   :mrgreen:  :nana:

GS riders in Cali, southwestern states (New Mex., Arizona, etc) and gulf coast are EXEMPT from responding.

Grrrrrrrr I'm jealous :x

[yamahonkawazuki]

dunno, i kinda like snow and cold weather. (was from chi-town originally). we here do have maybe 1 or 2 snowfalls? a year, 3 or 4 in on the ground. when this happens, people scream BLIZZARD! :mrgreen: i will not ride my gs on the snow/ice though. rain maybe, snow/ice naaah.  

[scratch]

This is what I intended to do, but found it easier to bump up to the top my original posting on this subject. But, here it is anyway:

Hello all,

Being a former m/c mechanic, I don't know how many times I have 'fixed' a motorcycle because it wouldn't start in the spring.  I would like to outline all the nessessary things needed to do to a motorcycle to prep it for storage (not nessessarily winter, especially for those in the military).

If you can put it in a garage, great!  If not, pull the battery out and use a Dow motorcycle cover.  Everything else will apply to both situations with the exception of using cloth or bedsheets to cover the bike in the garage.

Battery: Pull it out if you can store it someplace else and charge it periodically, or if your leaving, put it on a trickle charger (.5amp).
At least disconnect the negative terminal.

Feul tank: Fill it completely and add fuel stabilizer, I don't know what kind, I'm an all-season rider, and I don't remember what I used when I was in the military.

If the tank has a shut off valve, use it.  Turn it off.

The fuel selector should be in the On position.

Carburetors: DRAIN THE FRIGGIN' FLOAT BOWLS!!

Oil: Change the oil.

Tires: Over-inflate.  Just a few psi over what you're using now. It's to prevent flat spots.

And ideally, if you can, block up the bike so that both tires are off the ground, but this may be too instable for comfort and peace of mind, especially those in earthquake areas.  That's why I suggest over-inflation.

If you're storing outside (you know who you are...college kids, fellow Californians, etc.) close up the bottom of the cover so the neighborhood cats can't get in and minimize the spiders climbing in.

And if you're storing outside and you know it's going to rain, remove the brake pads and the brake levers to prevent the brakes from rusting together.

My apollogies to anybody I offended, I did not mean to.

I hope this helps.

[pizzleboy]

There's a couple more things that I do:

1.  cover exhaust with plastic bag
2.  put plastic bag over air filter/air box
3.  Put fuel stabalizer into gas can, run bike for 10-15 minutes to get stabalizer into carbs then run a can of engine kill into the carbs to choke the engine down and coat the walls of the cylinder.

I bought a trickle chager from Canadian Tire for $25.  Works fine, but you better remember to unplug it, as it has no timer.

[klimber]

but do step 3 bfore steps 1 & 2     :lol:

[pizzleboy]

no, I find melted plactic improves early spring HP  :mrgreen:

[JohnNS]

About the plastic bag over the exhaust thing.....I read somewhere (forget where, but I think it was the manual to my old YZ) that it's not a good idea to cover your exaust because condensation could form inside and rust it out.

Anybody hear anything similar?


John

[JohNLA]

You bunch of Yanky and Canadian cage lovin Wussies
Whats all this winterizing    ?
Beginning of John's " :x I'm HARDCORE Rant :x "
When I went to school in Denver, I rode all year round. (He says while flexing his non-exzistant muscles)
Don't they have street sweepers where you people live ?
I use to kick start my Yamaha with icicles hanging from the block.
Duh, if there is snow on the ground you just ride slow but you still ride.
Okay, not much of a rant but I got to use this guy---> :x (I think he has hemroids)
Sometimes it's fun to be a jerk. :nana:

[pizzleboy]

I read that it keeps it out.

Figures.

[JasonB]

Store it in a cool dry place with your other explosives and handgun rounds.

I plan to ride my bike as long as possible, dress in layers and get a baklava (sp?) and your all good!