to store or to ride?

[Rema1000]

I had planned to store my GS two weeks ago when we had our first couple inches of snow.  But I'm glad I didn't, because it's just beautiful now (well, sunny but 30 deg. (-1C) and windy... but dry!).   So I'm going riding instead.

But my chances for a ride are going to become more and more rare.  Maybe every couple weeks through mid-December, then maybe not at all  in January or February.  Then a couple times in March.  So I wonder: if I ride only 6 times in 5 months, am I gumming-up my carbs by keeping the floats filled with normal gas?

If it would be better for the bike, I could probably park it, drain the carbs, etc.  But if it's just the same, I think I'd rather just ride it  once or twice a month.  Or maybe just add Sta-Bil for Jan/Feb?

[scratch]

So I wonder: if I ride only 6 times in 5 months, am I gumming-up my carbs by keeping the floats filled with normal gas?

If it would be better for the bike, I could probably park it, drain the carbs, etc.  But if it's just the same, I think I'd rather just ride it  once or twice a month.  Or maybe just add Sta-Bil for Jan/Feb?

You probably wont gum up the carbs, but do add Sta-Bil. Enjoy riding! And keep riding.

[Kerry]

If you plan to ride only infrequently, keep a gas can with Sta-Bil treated fuel.  After each ride, top up the tank from the gas can to keep air (and therefore WATER, and eventual RUST) out.

[dmp221]

If you plan to ride only infrequently, keep a gas can with Sta-Bil treated fuel.  After each ride, top up the tank from the gas can to keep air (and therefore WATER, and eventual RUST) out.

Yep, that,  plus watch your temps.  If it will be quite a bit below freezing  for several days in a row, I'd pull the battery to prevent damaging the cells (freeze/thaw) and possibly cracking the battery.  
I've ridden down in the high 20's so far, but yesterday dumped 6" of snow everywhere, so I'm, like you, waiting it out.  Good luck.

[shep_bannister]

Careful in the cold weather.  A friend of mine just totalled his F4i while out riding in ~30 degree temps.  As far as we can tell, his rear tire was simply too cold, and while cruising about 50mph on a highway it just started sliding out to his left.  Right before he hit the pavement in what we was sure to be a lowside at that point, the rear traction caught, and his probably minor lowside instantly became a bike-totalling endo highside.  He went straight over the nose, landed on his chest and forearms, and proceeded to slide face first.  The bike tumpled nose to tail behind him.  After what seemed like a long time to him, he decided to get up because he didn't feel any major injuries.  Turns out he was still sliding!  So getting up just tossed him to his back, where he finished out his 200 foot (estimated) slide on his rear.  The bike tumbled right past him off the street.

His only injury was some road rash on his hand (from wearing winter gloves instead of motorcycling gloves).  And a nasty gash on his foot where the peg went through his shoe.

As far as he can remember, there's nothing that really seemd to cause the back wheel to lose traction so badly.  Firemen confirmed there were no noticeable ice patches where the skid mark was.  The mark was clearly not on one of the stripes between lanes.  The only things that we think he could have done were to 1) not ride on such a cold day or 2) ride around his neighborhood for a few more miles to warm up his tires before jumping on the highway.  

This guy's pretty addicted to 2-wheeling so he just signed the papers on a new 2003 cbr600rr, though he's still limping a little from the foot gash.  Just be careful out in that weather!  Make sure you warm your engine up fully before taking off, because you don't need it getting sluggish as you pull into traffic.  Make sure your brakes aren't frozen before you suddenly need them on a highway, and make sure your tires get a little warm before you barrel into some twisties.  

If you're careful to warm it up first, I say don't store it, ride it.

[Cal Price]

Just recently I had to leave mine alone for about three weeks, outdoors, with no problems, I'm sure if you keep an eye on it and perhaps start her up from time to time it should be OK. If it gets real cold you might want to consider taking the battery off and keep it inside and charged.

[cozy]

Methinks i will ride because it will be mostly local. And thanks for the tips about tires on cold pavement- never would have thought of that. Gonna be sure to warm up properly!

[Rema1000]

Careful in the cold weather.  A friend of mine just totalled his F4i while out riding in ~30 degree temps.  As far as we can tell, his rear tire was simply too cold, and while cruising about 50mph on a highway it just started sliding out to his left.

Good point.  I thought I noticed my rear wheel chattering over the pavement a bit as I entered a couple of turns yesterday.  I figured that it was a result of my not riding for two weeks, and probably being a little less smooth on my approach and lean.   But now that you mention it, I just put the Blizzaks on my car, and the Artic Alpine's on my SO's car; never occured to me that the m/c tires might need different properties too.

I wonder if anybody rates m/c tires for performance below freezing, and (don't laugh) maybe the occaisional bit of ice on a bridge or overpass here or there.

[Pam G]

Just recently I had to leave mine alone for about three weeks, outdoors, with no problems, I'm sure if you keep an eye on it and perhaps start her up from time to time it should be OK. If it gets real cold you might want to consider taking the battery off and keep it inside and charged.

It's probably better to NOT start it up from time to time when it is in storage.  That produces condensation in the exhaust & produces more acids in the oil from the slow breakdown of the oil.  Removing the battery is definitely a good idea.  Only start the bike in winter IF you are going to ride it.  Removing the battery is definitely a good idea.  Cold weather definitely zaps the potential out of batteries.

[Lars]

The bike can be ridden below freezing, it won't suddenly slip away on the straight unless there's an ice-patch. I even managed to keep the bike upright during a sudden hail-storm where the road was covered in hail!*   Don't take corners at a high pace because the tires are less sticky in cold weather (makes a lot of difference, so watch out!)If you take them at a normal pace and stay relaxed, nothing will happen.
If it doesn't freeze hard, the battery will survive if it's loaded. A full battery will have a high acid level thus it won't be destroyed by frost very fast.  

If you decide to ride the bike, don't ride it simply around the block. The engine has to get up to operating temperature(HOT!!) as well as the exhaust system because at lower temps water will condense in the exhaust system and the engine oil, wich is very bad.  (Like Pam already pointed out).

Getting the bike up to operating temps in the winter is difficult. So when it reaches a reasonable operating temp, start blasting around at full throttle and keep the revs up. To help warming it up, ride the bike 1 gear lower than you usually do. (keep it around 5-6K rpm in the city and at 6 to 8K rpm at higher speeds).  If it's cold, don't let the engine rev higher than 4000 rpm the first few minutes.

If you want to ride through the winter and ride regularly, don't wash the bike (don't wash it after mid-summer or so ) The layer of dirt and grease will protect somewhat against the salt.




*Really, don't try this at home.