storing for winter

[anoopb]

Hi,

This is my first winter and I was wondering how i should store the bike. I don't plan to do a whole lot of riding but maybe turn it on once in a while this winter.

I heard that I should turn the fuel valve off, empty the fuel from the carbs, fill the tank to avoid rust.

but my fuel valve doesn't have an "off" position. Just ON, PRI, and RES

Also, i'm not sure how to empty the fuel from the carbs.

any recommendations on how to proceed? any videos or pics i can look at?

thanks and a happy new year all.

[gsatterw]

Step 1: Unbolt tank.

Step 2: With a flat head screwdriver handy, standing on left side of bike, lean over the tank and lift up the right side and look under it. You will see your tank petcock. There is a little screw in the middle of it. The slot will be vertical. Make it horizontal. This shuts off your fuel supply.



Step 3: Drain the carbs. On the very bottom of each carb, there is a carb drain that is operated by a screw that faces the outside. I believe it is the only screw on the side of the carbs. Turn this screw and something to catch the fuel ready. Alternatively, you can fit a length of tubing to the nipple and drain right into a gas tank or something.



Step 4: Store bike.

Might come back with pictures.

[adidasguy]

Don't forget fuel stabilizer due to crappy ethanol - it will separate into water and alcohol after 3 months if you don't do that.

[jestercinti]

Don't forget fuel stabilizer due to crappy ethanol - it will separate into water and alcohol after 3 months if you don't do that.

+1.  And run the bike after you have added the stabilizer to make sure that it gets to the carbs.

[adidasguy]

And run for 5 minutes or so on ON and on RES so both fuel lines get fresh gas with stabilized.

In fact, every month I make sure I run on RES for a short while after a fill up so the RES fuel line always has good, clean gas. If you never run on RES, when you really do need RES the fuel line probably is full of gooey crap which will foul your carbs.

[anoopb]

Thanks Guys!

I'm going to go do that today. I bought some Stabil for the fuel but didn't think about filling it up fully.

I'll be sure to do that.

thanks again. applause for all!

[anoopb]

Does the fact that my bike sits in a heated garage make a difference? If i just go turn it on for 5-10 mins every week or so, will that be enough for the winter?

[gsatterw]

Its more the fuel not moving through the bike that is a problem. Gas tends to gum up the fuel circuits in the carbs and fuel lines if it just sits. If you were to let it fully warm up once a week, and top it off with fuel/fuel stabilizer as needed, I'm sure you'd be fine.

I'll let others weigh in, I ride mine through the winter so I don't really have experience with wintering.

[Snake2715]

Keep it running, dont forget and go out there at least once every 2 weeks. I would say stabil is great, I also like Seafoam.

Draining the carb bowls is a great idea however. The battery will also get cold and can be damaged if left out in an unheated garage, it can potentially freeze.
Not sure about shocks and tires, I prefer to move my bikes around a bit or store them on the stand to keep them off the ground.

[anoopb]

Its more the fuel not moving through the bike that is a problem. Gas tends to gum up the fuel circuits in the carbs and fuel lines if it just sits. If you were to let it fully warm up once a week, and top it off with fuel/fuel stabilizer as needed, I'm sure you'd be fine.

I'll let others weigh in, I ride mine through the winter so I don't really have experience with wintering.

what kind of winter are you in? i'm in Chicago and it's 23 deg F right now. maybe i'm just a wuss.

[gsatterw]

haha, yea i'm in atlanta/new orleans. New Orleans mostly...winter really only lasts like a month and a half, and even still there are some 60 deg F days in new orleans. In atlanta now. It was 47 F today and I went on a 30 mile ride in my new to me old school AGV one piece leather suit and new BiLT Boots. Kept me toasty. Masculine colors on the suit, not so much. But for $80, it was a steal.

Graham

[Snake2715]

Its more the fuel not moving through the bike that is a problem. Gas tends to gum up the fuel circuits in the carbs and fuel lines if it just sits. If you were to let it fully warm up once a week, and top it off with fuel/fuel stabilizer as needed, I'm sure you'd be fine.

I'll let others weigh in, I ride mine through the winter so I don't really have experience with wintering.

what kind of winter are you in? i'm in Chicago and it's 23 deg F right now. maybe i'm just a wuss.

Yeah thats what I am dealing with.. Tools cold, carbs cold, sub 30 degree temps. Got the heater out there and once I start it doesnt matter, but the motivation to go out there..

[Suzuki Stevo]

Personally..I double dose the Sta-Bil to a full tank, leave the fuel in the bowls, connect to a Battery Tender, start maybe once a month (mine are indoors), all my bikes are "turn key" and I only go into the carbs to change the jet size, not one clogged pilot jet in 40+ years of owning multiple bikes 

[anoopb]

@suzuki_stevo, your garage looks like it's heated as well. I just got one bike so I don't think i need a battery tender. I was just going to go turn it on weekly for about 10 mins. maybe ride it around the garage (it's a multilevel one).

Not sure what you mean by "turn key" about the bikes.

[gsatterw]

@suzuki_stevo, your garage looks like it's heated as well. I just got one bike so I don't think i need a battery tender. I was just going to go turn it on weekly for about 10 mins. maybe ride it around the garage (it's a multilevel one).

YOU CAN SEE INFRARED RAYS TOO?!?!?! 

[Suzuki Stevo]

@suzuki_stevo, your garage looks like it's heated as well. I just got one bike so I don't think i need a battery tender. I was just going to go turn it on weekly for about 10 mins. maybe ride it around the garage (it's a multilevel one).

Not sure what you mean by "turn key" about the bikes.

I have one Battery Tender per bike, "turn key" means runs anytime I turn the key 24/7/365, garage is not heated.

[Snake2715]

Personally..I double dose the Sta-Bil to a full tank, leave the fuel in the bowls, connect to a Battery Tender, start maybe once a month (mine are indoors), all my bikes are "turn key" and I only go into the carbs to change the jet size, not one clogged pilot jet in 40+ years of owning multiple bikes 

Whats your monthly storage rate for others?.. ha ha. nice pic. I have to ask whats your favorite bike to date?

[codajastal]

Personally..I double dose the Sta-Bil to a full tank, leave the fuel in the bowls, connect to a Battery Tender, start maybe once a month (mine are indoors), all my bikes are "turn key" and I only go into the carbs to change the jet size, not one clogged pilot jet in 40+ years of owning multiple bikes 

Bike hoarder!!!!
You need help, Call Bike Hoarders Anonymous before its too late.

[adidasguy]

Personally..I double dose the Sta-Bil to a full tank, leave the fuel in the bowls, connect to a Battery Tender, start maybe once a month (mine are indoors), all my bikes are "turn key" and I only go into the carbs to change the jet size, not one clogged pilot jet in 40+ years of owning multiple bikes 

Bike hoarder!!!!
You need help, Call Bike Hoarders Anonymous before its too late.

And he has never once visited the West Seattle Bike Cave.

[anoopb]

@suzuki_stevo, your garage looks like it's heated as well. I just got one bike so I don't think i need a battery tender. I was just going to go turn it on weekly for about 10 mins. maybe ride it around the garage (it's a multilevel one).

YOU CAN SEE INFRARED RAYS TOO?!?!?! 

dude. you just let the secret out. man..just takes one guy to ruin it for the rest of us. you're that guy.