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Main Area => General GS500 Discussion => Topic started by: OhDot on November 07, 2006, 02:36:25 PM

Title: Last Ride of the Season
Post by: OhDot on November 07, 2006, 02:36:25 PM
Well, I finally sucked out and put my bike away for the season.  I know it may be a bit premature but I figured better to do it nowbefore I get too attached.  I took it out for one last good long run and happened by this sign at the Corner of Peterborough County Roads 46 and 504.  Changed the oil, topped up the tank, fuel stabilizer and yanked the battery.  Is it really necessary to drain the carbs? 

(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b361/heathnat/bike/windingroad2.jpg)
Title: Re: Last Ride of the Season
Post by: NiceGuysFinishLast on November 07, 2006, 02:44:32 PM
Hell yes, drain the carbs, or you're gonna have to pull em and clean em next spring!
Title: Re: Last Ride of the Season
Post by: Wrecent_Wryder on November 07, 2006, 04:22:03 PM
45d
Title: Re: Last Ride of the Season
Post by: scottpA_GS on November 07, 2006, 04:37:27 PM
Winter storage  :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: I have done nothing other than yank the battery. I dont even charge the batt over the winter. Come spring.. I put the batt in and cranks right up.  :thumb:

It cant hurt to do some preventative maint. But dont go overboard... The GS is a tank! It can sit a few months and not give you any trouble  :thumb:
Title: Re: Last Ride of the Season
Post by: blue05twin on November 07, 2006, 05:02:36 PM
I just fill it with stabil, ride it about antother good 30 miles or so, park it in the garage, pull the battery. 

Last year I did that and when it warmed up I just put the battery back in, cranked it up and took it for a ride.  Had no problems.
Title: Re: Last Ride of the Season
Post by: Turd Ferguson on November 07, 2006, 05:39:34 PM
I've never drained the carbs and personally, I don't see the point.  As long as you run the bike enough to ensure that the stabilizer gets all of the way through the carbs, you'll be fine.  I've never drained the fuel system on any vehicle that I've ever stored.  My car was fine with stabilized fuel in the system and it was stored for a year.

You did fine!

-Turd.
Title: Re: Last Ride of the Season
Post by: DerekNC on November 07, 2006, 06:27:00 PM
Someone said the o-rings will dry out if you drain the carbs. Fuel stabilizer may be the better option.
Title: Re: Last Ride of the Season
Post by: OhDot on November 07, 2006, 06:44:02 PM
Sounds good.  The tank was close to empty and I pumped it to the brim with 94 Octane AFTER adding the Stabil.  Then I rode it for about 15 kms.  I figured that would be enough to get the stabilizer into the system.  Thanks for all of the advice.   
Title: Re: Last Ride of the Season
Post by: GS Jenn on November 07, 2006, 06:54:03 PM
Mine just went into storage too. Right on time because we got a huge snowstorm the next day. I did what you did; oil, stabilizer and a full tank of gas and pulled the battery. This is the first year for my GS but that's how we've stored my boyfriend's bike for the past couple of years and never had a problem with the carbs.
Title: Re: Last Ride of the Season
Post by: cuda_06 on November 07, 2006, 10:44:23 PM
I almost feel bad for people who live where it is necessary to put up the bike for the winter.  It gets pretty darn cold here and does snow sometimes but it never lasts for more than a week so I have never put a bike into storage.  This is one of the reasons why I avoid moving back up north.  I could probably even go a little further south.
Title: Re: Last Ride of the Season
Post by: Mk1inCali on November 08, 2006, 10:53:38 PM
My GS survived 2 consecutive Minnesota winters with no battery pull, no oil in the cylinders, no Stabil, no nothing.


5.5 and 6 months it sat.  It started right up.



Don't kill yourself trying to get it ready.
Title: Re: Last Ride of the Season
Post by: Chilly Willy on November 09, 2006, 08:42:56 AM
Yesterday I went for the last ride of the season.  We're having record rainfall here in the Northwest due to two consecutive weather fronts.  Yesterday we had a few hours between one front leaving and the other coming in, so I rode my motorcycle around my block.  Sigh, it sucks to have to put it away for the winter.

Chilly
Title: Re: Last Ride of the Season
Post by: vsboxerboy on November 09, 2006, 11:32:09 AM
Feel like a bastard for posting this but this is why I love SB:

http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/93117?from=weekend_topnav_undeclared
Title: Re: Last Ride of the Season
Post by: metallic5spd on November 09, 2006, 12:19:05 PM
Quote from: vsboxerboy on November 09, 2006, 11:32:09 AM
Feel like a bastard for posting this but this is why I love SB:

http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/93117?from=weekend_topnav_undeclared

ohhhhhh SHUT UP!!!!!!!!!!! :flipoff: :flipoff: :flipoff: :flipoff: :flipoff: :flipoff: :flipoff:

lol!!
Title: Re: Last Ride of the Season
Post by: cuda_06 on November 09, 2006, 05:38:10 PM
hey, while we are rubbing this in for the northerners check out the local weather here  :cheers:

http://www.weather.com/outlook/homeandgarden/pets/tenday/79109?from=36hr_fcst10DayLink_pets

now if we only had some roads that aren't straight as an arrow and flat as a board...
Title: Re: Last Ride of the Season
Post by: Egaeus on November 09, 2006, 06:30:11 PM
Quote from: cuda_06 on November 09, 2006, 05:38:10 PM
now if we only had some roads that aren't straight as an arrow and flat as a board...
+1....

http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/32301?from=weekend_topnav_undeclared

Title: Re: Last Ride of the Season
Post by: ledfingers on November 09, 2006, 06:58:25 PM
it's been beautiful in nor. cal and i'll be damned if there aren't some EXTREMELY fun roads here...

http://www.weather.com/weather/local/94901?lswe=94901&lwsa=WeatherLocalUndeclared&from=whatwhere
Title: Re: Last Ride of the Season
Post by: Chilly Willy on November 09, 2006, 07:47:18 PM
Darn you nice-weather people!  It's pouring rain here and I'm about to go pick up a neighbor's bike from downtown (she lowsided today and broke her thumb).

Chilly
Title: Re: Last Ride of the Season
Post by: Chilly Willy on November 09, 2006, 10:34:30 PM
Friend is in worse shape than scooter.  There's barely a scratch on it, meanwhile her knee is twisted and her arm is in a cast up to the elbow.  It's been months since I've been on a scooter and man do they feel squirrelly compared to the GS500.

Chilly
Title: Re: Last Ride of the Season
Post by: vsboxerboy on November 09, 2006, 11:15:21 PM
Quote from: Chilly Willy on November 09, 2006, 10:34:30 PM
Friend is in worse shape than scooter.  There's barely a scratch on it, meanwhile her knee is twisted and her arm is in a cast up to the elbow.  It's been months since I've been on a scooter and man do they feel squirelly compared to the GS500.

Chilly

?????????? :cookoo:
Title: Re: Last Ride of the Season
Post by: Chilly Willy on November 09, 2006, 11:52:24 PM
What's not to understand?   :dunno_white: