Greetings,

Sadly, within the next few weeks it will be time to put the bike in storage for a few months due to my crazy work schedule and good 'ol wintertime in Minnesota.

This is my first winter with the GS. I have always just used  fuel stabilizer in a full tank (ran for a few minutes to mix it up good) with other bikes for the winter or stubbornly kept the bike running through the winter with good luck.

This winter I must store it at least 4 months   .  Any strong opinions whether I will run out of luck (meaning it will be hard to start next March   ) if I go with a full tank of gas with the fuel stabilizer on the GS?

Should I drain those carb bowls even with the stabilizer?

I'm also planning on removing the battery, plugging the exhaust, and giving it a decent cleaning before covering the bike & propping it up off the cement garage floor.

Thanks in advance.

I have had very good luck with a product called Stabil in a variety of 2 & 4 stroke engines. I usually treat a full tank, run it down about half then fill it to the very top with more treated fuel. I usually use a fogging spray if I know I won't be running something for a couple of months.

In an earlier thread I think the GS Jedi masters opined that a full tank was better than a drained one for storage.

Quote from: ChangemanagerGreetings,

... will be hard to start next March   ) if I go with a full tank of gas with the fuel stabilizer on the GS?

Should I drain those carb bowls even with the stabilizer?.....

It could not hurt to drain the float bowls - but I once left a Yamaha Vision parked for FOUR YEARS with stabil - and it started as soon as it had a fresh battery.

I plan on using fuel stabilizer and in general just running through this list: http://www.clarity.net/~adam/winter-storage-content.html, but you sound like you know what you're doing anyway

I put the bike away about a month ago, and the work it would have taken to get it ready for storage again would not be worth the ride for those couple of nice weekends we had this october and november. You got some balls to hold out, i gave in to early

Visions are like old Triumphs, they run better on bad gas.

The last 2 winters I have done the following before putting it away:

Change the oil
lube the chain
fill the tank, add sta-bil and run for a couple of minutes to circulate
remove the battery
put on center stand
cover

I store it in my shed for 3 to 4 months without a problem.  The only problem I have had starting it in the spring is forgetting to set the choke because I am so excited to get riding again :lol:

Wayne

I'd suggest adding Sta-Bil to your gas every time you fill-up (from late November through early April, in Minnesota).  If you're snowed-in, then don't sweat it; the bike will be fine (and you should be skiing instead!).  If the sun comes out and you can see the pavement again for a day or two, then take the bike for a ride, at least to the gas station and back.  It's a good way to blow-off the "winter darkness blues."  Without doing the fancy winterizing, there's less impediment to getting back out on the streets.  

But to answer your question, even if the GS sat for 4 months with Sta-Bil, I think it would be fine (though you may want to wipe-down the fork tubes once mid-winter).  I look at fogging the cylinders as something extra, like reaching 110% of your goals.  I'd only bother covering air intake/exhaust if you have critters running around.

fuel stabilizer.
recommended for the one i have is 15mL per gallon ...
besides the incremental cost,
is there any downside to adding a bit more fuel stabilizer in the tank before circulating it a few minutes then storing it for 6 months?

can't go wrong with seafoam.

Quote from: jrains89 on November 06, 2008, 10:18:33 PM
can't go wrong with seafoam.

seafoam=fuel additive?

Every  year I park my bike for about 3-4 months. I fill the tank with regular 87 put it on the center stand, and pull the battery. Thats it.  Come spring, I put the battery in and start it up, then I change the oil 

I always thought it was better to change the oil, then store it.