Goofy Winter Storage Question
Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 538
Likes: 15
From: Eastern MA
This is my first year storing on a jack, so my question is should I jack it up totally off the ground so the suspension is unloaded or just jack it up partially to take weight off the suspension? The bike (15 Limited) will be in storage for 6 months in a storage unit with a concrete floor covered with cardboard.
1) I put my bike on my Wheeldock center stand. I would NOT worry about flat spots, motorcycle tires have much harder sidewalls than cars.
2) I change all 3 holes of oil (Trans, engine, primary)
3) I connect a battery tender up and forget about it.
4) I clean the whole thing, wax the painted parts.
5) I block up the exhaust with a towel to keep out critters.
6) Put on breathable cover and wait for Spring.
Bob
2014 Road King
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 88
Likes: 3
From: Northwest New Jersey
My RGU spends its ‘rest’ time on a stall mat ($26 from Tractor Supply on sale) all season long. No worries about moisture from the concrete. Winter - increase tire pressure to 50psi, battery tender, clean & wax, change oil/filter, fuel stabilizer (Stabil Marine - blue) and cover. Wait for snow to melt and rain to wash salt off the roads. Then 300 mile ride to shake the cob webs out of me and the bike.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 4,867
Likes: 268
From: People's Republic of Boulder Colorado
I store mine with a full tank of fresh Shell premium gas (all I ever run) and a fresh oil & filter change, if practical. I also remove the spark plugs and turn the engine over with the starter for about 15 seconds, long enough for the oil pressure light to go off and stay off, about once a month and I keep the batteries on H-D tenders any time I'm not riding.
That's my "winter storage" scenario for every bike I've ever owned. No problems in the spring so far.
That's my "winter storage" scenario for every bike I've ever owned. No problems in the spring so far.
Last edited by jpooch00; Oct 5, 2017 at 07:45 AM.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 4,214
Likes: 661
From: Prior Lake, MN
I pretty much follow the book for off season storage- Add some stabilizer to the gas, let the engine run to pull that stabilized gas thru the entire system.
Gas might be E0 or E10, never has made any difference, but always add the stabilizer.
Put a bit of oil in each cylinder and crank engine, replace spark plugs. Pull battery and put on tender (basement- along with the cranking battery for my boat). Wash and wax the bike if I feel like it, often goes thru winter with summer dirt and dead bugs.
Bike is stored in my unheated garage, uncovered, on the Jack. That allows me to easily move the bike around if I need to. Seems to be effective enough- always starts right up next spring and runs fine.
Gas might be E0 or E10, never has made any difference, but always add the stabilizer.
Put a bit of oil in each cylinder and crank engine, replace spark plugs. Pull battery and put on tender (basement- along with the cranking battery for my boat). Wash and wax the bike if I feel like it, often goes thru winter with summer dirt and dead bugs.
Bike is stored in my unheated garage, uncovered, on the Jack. That allows me to easily move the bike around if I need to. Seems to be effective enough- always starts right up next spring and runs fine.
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