winter prep?
winter prep
winter prep
as much as we hate it ,winter is coming what do some of the people on here do to prep there bike for a winters nap. I have in the past sprayed down all the chrome with wd40 anyone else ?
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 153
Likes: 1
From: Chicago NW suburbs
Winter prep?
It's been 80° here the last few days - more of the same the next few. Haven't even thought about it yet!
I usually put my bikes away over the Thanksgiving weekend, and try to have at least one of them back out by Easter.
I wax them, polish the chrome with wadding polish, change the oil & filter, fill them with gas (and marine sta-bil), ride them one more time, and put them away. 32 years now. No problems starting them up.
It's been 80° here the last few days - more of the same the next few. Haven't even thought about it yet!
I usually put my bikes away over the Thanksgiving weekend, and try to have at least one of them back out by Easter.
I wax them, polish the chrome with wadding polish, change the oil & filter, fill them with gas (and marine sta-bil), ride them one more time, and put them away. 32 years now. No problems starting them up.
Banned
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,461
Likes: 4
From: MI
If you use regular oil its time to put a lighter grade in, or a good synthetic for winter riding. Lube all cables and linkage, just changed primary oil. Bought a new winter riding jacket yesterday. I do go over all the chrome with seafoam deep creep. It protects the best against salt water and when I do get rust the stuff just melts it off. I do need a new rear tire soon, going into winter with even a half worn tire is not desirable from my experience.
Broke out the gloves and face masks too. But we have some awesome wearher for the next 10 days or so. Thats atleast 1500-2000 miles for me since I know snow storms will cut riding days down. Just enough to wear out the current tire. Should be ready for an oil change by then, oh and dont forget to use the severe service OCI, winter is brutal with condensation build up.
Broke out the gloves and face masks too. But we have some awesome wearher for the next 10 days or so. Thats atleast 1500-2000 miles for me since I know snow storms will cut riding days down. Just enough to wear out the current tire. Should be ready for an oil change by then, oh and dont forget to use the severe service OCI, winter is brutal with condensation build up.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 4,214
Likes: 661
From: Prior Lake, MN
Clean the bike if it's dirty enough to need it. Fill gas tank, use some type of fuel preservative, run engine to get the preserved gas thru all the way. Change oil and filter, pull battey and store it in the basement on a battery tender, cover bike and start looking forward to spring.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 4,214
Likes: 661
From: Prior Lake, MN
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Road Master
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 853
Likes: 48
From: Virginia
Still warm here, but I did order the oil, and have the other stuff waiting to put her to bed for her nap. Until then I ride whenever I get the chance for a couple hours at a time.
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Joined: Jun 2006
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From: Ak-Tenn
I must be lucky because even living and riding in Alaska for 25 years and now Tennessee, I just fill the tank until it won't take another drop, stick it in the corner in the shed, throw a sheet over it and walk away. Springtime I change the oil and slap the trickle charger on it and then go. Sometimes I knock the big dirt clods off too but not always. So far, so good, but that's just me I guess.
