Winterizing??
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 33,717
Likes: 3,723
From: Connecticut.
This is what I do, and these threads usually turn into you dont need to do that, do this thread.
I am in NNY, one of the colder spots in the USA.
get they bike clean and dry and have some type of cover
Fill up the tank, no air gap will stop rust inside the tank. and then add stabil, run the bike to get it mixed.
I park it on top of blue tarp for vapor barrier, if you have a lift, you can Jack it up and that helps with flat spots.
if you have a tender, no need to pull battery, if it gets extremely cold like here, minus 30 is common, and no tender, I pull battery and keep it inside.
I leave the seat off, and stuff steel wool in the exhaust and depending on air cleaner I stuff it or pull it.
critters are always looking for a good place to nest and material to make it, never had issues.
You can bump it over, but dont start it, starting it for a few minutes just spreads the condensation around.
I am in NNY, one of the colder spots in the USA.
get they bike clean and dry and have some type of cover
Fill up the tank, no air gap will stop rust inside the tank. and then add stabil, run the bike to get it mixed.
I park it on top of blue tarp for vapor barrier, if you have a lift, you can Jack it up and that helps with flat spots.
if you have a tender, no need to pull battery, if it gets extremely cold like here, minus 30 is common, and no tender, I pull battery and keep it inside.
I leave the seat off, and stuff steel wool in the exhaust and depending on air cleaner I stuff it or pull it.
critters are always looking for a good place to nest and material to make it, never had issues.
You can bump it over, but dont start it, starting it for a few minutes just spreads the condensation around.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 28,842
Likes: 16,582
From: Wisconsin, USA
There are many threads on winter storage. You dont need to have a new thread full of dick wagging. Heres my post from a thread last year:
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/gener...r-storage.html
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/gener...r-storage.html
From Owner's manual:
1. Warm motorcycle to operating temperature; change oil and turn engine over to circulate the new oil.
2. On both carbureted and fuel injected vehicles, fill fuel tank and add a gasoline stabilizer. Use one of the commercially available gasoline stabilizers, following the manufacturer's instructions. Run the engine until the gasoline stabilizer has had a chance to reach the carburetor float bowl/fuel injectors. On carbureted vehicles, turn fuel supply valve OFF.
3. Adjust the belt.
4. Check tire inflation. Adjust to proper inflation pressure. Wash and wax painted and chrome surfaces.
5. See BATTERY for proper battery care. Remove battery from the motorcycle and charge. Store the battery above freezing temperatures, trickle charge once a month and on FLT models keep the electrolyte level above the plates.
That's not exactly what I do. I wash and wax my bike. I put Stabil in and ride to the gas station and fill my tank with non-ethanol premium. I go home, and change my oil. I store my bike in an unheated garage in Wisconsin, where it may get done to -30F. It's on a concrete floor. I put a breathable Harley cover on it. One year I didn't, because people on here said covers were bad, and I ended up with 1/4 inch of ice over the whole bike. So use a cover. A sheet works. I put steel wool in the exhaust to keep mice out.
I don't use transport mode, but it wouldn't hurt. I don't leave my bike on a battery tender, and I don't take the battery out. I leave the tender on once a month for a day or two.
1. Warm motorcycle to operating temperature; change oil and turn engine over to circulate the new oil.
2. On both carbureted and fuel injected vehicles, fill fuel tank and add a gasoline stabilizer. Use one of the commercially available gasoline stabilizers, following the manufacturer's instructions. Run the engine until the gasoline stabilizer has had a chance to reach the carburetor float bowl/fuel injectors. On carbureted vehicles, turn fuel supply valve OFF.
3. Adjust the belt.
4. Check tire inflation. Adjust to proper inflation pressure. Wash and wax painted and chrome surfaces.
5. See BATTERY for proper battery care. Remove battery from the motorcycle and charge. Store the battery above freezing temperatures, trickle charge once a month and on FLT models keep the electrolyte level above the plates.
That's not exactly what I do. I wash and wax my bike. I put Stabil in and ride to the gas station and fill my tank with non-ethanol premium. I go home, and change my oil. I store my bike in an unheated garage in Wisconsin, where it may get done to -30F. It's on a concrete floor. I put a breathable Harley cover on it. One year I didn't, because people on here said covers were bad, and I ended up with 1/4 inch of ice over the whole bike. So use a cover. A sheet works. I put steel wool in the exhaust to keep mice out.
I don't use transport mode, but it wouldn't hurt. I don't leave my bike on a battery tender, and I don't take the battery out. I leave the tender on once a month for a day or two.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 8,217
Likes: 6,134
From: Black Hills
Has the controversy ever been settled regarding the exchange of summer air for winter air in the tires ? Some say it's not necessary if using nitrogen but you never know who is a trusted source on the internet.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 2,392
Likes: 2,628
From: Milwaukee, WI
I wouldn't even do that.....shards of ice from the said condensation will kill any oil seal it gets to...... like the blue tarp bit......good call there.as for storage I use dryer sheets......animals hate that stuff with a passion. stuff em wherever but don't forget where!!!
So depending how long your regional winter actually is, up north here, where I am, its a full 6 months, there is a slight concern of the piston and ring getting stuck.
I have never fogged the engine or put oil down the plug hole, but I have bumped it or if jacked up in high gear spun the back wheel to get the pistons in a slightly different spot.
if your winter is only a couple months, I wouldnt worry about it.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,627
Likes: 1,348
From:
Million dollar powerplants sit in sub-freezing temperatures; some get nothing at all, other get a fogging or some diesel fuel in the area above the piston. Options vary.
I agree with a battery tender -use one all the time to extend battery life. I don't think Sta-bil is the greatest thing since sliced bread, but it's better than nothing. If not for the darned catalytic converters I'd just use AvLas (100 LL) as it last (I think) forever. We have ethanol in our fuel up north and it's terirble.
What I do? I use a battery tender, and before winter lay-up I change the oil and use Sta-Bil - running it enough to get through the fuel system before shutdown. I also change the oil and then run the engine for a minute or so to circulate clean oil. Then, every time we have a break in the weather I take the bike for a ride - never for less than ten miles and try to run it at warm as I can get it WITHOUT JUST SITTING IDLING. Our winters aren't terribly long and we do get a warm(er) day now and again. I take advantage of those.
I agree with a battery tender -use one all the time to extend battery life. I don't think Sta-bil is the greatest thing since sliced bread, but it's better than nothing. If not for the darned catalytic converters I'd just use AvLas (100 LL) as it last (I think) forever. We have ethanol in our fuel up north and it's terirble.
What I do? I use a battery tender, and before winter lay-up I change the oil and use Sta-Bil - running it enough to get through the fuel system before shutdown. I also change the oil and then run the engine for a minute or so to circulate clean oil. Then, every time we have a break in the weather I take the bike for a ride - never for less than ten miles and try to run it at warm as I can get it WITHOUT JUST SITTING IDLING. Our winters aren't terribly long and we do get a warm(er) day now and again. I take advantage of those.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 2,198
Likes: 4,200
From: The boonies of northern New England
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 33,717
Likes: 3,723
From: Connecticut.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 4,529
Likes: 606
From: Raleigh NC
Alright, I tried searching around the forum but I'm not finding the info needed. So...this is my first Harley, but not my first bike by any means. 02' Fatboy injected. Also my first bike alarm, which begs the question. To remove the battery for storage, do I just disable the alarm? All will still be good when I plug it back up come spring? Anything I'm missing? Thanks for any help!
READ the instruction, put the stabilizer in the fuel tank when you re-fill before parking the bike.
install the battery tender leads, and plug in the tender... you're good-to-go
I live in Raleigh NC.... winterizing my bike, means I remove the sun screen, and light weight gloves.