Winter Bike Storage {Myths Shattered}
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 13,389
Likes: 26
From: Windham,Maine
I think ya'll tend to be a little more paranoid then you need to be about bike storage. I know as well as anyone how much we love em and would die for em and all like that, but all my decades in Minnesota and all those bikes stored for all those winters, I just put em in the garage or my cousins shed, disconnected the battery, threw a sheet over em and let em sit till Spring. Thats it. No bubbles, no carpet under the tires, no light bulb, no moving them around, no starting up every once in a while, no battery tender, no lifting it on a jack, no oil squirted into the cylinders, NOTHING! And not once, not even once, in all that time did I ever have an issue with the bike come spring. I understand your concern for your baby an all that, but its really not that big of a deal, try not to over think it, k? The bike will be fine. You guys have a lot of more pressing problems. like trying to keep yourselves winterized.
I hope Spring comes early this year, my friends!
I hope Spring comes early this year, my friends!
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,013
Likes: 1
From: New Brunswick, C-eh-n-eh-d-eh
I do like to change filter & oil sometime late fall. When I put it away, I use gas stabilizer and throw a couple sheets over it. Haven't had to boost in the spring. We'll see this year. Not so much a philosophy as much as plain lazy. 
Club Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 5,481
Likes: 4
From: Georgia
I haven't always been so lucky. I've had to clean out more than one carburetor that the gas gummed up over the winter storage. I little Stabil and a battery tender is worth the time it takes when that warm spring day comes around and you have to spend the day in the garage and not on the road.
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 960
Likes: 1
From: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
I could have used that advice BEFORE I purchased the lift and expensive cover. But now that I have the stuff I will continue to use it. When people ask me "Why" I lift the bike off the concrete all I can say is that some guy told me once it was necessary to keep the mice from crawling into my exaust pipes during the cold nights. But seriously, I inquired with my dealer once about storage and all they do is take out the battery and put the cycle in an out building. "That's it", I thought!
Last edited by StreetGlider57; Jan 28, 2010 at 07:17 AM.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 6,932
Likes: 4
From: 46th State, USA
I think ya'll tend to be a little more paranoid then you need to be about bike storage. I know as well as anyone how much we love em and would die for em and all like that, but all my decades in Minnesota and all those bikes stored for all those winters, I just put em in the garage or my cousins shed, disconnected the battery, threw a sheet over em and let em sit till Spring. Thats it. No bubbles, no carpet under the tires, no light bulb, no moving them around, no starting up every once in a while, no battery tender, no lifting it on a jack, no oil squirted into the cylinders, NOTHING! And not once, not even once, in all that time did I ever have an issue with the bike come spring. I understand your concern for your baby an all that, but its really not that big of a deal, try not to over think it, k? The bike will be fine. You guys have a lot of more pressing problems. like trying to keep yourselves winterized.
I hope Spring comes early this year, my friends!
I hope Spring comes early this year, my friends!
Club Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4,892
Likes: 2
From: DUNDALK,MARYLAND
They can make Garage Art and put you in storage. You don't have to ride them. It's more Poser Art out there then riders. I ride them till the wheels fall off. 20k to 25k every year and have two bikes to ride. Everybody needs a spare bike.
Supporter
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 6,723
Likes: 233
From: Altoona, Pa.
Think all the hoopla relates to how long you keep you bike. If ya trade every couple of years, not much needed. But the the lng term keeper, a lot of the overkill will pat your heiny later in the years.
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Club Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 5,481
Likes: 4
From: Georgia
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 486
Likes: 41
From: north jersey
so that harley bubble i just bought is useless?seiously though, another opinion that stabil is your freind.i've seen pilot jets plug solid in a few weeks. the injected bikes seem to be more forgiving.i'm also on my 8th year on the oem battery. that doesn't happen if you let the battery drain down in freezing temps..before i had a tender, the battery came inside. now with a tender, it can stay on the bike in my garage which almost never sees below freezing temps..it all depends on how long & where you are storing as to what prep is needed.