Why wouldn't you use Stabil or Seafoam? I add it to all my small engines, and bike. Years ago I never did, but last 10 years got tired of rebuilding carbs in spring.

 

I just pull mine into the Rec Room & mod on it when I feel like throughout the winter while watching TV.

 

I think you covered most of it. the light and the mini fan shouldnt be needed but if you want to do that as a precaution I'd say use a dehumidifyer, then that would do the same trick.

 

We have a similar garage....dual bay. Wifes car pulls in/out all winter long, yeah dripping chunks of snow....New England winters.

I keep my bike covered with an old car cover...soft, breathable. Light bulb not needed...since the cover is breathable...the light bulb wouldn't keep much dry.

I change my oils towards end of the autumn season.

I fill my tank with gas...but I no longer believe in fuel stabilizers....gas comes with tons of it already these days. Many years ago...I would winterize my seasonal engines and use stabilizer...if I didn't use stabilizer way back when, come spring time and that first start of the season...it would be a bitch....and I'd have to break down the carbs 'n clean out. But around 15 or so years ago I started hearing about current gas being chock full of that stuff from the pump..so one year I tried not using stabilizers...and low and behold..come spring time and the first startup...my engines fired up right away like I ran them yesterday. And I'm not just talking lawn mowers and basic stuff...I'm talking bigger complicated finicky engines like many boats. Plus...that tank full of fuel stabilizer has the engine run like crap til you refill it with good gas...and I no longer have to deal with that. The proof is in the pudding for me...for many years straight now...but hey, it's your wallet...it's a free country.

Battery...about 3 times throughout the winter I'll clip on my trickle charger to the battery overnight for a weekend..that's it. Always did that with my boat and tractors batteries too...does just fine. I don't like something like tenders plugged in 24x7.

I often ride throughout the winter when the roads are dry and rather sand free....so I won't douse her with wd-40 or anything. During winter rides, when it's not way below freezing, I'll hose off the bike...and towel it dry..before putting back in the garage.

It does fine...it's an '06...and many people can't believe it's that old, she still looks gorgeous like she's maybe 2-3 years old.

 

This is pretty much exactly what I do. Mine sits in an attached garage so it's not quite as cold as a detached garage or a shed in the middle of winter.

Last spring I took the sheet off, disconnected the tender, pulled the choke and she fired right up.

 

For the last 8yrs I have used a cycle vault. All I do is change fluids, stabil, plug it in and zip it up. I have never had any corrosion or anything and it sits in a unheated barn in michigan. I see on ebay under motorcycle storage they have one just like it but different name. I do put a a sheet of plywood under the cover before put the bike in it. And of course put decon all around it.

 

Yup. What jeffreysilver said. The only other thing I'd do, is actually a don't. No matter how tempting, don't fire it up a few times just to let it run!

 

why is this a bad idea...often during the long downtime I feel the desire to sit on her, start her up, and mentally ride. sometimes, I do this while watching the family shovel the driveway.

 

I'm tapped out on jacks/lifts for the tires. Have 1 motorcycle and a vespa to store in my basement, one Road King in the garage. Using only one jack, do you suppose jacking up each bike once every two weeks and rotating the wheels would do the same trick?

Also what's the deal with the fluids other than fuel? I just had the oil and transmission fluid changed in August. Have only put about 800 miles on since then. I've probably got about 3 weeks of riding left (at the most 500 miles), should I still do fluid changes?

 

Nobody has mentioned this, but you may want to cover the exhaust. I have never had this issue in my garage, but in an unheated shed years back a mouse made a nest in the pipe of an old bike I had stored there.