Winterizing?
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 12,986
Likes: 712
From: NE Philly
Two reasons really. To keep it off the cole concrete. Plus, it'll be slightly lifted when I tinker on the bike during the winter.
I'll also read it bedtime stories and reminisce about all the riding we've done together. 
I don't know if I trust my lift to stay up and not creep during that period. Plus, if there are times I can take the bike out, it's easy just to ride on and off the planks.
I forgot to mention the battery tender.
I forgot to mention the battery tender.
Battery tender is your best bet. Spend the 30 bucks. It will keep the battery in better shape and only charge when it senses the battery getting low.
What's cheaper. New battery or a battery tender?
What's cheaper. New battery or a battery tender?
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 974
Likes: 4
From: Utah
I usually don't winterize. I try to squeeze in as many rides as I can. Yep..I'm the idiot out there at 0 degree temps all layered up riding my bike around the neighborhoods. Looking forward to this year even more since I own a full set of bright shiny new Gerbing heated stuff, gloves, jacket liner, pants, and socks.
The only winter I didn't ride was while recovering from my last wreck. All I did was put some Stabil in my tanks and bring the batteries in the house. Now last time I said I brought the batteries in my house Mr.Wizard came in the thread and told me I was wrong for doing that, that heat is bad for batteries and I would be better off leaving them in the bike. So, before you come and say it again... The batteries sit in my bikes in the garage all summer long at 100+ degrees, I seriously doubt having them in the house at 68 degrees is going to hurt them should you go that route. I would think extreme cold would hurt them a lot more. Mr Wizard then went on to tell me how sitting my batteries on a concrete floor would kill them in no time...yawn...another untruth that hasn't been relevant in the last 20 years.
As far as a tender goes..I don't own one, never have. I just threw my batteries on 2amp trickle charger a few days before riding and they were fine. If you want to pay for non stop charging all winter its up to you. To me using a tender is kind of like washing your bike everyday all winter long while it sits in the garage. I'm only gonna wash when I'm ready to ride and it will be just as clean as yours. I just didn't pay to do it 100 times.
The only winter I didn't ride was while recovering from my last wreck. All I did was put some Stabil in my tanks and bring the batteries in the house. Now last time I said I brought the batteries in my house Mr.Wizard came in the thread and told me I was wrong for doing that, that heat is bad for batteries and I would be better off leaving them in the bike. So, before you come and say it again... The batteries sit in my bikes in the garage all summer long at 100+ degrees, I seriously doubt having them in the house at 68 degrees is going to hurt them should you go that route. I would think extreme cold would hurt them a lot more. Mr Wizard then went on to tell me how sitting my batteries on a concrete floor would kill them in no time...yawn...another untruth that hasn't been relevant in the last 20 years.
As far as a tender goes..I don't own one, never have. I just threw my batteries on 2amp trickle charger a few days before riding and they were fine. If you want to pay for non stop charging all winter its up to you. To me using a tender is kind of like washing your bike everyday all winter long while it sits in the garage. I'm only gonna wash when I'm ready to ride and it will be just as clean as yours. I just didn't pay to do it 100 times.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 12,199
Likes: 7,743
From: Along the shoreline in SW FL
I've heard of the old wooden case batteries losing charge on concrete floors.....back many decades ago. But never heard increased dry rot of tires on concrete floors. Usually garage or basement floors have increased moisture in them from the soil underneath.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 12,199
Likes: 7,743
From: Along the shoreline in SW FL
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Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 129
Likes: 1
From: NE ATL 'burbs
Starting is possible, but I don't know if that's a good idea either in extreme temps.
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 174
Likes: 7
I have a question for you guys since living here in southern Ca we don't deal with any of this crap...
I always heard throw your batteries (AA, AAA etc...) in the freezer so they don't drain. Why wouldn't that be the case for motorcycle batteries?
I always heard throw your batteries (AA, AAA etc...) in the freezer so they don't drain. Why wouldn't that be the case for motorcycle batteries?