Winterizing?
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 129
Likes: 1
From: NE ATL 'burbs
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.
. I'm pretty much done around freezing. Battery tender jr is about $40, so I'll chalk it up to cheap insurance and give it a shot. If I'm not satisfied in the spring, I'll pay the $250 to store it next winter.
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,112
Likes: 31
From: southeast pa
Our bikes get washed, oil changes and gas tanks topped off before they're parked for the winter, and I do use stabilizer. They also are plugged in to battery tenders. The ultra is parked on a 3/4 sheet of plywood but the other two get parked on the concrete floor with no ill effects so far. The other thing is I have a heated garage, the temp is set at 50 degrees.. unless I'm gonna spend some time out there doing bikes, loading ammo or cleaning guns.. then I'll turn up enough to be comfy. I like to have them ready to ride.. since I do still ride during the winter so long as there's no snow or ice. Last new year's day we put 240 some miles on.. rode to the NJ shore to watch a polar bear swim.. I think this year I'm gonna have to get plywood for mom's deluxe since I'm hearing "complaints" about me taking better care of mine than her's.. lol
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 9,228
Likes: 3,238
From: west Michigan
If I could ride my bikes every so often in the Michigan winter, I wouldn't winterize them. Starting a bike in the winter and letting it idle for a few minutes is worse than just letting it sit. The engine gets the wear and tear of a cold start without the benefit of a run at full operating temperature. But I do keep my old DR650 ready to go in case we get a thaw.
Last edited by RK4ME; Oct 8, 2012 at 08:05 PM.
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 156
Likes: 1
From: Alaska
Talked to a mechanic here in Alaska this is what he recommended. Top off the tank change oil and add stabil and a tender. Under no circumstances start it up as it can cause condensation in the block due to it not getting to temp. I have still not hung it up yet as there isn't ice on the road yet, I think that will be here this week.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 12,199
Likes: 7,743
From: Along the shoreline in SW FL
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 14,778
Likes: 69
From: Badlands of ND
All good advice so far. The only thing that I have not seen is that the Fuel Stabilizer has to be in the tank and ran through the fuel system prior to parking. I start using Seafoam with every fill about this time of year. Because a big winter storm can blow up any time from now on and put a end to the season. You want that fuel stabilizer to be in the carb or EFI system as well as the tank.
Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 211
Likes: 0
From: Pennsylvania
Wash and clean the bike. I usually polish it also. I use to get the tires off the floor by putting plywood or some other wood or matting under thre tires. Now I use rubber matting. Prevents flat spots on the tires. Pull the battery. Sta-bil in the tank (optional in my opinion) and by all means NEVER cover the bike with bed sheets. Go by a motorcycle cover. Bed sheets draw moisture when the temperatures fluctuate in your garage, and..... they don't breathe. Thuis causes small things to rust. I heard this from many dealerships and though it was a way for me to buy a cover till I found out the hard way. That's it. I also buy a box of tissues to wipe away the tears when I look outside and see the snow and ice and can't ride.
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 1,080
Likes: 14
From: Mill-e-wah-que
Winterizing in WI
My bike gets washed, oil changed (using the Scavenger system), gas tank topped off with stabilizer and plugged into a battery tender. It gets so humid here that I park mine in my unheated garage on a good bike lift atop an 8 mil piece of plasitc tarp which sits on a 3/4 sheet of plywood due to the extreme sweating of my concrete floor. Too much moisture comes up from the concrete as the temps fluctuate so much in the winter months...you Midwest boys know what I'm talking about! I won't ride while there's salt on the road.
Additionally, all accessories (leather bags, sissy bar, windshield, seat(s), tour pac, ect.) and cleaning supplies are put into the bssement. Call me **** on this stuff, but I'd prefer not to pay for this stuff any more that I have already.
Additionally, all accessories (leather bags, sissy bar, windshield, seat(s), tour pac, ect.) and cleaning supplies are put into the bssement. Call me **** on this stuff, but I'd prefer not to pay for this stuff any more that I have already.
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Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 129
Likes: 1
From: NE ATL 'burbs
It seems like the changing oil question (before or after storage) is pretty much split. I talked to my indy, and he suggested in the spring so that's what I'm going to do. But, to each their own....
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 362
Likes: 11
From: Lost in the Ozone
If I'm close to a service interval (2/3 rds there) I change the oil.
I don't know if any of the batteries used on bikes a AGM but I burned out a 9 mo old AGM starting battery in my fishing boat. The previous battery had finally got so weak I didn't trust it anymore & since it is a major PITA to get at since the injection oil tank need to be pulled to remove the battery I went AGM. My Smart chargers / maintainers go in to a pulse mode when the battery is fully charged & after Fleet replaced it this spring I then read the stick on tag that says to NOT use a maintainer on a AGM battery, For what it's worth.
Washing is a no brainer.
I've never seen an issue with tires, bike and trailer, from sitting on concrete.
I take extra care with the gas I use in my bikes (2) & outboard motors (3) later in the year. While the outboards all can run on 87 oct. ethanol I was advised by a serious marine dealer in Isle MN that I've know for many years to try to get non-oxygenated premium in the outboards for the last fueling & to use a fuel stabilization program for the gas left in the tanks. The ethanol gas has more of a tendancy to startify & break down, in his experiance. I use both Stabil & Seafoam & have not had a problem. Boats stored under a roof in unheated storage in a MN winter have always fired right up in the spring, with the partially full gas tanks topped off with fresh gas, for me the following spring. I try to ride any month of the year when the roads are clear but the bikes get the same treatment also.
"Pickling" is what my old man called winterization & it is true.
Frickin' winter.
I don't know if any of the batteries used on bikes a AGM but I burned out a 9 mo old AGM starting battery in my fishing boat. The previous battery had finally got so weak I didn't trust it anymore & since it is a major PITA to get at since the injection oil tank need to be pulled to remove the battery I went AGM. My Smart chargers / maintainers go in to a pulse mode when the battery is fully charged & after Fleet replaced it this spring I then read the stick on tag that says to NOT use a maintainer on a AGM battery, For what it's worth.
Washing is a no brainer.
I've never seen an issue with tires, bike and trailer, from sitting on concrete.
I take extra care with the gas I use in my bikes (2) & outboard motors (3) later in the year. While the outboards all can run on 87 oct. ethanol I was advised by a serious marine dealer in Isle MN that I've know for many years to try to get non-oxygenated premium in the outboards for the last fueling & to use a fuel stabilization program for the gas left in the tanks. The ethanol gas has more of a tendancy to startify & break down, in his experiance. I use both Stabil & Seafoam & have not had a problem. Boats stored under a roof in unheated storage in a MN winter have always fired right up in the spring, with the partially full gas tanks topped off with fresh gas, for me the following spring. I try to ride any month of the year when the roads are clear but the bikes get the same treatment also.
"Pickling" is what my old man called winterization & it is true.
Frickin' winter.