as a new HD owner here in northern IL., im getting ready to put my bike away for the winter. is there anything special i need to do besides maybe putting stable in the gas?
my bike will be in a heated garage and i have a indoor outdoor HD cover for it. any suggestions would be great, thanks!! by the way.............WINTER SUCKS!!!

 

Get a battery tender (I use the jr.) for it and AVOID starting it to let it charge or warm up.
I know a lot of people like to start it once a week or so, but all your really doing is running it rich, either carbed or FI, and washing the cylinders with gas. Not to mention that it contaminates your oil as well.

I'll be getting mine ready in a few weeks too. [:'(]

 

Windshield, leathers. warm gloves. earmuffs. Get out and ride if the temp is above freezing.

 

add gas stabilizer, use the battery tender as the other member mentioned if you can get the wheels off the ground that is a plus, also cover it with a cover that breaths

 

After they are all cleaned up, change the oil & filter, top off the tank with premium to avoid condensation, ad stabil, run the bike until I'm sure the treated fuel has run through the carb, turn off the fuel while the bike is running and let it run until it quits to get the gas out of the carb. I pull the batteries and bring them into the basement, set them on a board so they aren't directly on the cement floor, hook up a battery tender to each one, cover up the bikes with a cover that breathes, and wait for spring.

 

All of the above. But, be sure you get the tires in the air. The weight of the bike over an extended period of time could cause 'flat spots' where the tire meets the floor. In some cases, the tire will be ruined and have to be replaced.

 

I try to ride it at least once a month over winter.I always put it away with new fluids { oil ,tranny, primary} cover it up so no one scratches it.

 

Winter storage? There is still a month of riding season left!

 

I have been told in the past by both Harley and BMW not to float charge the battery even with a battery tender. I charge it then take it off then after a few weeks hit her up again.....

 

In the event that you feel the urge to twist a wrench and get your hands on some tools, here are some steps to keep your bike comfy and warm and happy for the long winter’s sleep. First, get the engine good and warm by riding it to the Harley shop to pick up a new oil filter and four quarts of Harley oil and a small bottle of the red stuff. Red stuff is fuel stabilizer. Add enough stabilizer for the size tank you have and then run by the gas station and fill up with premium gas. This mixes the red stuff with the gas properly. When you get home, change the oil and filter while the engine is still on the warm side. It is a good idea to lube and adjust all the cables at this time also. See your owner’s manual or service manual for the "how to." Start the engine and run it just long enough to confirm that there are no oil leaks. Unless you rode home from the gas station with the stabilizer in the gas, the stabilized fuel is being run through the system while you are looking for oil leaks. It only takes a minute or so to circulate the new fuel.

If no leaks are found, shut the fuel off and let the engine quit on its own, unless yours is an injected model, then just shut it off. Inflate the tires to the max pressure listed in your owner’s manual or on the side of the tire. This is for storage purposes. A good wax job is also preferred prior to long-term storage. If you desire, you can remove the plugs and spray fogging oil into the cylinders. (Especially good if storage is outside under the blue tarp.) Turn the engine over for a second, and then thread the plugs back in the heads. If you do not have a Global charger or a Battery Tender Jr., it is best to remove the battery from the bike. Your battery may need special charging during the winter depending on the make and type. If you have one of the two mentioned chargers, plug it into the battery and connect to an outlet and forget about it until spring.

Assuming your bike will be in a weather-proof place like a garage or wood storage building, cover the bike with a breathable cover like a bed sheet (make sure you use one with a design that matches the bikes personality) or a Harley storage cover. Do not cover the bike with anything that cannot breathe. However, a piece of blue tarp on the ground under your bike is recommended. This acts like a ground cloth under a tent. This is IMPORTANT: Do not start the bike until you are ready to ride again in the spring. If you start it, you are putting moisture into the oil as you cannot get the engine hot enough, long enough to evaporate the moisture out of the oil. It will just keep building up each time you start and stop the engine during the winter.

I know it is hard, but you can make a recording of your bike’s sound, then buy one of those BIG plastic toy bikes that you can sit on (better do this in private) and place it in front of a giant fan turned on high, play the tape of your bike’s sound and pretend to be roaring down the inlet to Girdwood. You can even get a horse crop and whip your toy bike like a jockey. (Good reason to be in a dark private place.) When spring comes, uncover, install the battery if you removed it, turn the gas on, start it up and while the engine is warming, adjust the tire pressures to your desired riding pressures. If this sounds too complicated, just bring your bike to us or have us pick it up and we will be happy to put your dreams to bed for the winter.