What prep work for storing my bike in my garage over winter?
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,391
Likes: 351
From: MO
After you put Stabil in the tank, run the bike as long as you think it would take to get the Stabil thru the system. I didn't run my Valkyrie long enough one winter and the Stabil didn't get to the carbs. Rebuilding 6 carbs sucks. I let my bikes run at least 20 minutes now.
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,593
Likes: 11
From: Mass/NH
I live in Massachusetts(but rather be at my place in NH...) and I put stabilizer in the fuel, change the oil, but then I ride it off and on all winter on warm days. Some of my friends don't do it because they don't want to get their bike dirty...LOL. I LOVE my rocker and will keep it forever, BUT it's made for riding, not sitting in the garage. I clean it **** and span each time. A couple of years ago, me and 2 of my friends, rode ALL DAY on xmas eve day in our shirt sleeves. What a day! But it did get a MIGHT chilly on the way home when the sun goes down! LOL. Ride safe and be warm...
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,597
Likes: 136
It was highly recommended that I buy a can of Seafoam, which I did. The instructions are not clear for motorcycles. Anyone know for sure how much of the can I put in my tank??
13" of snow coming tonight, I can't believe it!!! ARGGG!!!
13" of snow coming tonight, I can't believe it!!! ARGGG!!!
Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 556
Likes: 5
From: wisconsin
You may want to check out a local retirement facility. I know around here they rent the unused parking spaces in the heated garage for cheap. I split a spot with 3 other of my riding buddies. Next to us is boats so we do not need to worry about getting hit. It is nice to be able to pull it out on the nice days ride and then come back wash it and and not worry about the cold. We usually get at least one day in a month during our winter. Also allows for a warm place to do winter mods.
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 583
Likes: 2
From: Eaton, OH
http://www.seafoamsales.com/how-to-u...treatment.html
After you add it, you probably should mix it with the gas by going for a short ride or sloshing the gas in the tank by moving the bike to the left and right. After that, run the engine for a few minutes to get the treated fuel all the way through the system.
Hope this helps.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 4,109
Likes: 9
From: Connecticut
all good advise here I fill the tank change the oil add staybil to the fuel, cover, hook up the tender and I put the jack under it to unload the tires so they won't flatspot. I've left it without the jack and nothing happened so is it something you need to do, no just an **** thing.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,597
Likes: 136
Thanks everyone, and just in time! When I left the shop to bring my bike home, it was not snowing. It's only a 15 minute ride.... (and yes I had about 7 layers on I am not that fat!)
Last edited by studiopeg; Oct 29, 2011 at 04:41 PM.
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 3,048
Likes: 3
From: Central Jersey
Haha, this snow hit hard and fast today..quite ridiculous. Also, if you can siphon the gas out of your tank in to a gas can, you don't need to put fuel stabilizer in it.. we keep our bikes in the dining room for the winter because we don't have a garage, and just drain the tanks and call it a day.. leave the oil and all that, it ends up being fine in the spring.. i know they say gas is good for about 30 days sitting, but it's also been fine..never had issues. I didn't read every post in here, but if you have one, put it up on a lift to keep the pressure off the tires for a few months.. air will leak out of them either way, but at least if it's off the ground (and strapped to the stand obviously), you won't develop any dry rotting or flat spots in the tires while it's idle.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,597
Likes: 136
Haha, this snow hit hard and fast today..quite ridiculous. Also, if you can siphon the gas out of your tank in to a gas can, you don't need to put fuel stabilizer in it.. we keep our bikes in the dining room for the winter because we don't have a garage, and just drain the tanks and call it a day.. leave the oil and all that, it ends up being fine in the spring.. i know they say gas is good for about 30 days sitting, but it's also been fine..never had issues. I didn't read every post in here, but if you have one, put it up on a lift to keep the pressure off the tires for a few months.. air will leak out of them either way, but at least if it's off the ground (and strapped to the stand obviously), you won't develop any dry rotting or flat spots in the tires while it's idle.