Sportster Models 883, 883 Custom, 1200 Custom, 883L, 1200L, 1200S, 1200 Roadster, XR1200, and the Nightster.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Spring can't come soon enough

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Dec 29, 2008 | 03:42 PM
  #1  
Handycam's Avatar
Handycam
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 312
Likes: 0
From: Brewster, NY
Default Spring can't come soon enough

I just got my bike new last spring. I am amusing myself during these short cold days by thinking forward to when I can ride daily again.

Since this is the first spring I am taking the bike out of its 4-month stay indoors, what procedures should I plan on doing to it before the first ride?

I have it hooked up to the HD Smart Battery Tender, so that is taken care of, but what else is typical pre-season maintenance?

Thanks.
 
Reply
Old Dec 29, 2008 | 04:15 PM
  #2  
tjbindel's Avatar
tjbindel
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 86
Likes: 0
From: Earth
Default

FUEL STABILIZER!! The last thing you want is to have old gas sitting and gumming everything up.
 
Reply
Old Dec 29, 2008 | 04:44 PM
  #3  
Handycam's Avatar
Handycam
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 312
Likes: 0
From: Brewster, NY
Default

Question about fuel stabilizer: I bought a bottle of it, but it says to run the engine for 5 minutes. The bike is already garaged, so I can't really run it in there, and snow precludes taking it out.

Any value to just adding the stabilizer to the tank, period?

Also, is stabilizer really necessary for 4 months (2 of which are gone already)? Others have told me it's only valuable for longer storage.
 
Reply
Old Dec 30, 2008 | 10:33 AM
  #4  
tjbindel's Avatar
tjbindel
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 86
Likes: 0
From: Earth
Default

better safe than sorry is my opinion.
 
Reply
Old Dec 30, 2008 | 04:10 PM
  #5  
Mark g's Avatar
Mark g
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,139
Likes: 0
From: PA.
Default

Yuk! just ride it when you can.

I rode today, high was 40 deg.
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Roach450
General Harley Davidson Chat
39
Nov 2, 2018 10:59 AM
jfm5
General Harley Davidson Chat
5
Jan 3, 2010 08:39 AM
808BOB
General Harley Davidson Chat
14
Apr 16, 2009 12:08 PM
Ruger
General Harley Davidson Chat
6
Nov 28, 2008 07:54 PM
Tomahawk246
Primary/Transmission/Driveline/Clutch
4
Dec 19, 2007 05:10 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:16 AM.

story-0
6 Weirdest Harley-Davidsons Ever Sold to the Public

Slideshow: From military-inspired singles to scooters and three-wheel utility vehicles, these Harleys took the company far outside its comfort zone.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-02 18:34:10


VIEW MORE
story-1
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-2
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-6
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-7
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-8
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE