Winterizing Tips?
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Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 51
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From: Vancouver
Winterizing Tips?
So I used to ride a sport bike and when the season came to an end I do the whole deal (wash, oil change, fuel stabilizer, store off the wheels, charge the battery and add engine fogging oil). Now I got a harley and looking through the manual it ask for a similar list of items.
so here are my questions:
1. Is it necessary to add oil to the spark plugs if its going to sit only 6 months in heated garage?
2. To avoid oil turning to varnish with air inside your engine is it better to fog oil your engine and not touch it for 6 months or would it be fine to just run your motor once a month to move the oil around and recoat?
so here are my questions:
1. Is it necessary to add oil to the spark plugs if its going to sit only 6 months in heated garage?
2. To avoid oil turning to varnish with air inside your engine is it better to fog oil your engine and not touch it for 6 months or would it be fine to just run your motor once a month to move the oil around and recoat?
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 348
Likes: 1
From: ohio
My bike is never down for 6 months. I am in Ohio though so I do have a few months down and I also store in a heated garage. Never heard of adding oil to spark plugs, or having to mess with oil at all other than changing to fresh before storage. I do know that it has been stressed to me by dealer, other riders, forums, etc DO NOT start your bike once you put it up for winter unless you are riding it. The oil will never get up to proper temp without riding it just idling in garage and your doing more harm than good. I change oil and filter, wash wax, fill fuel to brim, add stabil to fuel, hook up battery tender and promise to visit. Unhook tender fire it up and ride as soon as all the salt is off the road a few months later.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
You will find some tips in your owners manual. Personally I would leave the plugs as they are, but change oil and filter just before storage. That will see you through next riding season, unless you do a high mileage. I've stored bikes much longer with no problems over the years!
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,882
Likes: 83
I plan on riding year round. My winterizing consists of changing the oil in November, putting on a battery tender, and putting sea foam in the tank. I do turn off fuel supply when it's gonna be more then a week between rides.. I also put rugs under the rubber to keep the concrete from drying out the rubber. Other then that if a sunny day comes i will jump on for a ride in full cold weather gear!
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,345
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From: south Texas
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Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 205
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here's a tip. put some protein powder into your tank. shake it up. the hog will be ready to rock when you turn it on.
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Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 662
Likes: 1
From: Kelowna, BC, Canada
In my manual it just says to change your oil and filter, pump up your tires, put fuel stabilizer in a full tank of gas and put on a battery tender. That's it. Oh, and to shut off the fuel supply. That brings me to my next question, since this is my first FI bike, is there another way to shut off the fuel or do you just follow the above instructions?
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 8,218
Likes: 827
From: Reston, Va
Winterizing my bike consists of buying a new pair of long johns and maybe a scarf and heavy gloves. The difference between summer and winter is the frequency and distance that I ride my bike.
Speaking of which, I never had any problems with my Hondas no matter how cold. On the other hand, I had a Yamaha that refused to start with anything less than a half-hour of kicking if the temp was below 45 degrees. How well do Sporties, both carbureted and fuel injected, deal with winter?
Speaking of which, I never had any problems with my Hondas no matter how cold. On the other hand, I had a Yamaha that refused to start with anything less than a half-hour of kicking if the temp was below 45 degrees. How well do Sporties, both carbureted and fuel injected, deal with winter?