Winterizing in GA?
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,284
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From: North Georgia
Winterizing in GA?
I feel like I'm speaking blasphemy by talking about storing a bike here in GA, but I'm not riding once it gets into the 30s and below. I don't want the body temp of this guy -->
I'm hoping my friend will have enough room for me to store mine in his garage. <crossing fingers he has enough room!>
Just so I have this straight. The service manual says to charge the battery once a month and not for more than 24 hrs at a time. Is that the norm?
Does anyone put a fuel stabilizer in? If so, what do you use?
Any other tips and tricks would be appreciated!
I'm hoping my friend will have enough room for me to store mine in his garage. <crossing fingers he has enough room!>
Just so I have this straight. The service manual says to charge the battery once a month and not for more than 24 hrs at a time. Is that the norm?
Does anyone put a fuel stabilizer in? If so, what do you use?
Any other tips and tricks would be appreciated!
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 868
Likes: 30
From: western north carolina
Michael,
DHubbs has it right. I just keep mine plugged up to a Battery Tender it's a charger/maintainer. Just plug it up and leave it, all automatic. Does come with a 10ft cord so you get just a little lead time when you pull out without unplugging it....so I been told.
If its a gas powered item the Sta-bil needs in it if, it is going to set for any amount of time.
DHubbs has it right. I just keep mine plugged up to a Battery Tender it's a charger/maintainer. Just plug it up and leave it, all automatic. Does come with a 10ft cord so you get just a little lead time when you pull out without unplugging it....so I been told.
If its a gas powered item the Sta-bil needs in it if, it is going to set for any amount of time.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,193
Likes: 7
From: North Atlanta Area, GA
Both of our bikes go on the Battery Tenders as soon as we get home, and stay on them until we leave for the next ride. However, I've had Bertha sit not connected for a couple of months, and she's always started right up... but she doesn't have all of the power-sucking electronics of the newer bikes.
StaBil is good - but I've been using SeaFoam for the last several years. It's a year-round fuel treatment and a stabilizer too.
StaBil is good - but I've been using SeaFoam for the last several years. It's a year-round fuel treatment and a stabilizer too.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,881
Likes: 7
From: North Georgia
This is all blasphemy!!!!! As a MODERATOR I may elect to DELETE this thread at any moment........ Hee heee heee heeeee....
We don't winterize bikes up here..... we ride them back and forth in our garage while the old lady is shoveling snow off the driveway so we can ride back and forth on the driveway.
I am hoping for a mild winter that has been PROMISED to me ever since I left Florida.
I know you don't have a garage Michael, so you get a pass for starting this thread. SeaFoam is the best stuff these days, and a smart trickle-charger/maintainer is the best way to go. There are several good one on the market, some even weatherproof.
I am going to try to ride every week (pretty much like I do now), so I won't be doing ANY winterizing. But I gotta tell you, if we get slammed with another winter like last year; the job market in Arizona may get a better going-over.
We don't winterize bikes up here..... we ride them back and forth in our garage while the old lady is shoveling snow off the driveway so we can ride back and forth on the driveway.
I am hoping for a mild winter that has been PROMISED to me ever since I left Florida.
I know you don't have a garage Michael, so you get a pass for starting this thread. SeaFoam is the best stuff these days, and a smart trickle-charger/maintainer is the best way to go. There are several good one on the market, some even weatherproof.
I am going to try to ride every week (pretty much like I do now), so I won't be doing ANY winterizing. But I gotta tell you, if we get slammed with another winter like last year; the job market in Arizona may get a better going-over.
Thread Starter
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,284
Likes: 0
From: North Georgia
This is all blasphemy!!!!! As a MODERATOR I may elect to DELETE this thread at any moment........ Hee heee heee heeeee....
We don't winterize bikes up here..... we ride them back and forth in our garage while the old lady is shoveling snow off the driveway so we can ride back and forth on the driveway.
I am hoping for a mild winter that has been PROMISED to me ever since I left Florida.
I know you don't have a garage Michael, so you get a pass for starting this thread. SeaFoam is the best stuff these days, and a smart trickle-charger/maintainer is the best way to go. There are several good one on the market, some even weatherproof.
I am going to try to ride every week (pretty much like I do now), so I won't be doing ANY winterizing. But I gotta tell you, if we get slammed with another winter like last year; the job market in Arizona may get a better going-over.
We don't winterize bikes up here..... we ride them back and forth in our garage while the old lady is shoveling snow off the driveway so we can ride back and forth on the driveway.
I am hoping for a mild winter that has been PROMISED to me ever since I left Florida.
I know you don't have a garage Michael, so you get a pass for starting this thread. SeaFoam is the best stuff these days, and a smart trickle-charger/maintainer is the best way to go. There are several good one on the market, some even weatherproof.
I am going to try to ride every week (pretty much like I do now), so I won't be doing ANY winterizing. But I gotta tell you, if we get slammed with another winter like last year; the job market in Arizona may get a better going-over.
I do have a couple of prospects for storage. The one place is really close to my house. That would be cool so I could go get it whenever the weather is decent.
What are some recommended battery tenders? Using one that I can leave plugged in and not worry about overcharging is the way to go, especially since it won't be at my place. While I realize it won't use much power to maintain the battery, I want to give the peace of mind to my friend. Anyone know approx how much power it takes? Any good comparisons?
Paul, while AZ has great weather, the Phoenix area doesn't have nearly as cool of riding like we do here. I will be out there for a couple of weeks next month and plan to do some riding with my brother-in-law.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,193
Likes: 7
From: North Atlanta Area, GA
What are some recommended battery tenders? Using one that I can leave plugged in and not worry about overcharging is the way to go, especially since it won't be at my place. While I realize it won't use much power to maintain the battery, I want to give the peace of mind to my friend. Anyone know approx how much power it takes? Any good comparisons?
We have a little "Battery Tender Plus" that provides 1.25 amps to trickle charge the battery. You can leave it attached to the bike indefinitely, as it keeps the battery topped off automatically. Doesn't say what power it consumes - but since the output is only 1.25 amps at 12 volts (15 watts), that's only like .125 amps or so at 120 VAC. You don't need one with more than 2 amps output... the aim is to simply trickle charge the battery and keep it topped off.
Motobatt is another brand.
You can get them at a dealer, or on eBay for around $20-$25. The waterproof ones are more expensive - around $60-$65.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,881
Likes: 7
From: North Georgia
There are different brands - but a lot of people use the Battery Tender brand, by Deltran Corp in Deland, FL. - www.batterytender.com.
We have a little "Battery Tender Plus" that provides 1.25 amps to trickle charge the battery. You can leave it attached to the bike indefinitely, as it keeps the battery topped off automatically. Doesn't say what power it consumes - but since the output is only 1.25 amps at 12 volts (15 watts), that's only like .125 amps or so at 120 VAC. You don't need one with more than 2 amps output... the aim is to simply trickle charge the battery and keep it topped off.
Motobatt is another brand.
You can get them at a dealer, or on eBay for around $20-$25. The waterproof ones are more expensive - around $60-$65.
We have a little "Battery Tender Plus" that provides 1.25 amps to trickle charge the battery. You can leave it attached to the bike indefinitely, as it keeps the battery topped off automatically. Doesn't say what power it consumes - but since the output is only 1.25 amps at 12 volts (15 watts), that's only like .125 amps or so at 120 VAC. You don't need one with more than 2 amps output... the aim is to simply trickle charge the battery and keep it topped off.
Motobatt is another brand.
You can get them at a dealer, or on eBay for around $20-$25. The waterproof ones are more expensive - around $60-$65.
Yup... Battery Tender Plus, waterproof, is the one I have on my bike. 24x7x365 when I'm not riding, it will never harm your battery.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,881
Likes: 7
From: North Georgia
I hear ya, but to me not an issue of better or worse. Just different. Head out of Mesa and over towards Superior, on up to Show Low, keep arching over towards Eagar and down through the Apache National Forest to Clifton. Then back towards Mesa. Report back.
There are some wide-open spaces that will make your dream of easy-rider and get ya thinking about WHERE the next fuel stop might be.
There are a few in the Florida Crew that will slap-out a route for you that will necessitate your desire for a seat belt and a parachute.