I hate to say it, but its getting to be that time of year again, The days are getting shorter and colder and the nights are cold and longer. Everyone has there own opinion on what to do for the winter on storage and winterizing their bike, what do you guys do. My biggest question is on the oil. Do you guys change it before you put the bike away or rite away in the spring? Ive got guys telling me not to store the bike with used oil in it because it becomes acidic and then other guys telling me to change it in the spring because the oil will get moisture in it over the winter from condensation. Im sure not gonna change it before I put away and then again before I ride it in the spring. The past couple of years I have put fuel stabalizer in the fuel, Topped the tank off with fresh fuel, changed oil, pull the battery and bring it in the house and thats it.

 

Harley Davidson has established procedures for what to do to winterize your bike. Adding fuel stabilizer to a fresh tank of gas is correct, lifting the bike off the ground would also be a good one too. As far as the oil goes. You spent $20,000 for your bike. What's 50 bucks for new oil to preserve it for the winter and then again in the spring. Your beating yourself up for nothing. I ride all year long here in Memphis, TN, but I will say that I keep the bike on a battery tender during the winter and I add stab-bil to every tank, because it might be weeks in between rides and I don't want any issues in the fuel injection system.

I keep my bike on my lift strapped down and I cover it with a breathable cover for the non-riding periods. I'm sure that if you have opportunities to ride, you will want to ride, so keep the tires aired up and take it out and start it at least twice a month to keep all the seals wet. The primary sealing system has the most seals that can leak and they usually do bringing it out from winter storage.

Good luck and stay warm.



[IMG]local://upfiles/494/4B5FEADAF5F34D88A248E5C4700747A5.jpg[/IMG]

 

I just put on a warmer jacket and ride! (As long as there is no snow or ice.)

 

I'm in the military and I go away for 6 months to a year at a time, so I'm pretty good at storing my vehicles, and having them start right back up.

Here's what I have learned over the last 16 years:

1. Concrete will dry rot your tires. Put the tires on a piece of wood, or jack the bike up, one is not better than the other. I have left my corvette and motorcycle for 7 months, no flat spots. If I were leaving them for a year, I would have someone check the pressure. Since it's going to be in your garage, check the air pressure in January.

2. Get a battery tender, nothing worse than coming home from Afghanistan, wanting to drop the top on the corvette and go for a blast only to find out that the stupid battery is dead. Preserves the life of the battery as well. There are quick connect thingies you can buy if you are so inclined, do a search, they have been covered before.

3. Gas stabilizer is a must, and it's cheap, I filled up the tank every time to reduce the amount of water build up and put the proper amount of stabilizer. One brand recommended empy, one full IIRC, I always did mine full so that I didn't have to come home to an empty tank. (nothing like spending money on fuel first thing after being in Iraq)

4. 6 months is not that long of a time for the bike to sit, if it is going to be 6 months. I never bothered with NEW oil as the oil in the bike and car wasn't THAT old to start with, it would take quite a while for that oil to go acidic, and if I'm not mistaken, it would need to be running hot to get that way. Your ride will be OFF, so no worries there.

5. Not sure what the moisture is like in your area, but if humidity is a problem, make sure that if you cover it, you cover it with something that breathes, otherwise you'll trap moisture and rust your chrome. (That would suck). I have a cover for my vette, and I use an old sheet for the bike...both are in the garage, it merely keeps dust and big stuff from accidental "whoopsies".

Winter storage ain't that big of a deal. Whenever I got back I would always re-lube my cables, as most of that might have hardened or dried out...double check your tire pressures, and you'll be fine.

Mac

 

These posts would also give you some input on storage, and always store with a full tank to avoid rust in the tank.

https://www.hdforums.com/m_67571/tm.htm

https://www.hdforums.com/m_67570/tm.htm

 

I also make sure my battery is charged and keep a full tank of gas. I start the bike about once a week and ride when it hits 40.


Terry

 

Ride it! Even here in OH we get at least one day/month when you can throw on the leathers and run around for a half hour or so..... pl

 

I have a lot of condensation in my shed so once the first salt hits the roads I put my bike in a Vacbag, basically a large plastic bag that you push the bike into, close the end and vacuum the air out. Inside the bag goes a moisture meter and a large bag of dessicant gel that removes all the moisture from inside. I fit an Optimate charger connection through the hole to take care of the battery.

The makers recomend changing oil and draining the petrol, (but I dont bother with the petrol).
As it only takes a few minutes to get the bike out, I do take it for rides throughout the winter, weather permitting.

Last year the bike was in the bag from November to March, in a very damp environment , when it came out in Spring, the polished alloy and chrome were as they were when packed, not even needing a repolish.

http://www.vac-bags.co.uk/index.htm

Lev

 

Has anybody tried Sea Foam?

Kurt

 

Thanks for the replies, And for the people who say ride it all year, you have obviously never seen a minnesota winter Once the snow starts to fly the roads become white all winter long with SALT!! Literally white!!! Im not worried about the cold, I work outside year round, I have endured more cold than any human should have to. but Im not gonna deal with icy roads or Salt. I road my springer early one time, the roads were fairly salty still, let me tell you that it was not pretty, Any little sctratch in the pipes instantly becomes rust, not to mention any blemishes or chips in the paint, anywhere that the paint is even thin becomes rust. I know a guy who escorts funerals on a e.g. with a side car, he rides it year round, and every spring anything that is chrome is not just rusty, its litteraly coming off in sheets. Not a pretty situation, if I need to ride in the winter I will be either flying to somewhere warm and renting a scoot or trailering it out of the salt belt. But Ive got too much time and money into my scoot to put it through a minnesota salty road.