I got a 2007 FLHTC that I rarely ride because of a heart issue. I Love my scooter and hate to think about getting rid of it so I keep up on the insurance and keep the battery tender on it in case I want to ride. My question is how often should the fluids be changes on a rarely ridden 96 cu.in. Harley. I had all the fluids changed about two and a half years ago and have logged in about 800 miles sinse. I use Harley Syn. in the motor and primary and Mobile 1 in the trans.. I want to do the right thing for the bike but hate to change syn. fluids after only 800 miles . There is currently 36,000 on the bike and it has always had syn. oil since new. I do go out and start it about once a month and let it get good and warmed up.
I have learned thru life that the only stupid question is the one that was not ask, so I'm asking, should I just go ahead and drop it off at the dealer and change all the fluids or should I just leave it alone and ride it for another few hundred miles ?
Thanks in advance for any help on this question and Roll Safe !!!

 

Your avatar suggests you are in Indiana. If it were me, I would change it at least annually and if you can't ride it, find someone you trust who can put miles on it. Just my thoughts for what it's worth, letting it sit is the worst thing for it. Just like a motorhome, they need to be run periodically.

 

Indiana here also. All my vehicles, boats and bikes always get an oil change in the fall right before they are put up for the winter, regardless of hrs/miles. Gets any impurities out.

 

 

That bike needs to be ridden a few miles and brought up to temp. Just running it in the garage is doing more damage than good. I wouldn't be starting it and letting it idle without taking it for a long ride.

I would change the fluids in it.

 

change at least 1x a year IMO.....preferably before winter storage. May wanna throw some fuel stabilizer in your gas tank as you ride so infrequently. Maybe worth doing each time you ride to keep the fuel treated for long spells of inactivity.

 

I'll add to the dog pile, I don't let any of my engines go mroe than a year without fresh fluid.

 

I would be concerned about the tires as well. Tires age and become unsafe over time regardless of the miles on them. How old are the tires currently on the bike?

 

Wouldn't bother with the transmission or primary drive. Those wear their oils through usage and have no problems just sitting there for years on end.

Engines on the other hand contaminate oil with combustion byproducts. While I and many others have let engines go for years without oil change, it isn't really a good practice. Not so much from a dirty or break down perspective, but because you actually can have some acids build up in dirty oil, which can etch metal. That's not something you want to happen to bearings.

So, changing the engine oil in the fall and letting the bike sit and winter over is generally a good idea. Warm dirty oil drains out better than cold dirty oil, but any oil change is better than no oil change.

When you change the oil, go ahead and start the engine and let it run for a few minutes. That circulates the new and clean oil throughout the engine, washing away much of the dirty oil coating.

Even if you never ride it again, if it brings you joy to have the bike there, enjoy it.

 

On a low mileage bike I don't and indeed haven't changed oils every year. Been doing that for over 50 years and haven't got caught out yet! To change oil there is no doubt that doing so with a warm engine is best, however as there is no urgency you can simply remove the drain plug and leave the bike over night or even longer. You have time on your side! As you have felt the need to ask, it is certainly worth changing the engine oil now, as already suggested. Then you can relax until next time.