Bike sitting for a year
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 96
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From: Massachsetts, Lowell Area.
Bike sitting for a year
Hi all, 13 RG, due to medical reasons unable to ride since July 23.
. started it up several times and got to operating temp as best I could given the circumstances.
Not started since December 2023, so....
Should I change the fluids cold ( hoping by March or should it be operating temp?
Just concerned about moisture in the fluids.
Always garaged and not colder than 35 degrees F.
Thanks all, hoping to be back on the road by June.
. started it up several times and got to operating temp as best I could given the circumstances.
Not started since December 2023, so....
Should I change the fluids cold ( hoping by March or should it be operating temp?
Just concerned about moisture in the fluids.
Always garaged and not colder than 35 degrees F.
Thanks all, hoping to be back on the road by June.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 23,399
Likes: 8,509
From: Spartan Country, Michigan
Hope your medical condition is better and that you are feeling better. I would not start it and just let it idle. I would wait until you can get it out and ride for a good distance to get everything up to operating temps....15-20 miles. Then do a 3-hole change. Then check things out and enjoy.
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Joined: Aug 2007
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From: Massachsetts, Lowell Area.
Not one of those to start- run for 10 minutesm "just to hear it" guys.
don't think moisture would be an issue.
just the 1st time my machine sat idle this long.
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 317
Likes: 502
From: South Texas
@1sparky not trying to hijack your thread, but I have been curious about the same type of issue. I have a 2022 RKS bought brand new and I have clocked less than 100 miles. Between cancer treatments and COVID pneumonia it has kicked my butt. I have started it up in the garage and let it run for about 10 minutes on occasion. In my mind, the fluids should all be good, but what would the consensus be? In March, I have to take it to the dealer for the annual inspection and was thinking about doing a fluid change then, just to be safe.
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 762
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From: NE Oklahoma
Its been posted several times amongst these pages but 10-minute startups are not good at all for your ride. Especially with colder temperatures - the bike cant reach full operating temp and burn moisture off within the cold engine interior surfaces. Its best to wait until you can actually ride at least 25-30 minutes. Starting for 10-minutes only will form even more moisture and condense even further - simply complicating things. Now youve introduced potential corrosion on engine surfaces.
Best practice is to wait it out.
More importantly though, glad youll be able to ride once again and enjoy the New England backroads. Go north and have a blast up there. 😉. 🤜🏼
Best practice is to wait it out.
More importantly though, glad youll be able to ride once again and enjoy the New England backroads. Go north and have a blast up there. 😉. 🤜🏼
Last edited by OkieBill; Feb 16, 2024 at 07:39 PM. Reason: Addition
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2018
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From: Las Vegas
I don't know the answer to your question, so I won't pretend I do. But, if it were me I would ride it for a couple of hours and then change all fluids. Here's where my head is with why. It has sat for a long time. There are carbon steel moving parts everywhere that oil touches. That steel is likely to have surface rust on it. Everywhere. For that reason, iI would run it - get it hot - let the oil scrub off that rust and other contaminants, then drain while hot. If you change it now, and cold, all that rust will still be there with fresh new oil. Just something for you to think about.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2022
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From: Omaha
Kevin Baxter in youtube has two videos on his channel that explains and shows video of an engine with rust on the internal parts from starting the engine while in storage, I recommend you view them.
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Joined: Aug 2007
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From: Massachsetts, Lowell Area.
I do, love his content. Thanks.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2005
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From: SW WA.
I'd just ride it then check it after a few hundred miles but if you're worried about it change it again.
Living in a Northern state in the mountains my bikes usually sit from November until March or April without being started,I still just change oil at 5K intervals.
Of course it's garaged and on a battery tender,I might change the battery this year before we take a long vacation ride just because it's the original from 2019.
I put 200,000 miles on my last bike and it was never an issue,28,000 on this one so far.