winter storage
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,027
Likes: 4
From: Eastern NE
Same here. Have a piece of carpet that is sufficient length/width to accomodate my bike. Never had a problem. I also cover it with some flannel sheets. Stored at the dealer this year in heated storage. Never got even 1 day riding last winter. Snow, slush, saline solution on roads and salt. Lousy winter. Suppose with my luck, there will be several riding days this winter.
Last edited by Cornhusker; Nov 25, 2010 at 10:53 AM.
Supporter
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 6,724
Likes: 234
From: Altoona, Pa.
No too sure if I'd try to block the moisture between the concrete and plastic barrier. Sounds like a real good way to get some mold growth going on there. Do like parking the tires on some carpet though. Keeping a water proof cover off the bike is the big deal. just loss a couple flannel sheets to keep the dirt and dust off.
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 399
Likes: 2
From: C-bus
I just use big piece of cardboard under them which keeps moisture away from tires and have some large absorbent packs laying under the bikes. Carpet is fine but remember it is porous so if you using it to stop moisture tape some plastic (like a garbage bag) on the underside to stop the moisture from permeating through.
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 803
Likes: 1
From: Port St. Lucie FL
My bike is stored in the garage (unheated unfortunately) on a 4x8 ft rubber parking mat to keep if off the concrete and away from floor moisture. Covered it with the HD breathable storage cover, hooked it up to a Battery Tender Jr, and put her to bed for the winter with a full tank and fuel stabilizer. Its the only vehicle in the garage so there's plenty of room around it for air movement. I also made sure the cover was pulled down nice and tight around the end of the pipes so any critters won't get ideas about a winter home! Hopefully this is all enough.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 5,413
Likes: 17
From: eastern oklahoma
if you check at the local farm and ranch supply stores, you can find horse trailer rubber floor mat. i think it's a 3' X 7' sheet. it's what i park my bike on when i've got it stored in my shop which has a concrete floor. the mat cost under 30 bucks and is about 5/8" thick. dense black rubber and it seems to block the cold from the floor quite well.
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 836
Likes: 1
From: Rocky Hill, CT.
Also put extra air in the tires.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,816
Likes: 2
From: New Hampshire
Is a tender a must have? I've never used one the past couple of years with my VTX and there doesn't seem to any ill effects in starting the following spring.....
Now with the Road King I have the security system so will that kill the battery over the winter without a tender?
I know it probably is a good idea but is it a must? Storage is in a garage under (non heated)
Now with the Road King I have the security system so will that kill the battery over the winter without a tender?
I know it probably is a good idea but is it a must? Storage is in a garage under (non heated)
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 34,654
Likes: 36,249
From: outskirts of ba habba
Don't know for sure if its classified as a "must have" Port Dawg....
but it surely ranked at the top of my "want list".
4 months in this cold climate can't be good .... and a battery tender
is very inexpensive.
but it surely ranked at the top of my "want list".
4 months in this cold climate can't be good .... and a battery tender
is very inexpensive.
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Road Master
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 803
Likes: 1
From: Port St. Lucie FL
I've always been told that when you store the bike long term, like for the winter, either plug the bike into a tender or pull the battey and put that on some sort of charging/maintenance device. I'm sure others with more mechanical know-how than me will chime in here.
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,979
Likes: 4
From: Central IL
It doesn't matter what you put down on the floor. Unless you have a heated garage you are going to have condensation form on metal parts when there is a significant warm up (and the increase in humidity usually associated with such) after it has been real cold for a while.