|  | Topic : Preparing Your Motorcycle For The Winter |  |
| | | Birdy68 | | Thor |  |  | | Reg. Date | : | 16/07/2009 | | Posts | : | 3,352 | | Location | : | Bad Zurzach, Aargau, Switzerland |
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| | Posted : 09 Nov 2009 - 15:34 Post title : Preparing Your Motorcycle For The Winter | | | OK - so there are threads here, there, everywhere - all with good inputs.
So I thought I'd condense them into a list for those who wanted to know but don't want to search through GOOGLE all night. Naturally - you are welcome to add your pennys worth or experience you have made.
Curtis Carper wrote:
"Harley highway cruiser, Japanese crotch rocket, no matter what kind of motorcycle you ride. Preparing it properly for storage now will mean it's ready to go when the snow melts next spring. Any true Harley enthusiast will tell you the only place to store your pride and joy for the winter is in the living room. To be able to polish it, turn it over daily, to just run your hands over it's robust fuel tank and occasionally sit in the saddle. After all it is your precious baby.
Not many wives will go along with that idea, so as a second best alternative a list of common sense alternatives will have to do.
Darn those sensible wives." |
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So - most state:
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By The Book
If you still have that owners' manual that came with it, there is usually a checklist for winter storage. That list should always beat any advice given you by the gear head down the street or me ??? the folks who designed your motorcycle know better than any of us what should be done. Most tasks are easy for even the most mechanically challenged to complete, otherwise:
1) General Assessment
First determine where you are going to store your bike, as where it will be stored is going to affect how you prepare it. If at all possible store it in a heated garage, heated basement, semi-heated attached garage. As a last resort an unheated, uninsulated shed with no floor in the back yard. What your looking for is a stable temperature and dry environment. When something is warmed, then cooled, back and forth it may create condensation. Both on the bike and inside the fuel tank and engine of the cycle.
2) Stabilize the fuel
They say - modern unleaded fuel only has a shelf life of 3-4 weeks before it begins to deteriorate. So - add the recommended amount of fuel stabilizer to a FULL tank of fuel, then run the engine for at least 15 minutes to work the stabilized fuel throughout the engine.
Alternatively - provided your local garage isn't too far away - go for a ride and call in at the tank station on your way home to FILL UP the tank and add the stabilizer. When riding home this should mix up the liquids and allow for it to reach the intended areas properly. This stabilizer stuff will prevent the remaining fuel residue from oxidizing and turning to varnish.
3) Fogging the valves & inner bore
The spark plugs are hard to get to on the TBird, so Engage stated that an alternative is to fog the engine. He says that inside The Home Handyman magazine, there is an article on winterizing motorcycles and they suggest fogging. Get a can of fogging compound and spray it into the intake (filter removed) while the bike is running. This should be better than putting oil into the cylinder since it will coat the intake valves as well.
4) Change your oil
After running the stabilizer through the engine the engine and oil should still be warm. It's then time to change the oil, and if equipped, the oil filter. Residual fuel and contaminants in the oil can oxidize during prolonged storage or inactivity. Changing your oil now removes all the sludge and dirt that would otherwise start to deteriorate. In addition, changing oil now guarantees fresh lubrication when it comes time to remove the bike from storage.
Don't go cheap on the oil like some sites encourage. Use a quality oil that you would normally drive with. I recommend synthetics which will survive much longer into next year's riding season, but the choice is up to you. Run the engine a few minutes to disburse the oil through the engine.
5) Clean and Lubricate
Dirt, sand, and road salts will begin to corrode and damage metal surfaces if left during storage. Give your motorcycle a good bath, wash it throughly and set it out in the sun to dry COMPLETELY.
Polish the entire motorcycle with a quality polish. Put on a heavy coat and buff it off by hand, using a soft cloth. Use a chrome polish on any chrome parts. Apply this quite heavily as well.
Lubricate the chain or check the belt drive tension. If it has a drive shaft, your lucky. Spray WD40 into cables, and onto joints, such as rear brake pedal attachment point, grease any fittings, the swing arm is a likely place for a fitting or two. Use a metal protectant spray on the underside of the frame and drivetrain. This will combat any rust on areas exposed from pitting or scratches.
6) Check fluid levels
Check all fluid levels, brake fluid, battery water level, check the coolant. Refer to the manual, how about any engine maintenance that might be due, valve adjustments, timing chain adjustments. If it needs to go to the dealer for repair or tuneup the off season is their favorite time to do that kind of work.
7) Prepare the Battery
Lead-acid batteries should be kept under a constant charge in order to prolong their life. Attach a Battery Tender or specialized charger that won't overcharge your battery. This is a special charger, very small that is designed to be left attached to the battery and plugged into the wall all the time the motorcycle is in storage. It charges at 1amp or less, make sure you only leave a charger specifically designed for this type of charging unattended for a long period of time. If you try to do this with a larger charger you WILL come home to a pile of ashes as it will burn your house down after the battery dries up and the bike catches on fire.
A trickle charger may be used but must not be run for more than a half-hour each day. This could be accomplished using an appliance timer. If your motorcycle will be stored where freezing temperatures are likely, remove the battery from the bike and place in a warm dry place. The battery should be kept charged regardless.
Battery storage myth: Placing a battery on a concrete floor will not discharge or drain the battery. Lead acid batteries by nature slowly discharge however, a concrete floor has no effect on this.
8) Check your Tires
Check the tires, are they due for replacement? If so might as well do it now, so when that first warm day arrives next spring you can head right out for a ride.
Make sure your tires are properly inflated. If you have a compressor then deflate your tires first to expel any moisture, then inflate with clean compressed air. You should repeat this step before riding again in the spring.
My dealer says to increase the pressure by 1 bar when storing over winter.
9) Cover
If your pride and joy is relegated to the tin shed in the back yard, first put down a sheet of plywood so it doesn't sit on the cold damp ground. Hopefully it is going to the back corner of the garage. Even when stored inside, your bike should be covered while stored. Use a cover that can breath and not a plastic tarp. Moisture should not be allowed to become trapped under the cover on your bike's metal surfaces. If your storage is in a barn or similar place, cover the exhaust's to prevent any unwanted creatures from making a winter den. Place plastic bags over the intake to keep moisture out.
10) Beer
Once that's done - get a cool beer out of the fridge - start up your computer and log onto your friendly Thunderbird1600.com website for the latest photographs from those who are in the warmer climates!
Tip
Most insurance companies offer special rates for winter storage of you motorcycle so check with your insurance company. So remember to let your insurance company know your bike is off the road.
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There are a hundred more suggestions out there (filling the tires with nitrogen, etc.), but for the most part these steps will ensure your investment gets a safe winter's rest. Once stored, resist the temptation of periodically starting the engine, or at least until you are ready to drain the stabilized fuel and start riding again.
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The sources where I got my information from are:
- How to Prepare Your Motorcycle for Winter Storage Curtis Carper - associatedcontent.com
- Preparing your motorcycle for a winter's nap harley-performance - harley-performance.com
- Under the New Fallen Snow - Preparing your motorcycle for winter storage epinions Read Advice - epinions.com
- Engages Fogging His Motorboat Engine Experience
| Birdy68
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Leave the pork pies for now - get the sausage rolls while they're hot!
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more info at Fuelly.com
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| | | hypervista | | Set | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 21/08/2009 | | Posts | : | 26 | | Location | : | United States |
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| | Posted : 21 Nov 2009 - 02:42 Post title : Re: Preparing Your Motorcycle For The Winter (Re: Birdy68) | | | Thanks much Birdy! It's great having this in one place, and it is that time of year (here at least).
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| | | EnGage | | Thor | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 14/07/2009 | | Posts | : | 3,155 | | Location | : | Grand Rapids, MI, United States |
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| | Posted : 17 Apr 2010 - 14:02 Post title : Re: Preparing Your Motorcycle For The Winter (Re: Birdy68) | | | Birdy - thanks for putting this here.
I believe steps 3 and 4 should be reversed - the engine oil should be changed before fogging. Running the engine to distribute the oil after the engine is fogged will burn off the fogging compound inside the cylinders.
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| | | Domino | | Set | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 29/08/2010 | | Posts | : | 230 | | Location | : | Portsmouth, Hampshire, United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 10 Oct 2010 - 21:25 Post title : Re: Preparing Your Motorcycle For The Winter (Re: Birdy68) | | | Thanks for pointing this out to us newbies Birdy. 
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Best money I ever spent.
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| | | ezrider3 | | Chaac | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 21/01/2010 | | Posts | : | 505 | | Location | : | Maryland, United States |
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| | Posted : 10 Oct 2010 - 21:47 Post title : Re: Preparing Your Motorcycle For The Winter (Re: Birdy68) | | | There's only ONE way to winterize a bike! Buy a good leather jacket and chaps and keep on riding.
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| | | mightymousesr | | Set | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 31/10/2010 | | Posts | : | 14 | | Location | : | Sun City, Arizona, United States |
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| | Posted : 12 Nov 2010 - 11:38 Post title : Re: Preparing Your Motorcycle For The Winter (Re: ezrider3) | | | WINTERIZE? I live in Sun City Arizona, never heard of the word! oh well guess I'll go Riding ......
| Those that think "Old is Slow" have NEVER ridden a V65 MAGNA!
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| | | john12121 | | Set | | | Reg. Date | : | 17/03/2011 | | Posts | : | 7 | | Location | : | United States |
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| | Posted : 17 Mar 2011 - 04:49 Post title : Re: Preparing Your Motorcycle For The Winter (Re: Birdy68) | | | I would like to suggest to first read the maintenance and repair manual which will give you valuable tips and maintenance that should be done to the bike for the winter. Even if the repair manual does not details steps of preparing for winter, it will outline maintenance and tune-up procedures for trouble free riding when the weather warms in the spring.
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| | | zolti | | Thor | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 23/03/2010 | | Posts | : | 3,127 | | Location | : | newcastle , United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 18 Mar 2011 - 21:26 Post title : Re: Preparing Your Motorcycle For The Winter (Re: john12121) | | | take her out now and agian when you can
alternatively sell it in nov and buy a new one in march rofl
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| | | lioneloxford | | Set | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 01/04/2011 | | Posts | : | 231 | | Location | : | Oxfordshire, United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 17 Apr 2011 - 13:08 Post title : Re: Preparing Your Motorcycle For The Winter (Re: EnGage) | | |
EnGage wrote:
Birdy - thanks for putting this here.
I believe steps 3 and 4 should be reversed - the engine oil should be changed before fogging. Running the engine to distribute the oil after the engine is fogged will burn off the fogging compound inside the cylinders. |
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I'm reading step 4 in a different way. I read it as taking it easy when starting it for the first time after winter, so to pump the oil around as it will have drain off some surfaces.
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| | | Recalcetrant | | Set | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 09/12/2011 | | Posts | : | 26 | | Location | : | Tasmania, Australia |
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| | Posted : 12 Mar 2012 - 03:32 Post title : Re: Preparing Your Motorcycle For The Winter (Re: lioneloxford) | | | Down here in Tasmania (near the south pole) we put on wet weather gear n slow down sometimes
| Look through the eyes of your soul and engage only the essential - Q'ero Shaman
Hence the
Thunderbird 1600 SE Red Haze
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| | | doc69 | | Set | | | Reg. Date | : | 10/09/2013 | | Posts | : | 38 | | Location | : | Green Bay, Wisconsin, United States |
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| | Posted : 22 Nov 2013 - 17:21 Post title : Re: Preparing Your Motorcycle For The Winter (Re: Birdy68) | | | Any ideas on cable lube? The Teflon coated ones shouldn't be lubed. Don't know what kind the storm has.
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