View Full Version : Prep the bike for Winter
Chipstix
10-09-05, 08:33 AM
Hi all,
Quick question, had a search but can't find a direct answer.
Going to put my bike away soon for the Winter (I know summers not over yet but alas I have to go away for a couple of weeks and when I get back I think it will be distinctly autumn!)
The bike wil be in a barn (sheltered but will get cold and damp-ish I expect), locked and covered (Oxford Stormex), I intend to buy an Optimate charger, and the fuel is topped up...
My question is, what - if anything - should I add to the fuel to stop it from 'going off' over the winter?
Are there any other tips for things I should do?
I should be able to idle the bike for brief periods over the winter if that would do it good...
Cheers
You seriously are just going to put the bike away until next year? I didn't realise people really did that.
er was under the impression you emptied the tank when storing over winter and didnt keep fuel in there because it goes off... :?
Cloggsy
10-09-05, 11:03 AM
You can buy a Fuel additive to preserve the fuel in the tank...
You can also take the plugs out & put a teaspoot of engine oil in each cylinder too...
I don't bother normally, I just periodically start the bike up through the winter months, or if its a nice day, go for a little spin... Just make sure you wash it thoroughly when you do, just to take the road salt off etc :wink:
wheelnut
10-09-05, 11:49 AM
Dont leave the tank empty, fill it right up, there are 2 reasons for this, one is that unleaded fuel can solidify or jellify (is that a word)? keeping it filled stops that, The other more important reason, is by next summer you will not be able to afford a tankful of petrol as it will need a mortgage on the bike to buy a litre :D
I dont lay my bike up as there are nice riding days in December and February, but I have read that it is better to put it on a pair of paddock stands and keep the tyres off the floor, oil the cylinders, wd every thing else, fork sliders, shocker etc Give it a good clean before you put it away, and I wouldnt cover it up if it is in a barn, it may sweat under a bike cover.
There are plenty of nice riding days in winter and no excuse to lay up the bike all winter! But if you do leave it uncovered and start it up every now and then and let then engine warm up and run a bit.
For purely practical reasons I prefer the full tank principle. It's easy, and fuel in bulk tends to survive longer than small quantities. I often add some injector cleaner product (in the recommended quantities, Redex or similar) which ought to help minimise gum/varnish build-up anywhere (injector cleaner is fine in carbs too).
Note we are still on "summer" fuel which probably will have a slightly better shelf-life than the more volatile "winter" fuels, but you might find it's a touch more tricky to start if the weather gets really cold.
Starting and running occasionally isn't a bad idea, but keep it to a minimum. Cold starts are the worst thing for any engine, encouraging bore washing (fuel), fuel and condensation contamination of oil etc. Due to the fuel volatility issue, try to choose a mild day to start it.
I usually run engines once a month during lay-up. Start it normally but don't leave it idling (very slow warm-up, bad for bores and valve gear etc).
Once it has settled after 10-20sec or so, gradually ease the speed up on the throttle (get choke off as soon as possible if carbs) and hold it steady at say 3000rpm. Don't repeatedly blip the throttle, it achieves nothing apart from sounding sporty.
Keep it there at least until the coolant has reached normal temp (i.e. the rad is hot all the way across).
Note that exhaust pipes can get very hot on the SV running like this, rig up a fan if at all possible or choose a breezy day.
Change the engine oil before you lay it up so it is nice and clean. A couple of cold starts won't cause it harm.
Check the coolant is in good condition (thinking freezing here), change it if it's several years old or looks grubby.
You might well want to change brake fluid after the lay-up period in case it's absorbed moisture, though in reality it makes little difference to if it's in regular use.
A little clean engine oil on the chain to keep rust off.
WelshWop
10-09-05, 01:50 PM
As said above. Put the bike on stands if possible as concrete will absorb(sp) the vital oils from your tires. Also, leaving one part of the tyre on the ground (deformed). May cause the carcass of the tyre to permenantly deform.
As for a cover, surely a breathable cover is better than none? Keeps the moisture out, and releases any moisture on the bike.
tank should be full, an empty tank will get condensation and rust on the inside
add fuel stabilizer (we have Stabil brand here in the states) run the engine a bit to get stabilized fuel in the carbs
change oil
wash & wax bike
remove battery and keep indoors, put on battery tender occasionally
starting bike occasionally will not keep battery up unless you ride it at least 15-20 minutes, letting it idle will only drain it
the REAL way to prep a bike for winter is to add heated grips, a lead for electric clothing, and knobby motard tires
the REAL way to prep a bike for winter is to add heated grips, a lead for electric clothing, and knobby motard tires
:winner:
bikes are meant to be ridden... and with global warming you'll find winter wont really hit til end Jan beginning Feb.
Being off the bike that long you'll see a sunny day [last xmas day was one good ride - sun and no traffic on way to my mums :D ] and wish you could go out on the bike... :D
Cloggsy
10-09-05, 05:01 PM
Put the bike on stands
Mine stands on paddock stands all the time :D
suzsv650
10-09-05, 05:08 PM
HAHAHAHAHAHA! !
your puting your bike away for winter! omg!
moron! be a man! rain dosent hurt!
HAHAHAHAHAHA! !
your puting your bike away for winter! omg!
moron! be a man! rain dosent hurt!
it is at this point I would like to state that unless youre Rictus, Blizzards DO hurt should you find yourself riding in 3 inches of snow on a concrete ungritted motorway... :cry:
suzsv650
10-09-05, 05:50 PM
peh bloodey fair weather riders... shouldnt be allowed on the road... after all you gain most experiance in the winter!
peh bloodey fair weather riders... shouldnt be allowed on the road... after all you gain most experiance in the winter!
oh hush up with the fair weather crap. Ive slapped people for less than that :P :lol: :lol: :lol: I am the last person you can call a fwr... :P :lol:
I ride 122 miles a day in all weather, and I mean all weather. I wouldnt recommend being out in a blizzard if youre not happy with riding in the rain. :D
yes it does develop your skills but there comes a point when the weather makes it just unbelievably dangerous and it really isnt a good idea being out in it and if youre caught in that kind of weather you can only hope you get home ok. :P :lol: :lol:
Put the bike on stands
Mine stands on paddock stands all the time :D
SO when you gona ride it then Cloggsy ???
jonhunt
10-09-05, 06:19 PM
if ya ride your bike in winter it a good time to c how u can control your bike in all condishons makes you a safer rider??
goin sideways in snow and ice brakein control and pullin away makes it all better
just rember to was it more often oil everythink and lub and it be fine
enjoy the brit weather.
snow is so much fun on a bike
snow is so much fun on a bike
on a trailie/off roader perhaps.
not if its a SV and it goes down its not and youve got HGVs hurtling down the motorway at you...
seriously I wouldnt recommend it to anyone unless theyre extremely happy about their wet weather riding or can deal with ice. To say otherwise is a little irresponsible and doesnt take into account the people youre posting to may not have the experience you have.
you may know how to save it, but someone else may learn the hard way that it hurts when you get it wrong, not only the damage to the bike but if they get hit by something else that cant stop.
kwak zzr
10-09-05, 07:49 PM
snow is no fun on a bike! the last bike i rode in the snow was a suzuki gp100 and the carb froze wide open< brown trouser moment! i am now an FWR and more sensible :D live longer and take the CAGE!
I ride when i can thru winter BUT if there is bad fog, heavy rain or ice/snow forecast i normally opt to take the car cos i like my creature comforts at times and feel a lot safer in a cage in bad weather. Now if that makes me a FWR than i am cool with that but i know not everyone wants or has the use of a cage and i respect em for riding thru all sorts of weather.
northwind
10-09-05, 09:50 PM
All weather riding's fine, but you still want to use your head about it. Really heavy fog is just plain dangerous for bikes, as is standing snow with standard tyres. You can ride in either, but really IMO it's pretty daft. I'll ride in anything if I have to, but if I wake up and see more than a cm of snow on the road, or really bad visibility, I get a taxi to work...
21QUEST
10-09-05, 11:17 PM
To be honest your main problem is other road users.
I ride in all weather. I really don't mind snow that much although if I get up and find it's snowing , I just go back to bed. It's ice you want to be worried about. I've had both wheel drifting which is okay provided you don't need to stop in a hurry :lol: . Nice and easy baby :?
In saying that the most terrifying situation I've had on a bike was going done the M23. Started off okay , just a bit wet from the melted snow the previous day , then suddenly slush(like rteally deep). I had just pulled out to overtake a car and the scar in front suddenly slowed down .
I did not think I had any chance with the brakes but was not slowing down enough with engine braking so dabbed the rear brake to see how much grip I had. Ahh... not a lot and the back immediatly started fish tailing. Okay I'm not going to stop before hitting the car and so quick look in mirror managed to go to the middle lane (had to take a chance as I had to drift it across really carefully. Now I'm safer but I had to get to the hard shoulder as my heart wa beating so fast but cars why just flying past. Finally able to cross to inside lane then to hard shoulder.
Half an hour plus just calming down.
There is no doubt I would have been a goner if I'd panicked cos while all this was going on cars were going past at speed.
I blame my self for that situation as I was running late and had a larpse in my usual high standard of observation/concentration :lol: .
Cheers
Ben
Peter Henry
11-09-05, 03:39 PM
Prep the bike for winter? :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
Flamin_Squirrel
11-09-05, 09:20 PM
Prep the bike for winter? :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
Hush you. The only reason you don't prep you bike for winter is because you don't get them :lol:
Peter Henry
12-09-05, 07:44 AM
Jordan......... :-# :lol:
HAHAHAHAHAHA! !
your puting your bike away for winter! omg!
moron! be a man! rain dosent hurt!
Not the body, it hurts the bike. I'll be putting my bike to bed in october because i don't want all that salt crap ruining my bike (which has only felt rain once in her life).
My mate wheels his custom into his lounge over the winter!!
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