After winter...

This is where I show myself for the total newbie (and all-round forgetful idiot) that I am when it comes to biking! I therefore bow to those with superior knowledge / experience (and open myself up for a flaming ) and beg their assistance...

The SV has been in the garage for a long time over its 1st winter. Nothing new there, plenty of people store their bike over winter etc...

However, since I never truly intended to store it over winter (I thought I'd buy some winter gear and get out for a blast every few weeks or so on a sunny winter's day - sadly this never happened due to a. working, b. not buying any winter gear and c. going out drinking and therefore not being able to ride), the bike's been sat in the same spot since the beginning of December without any preparation for a spell in storage!

Searching the forum has brought up loads of tips on preparation for storage, but not much on my particular problem.

Obviously I'll do the normal checks that I did whilst riding last year (lube & adjust chain, check tyre pressures, check oil) - but what other problems / tasks will i have?

The bike has almost a full tank, since I'm generally in the habit of filling up after a ride so that it's ready to go whenever the fancy takes me, but will this fuel have 'gone off'? Should I change the oil & filter?

Also, I've bought an Oximiser for the battery - any tips on its fitting / usage would be great, especially seeing as the immobiliser will probably have rendered it flatter than a week-old pint of lager...

Any other advice / things to look for would be gratefully received.

BTW it's a K5.

Drain the petrol and replace it...

Other than that I can't help, I'm a hard b*rstuard me, ride all year round

.

[Blue Flame]

Brakes will need a look at as well methinks!! They may have seized after sitting in (possibly) damp conditions over winter.

[tigersaw]

Mines been in the garage since November, I've been using the trail bike. It was not a concious decision to store it, I just stopped using it when the weather got cold, locked it up and put a blanket over it.

Only the other day I thought it was about time I checked its' readyness, although I'll not be taking it out just yet, not until there are no remnants of salt on the roads.
It fired up instantly, everything such as clutch and brakes all function fine.

I'm sure yours will be fine too.

Originally Posted by tigersaw

Mines been in the garage since November, I've been using the trail bike. It was not a concious decision to store it, I just stopped using it when the weather got cold, locked it up and put a blanket over it.

Only the other day I thought it was about time I checked its' readyness, although I'll not be taking it out just yet, not until there are no remnants of salt on the roads.
It fired up instantly, everything such as clutch and brakes all function fine.

I'm sure yours will be fine too.

I really do not understand why you have to wait till all the salt is off the road. I rode mine right thru winter and washed it down with a cold hose to get salt of....looks as good as new.

[Richie]

I'll be fine just ride it...

[Richie]

Check tyre pressures,
drain & replenish fuel.
charge battery and check all lights,
change engine oil filter + oil (not necessary but ease of mind),
check brakes for function + rust on disc's & exposed brake piston at the callipers,
lube chain & adjust if ness
lube the clutch & throttle cables,
Lube the brake + gear change pedal,
check coolant level.
check front forks for rust spots & oil leaks, check rear shocker for the same,
remove both spark plugs ( check gap + clean if ness) and stick a thimble full of engine oil down each bore and put the bike in gear and turn the engine over using the back wheel. to oil the bore.
put the bike in neutral ( with the plugs still out) and turn the engine over on the starter motor.. This put the oil back around the engine so you did not get any dry stops.. (gets the oil to the little end bearing in the con rod)
replace spark plugs and leads, start her up and go for a spin.

this is going over the top a little but better to check them and know you've done a through check or a little niggling thing in your heads starts chatting away, what if, whats that ... sort of thing... (or I'm I the only one to hear it?)
hope this helps Andy.

Originally Posted by tigersaw

Mines been in the garage since November, I've been using the trail bike. It was not a concious decision to store it, I just stopped using it when the weather got cold, locked it up and put a blanket over it.

Only the other day I thought it was about time I checked its' readyness, although I'll not be taking it out just yet, not until there are no remnants of salt on the roads.
It fired up instantly, everything such as clutch and brakes all function fine.

I'm sure yours will be fine too.

aint used mine either and its fine.

Cheers for the advice guys

Will give everything a thorough check, esp' the brakes, hadn't thought of them seizing. My garage is pretty dry but damned cold in winter.

Is draining the fuel really necessary? I've read a couple of comments on here since i posted, that said a full tank wouldn't be too much of a problem. will it do any serious harm if I don't bother? I only ask cos I wouldnt have a clue how to dispose of the fuel!

Originally Posted by El Saxo

Cheers for the advice guys

Will give everything a thorough check, esp' the brakes, hadn't thought of them seizing. My garage is pretty dry but damned cold in winter.

Is draining the fuel really necessary? I've read a couple of comments on here since i posted, that said a full tank wouldn't be too much of a problem. will it do any serious harm if I don't bother? I only ask cos I wouldnt have a clue how to dispose of the fuel!

If the tank was full then the u’ll get away with the fuel, but ideally drain it off. Even siphoning ½ off and putting some nice fresh stuff back in diluting the old would be a good idea, or perhaps putting some octane booster in it?! If you decide jut to run it, then I wouldn’t run the whole tank, do say 50 miles then top it up with high octane stuff

You say you have an optimiser? Have you been using it?! If not it’d probably be poorly by now, but if you have an alarm/’mobiliser then it will almost certainly be dead and unrecoverable.

You can try charging it, but chances are you will need a new one. People have said good things to check, but to be honest if it was me I’d just pop a new battery in, pump the tyres up and ride it!!! But that’s me and I am stupid!