Winter Maintenance?

[Mej]

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[fizzwheel]

Riding that much I wouldnt bother with the optimate. Its not going to do any harm, but the battery should be OK. My GSXR lasted 3 months sat in the garage with no use and it still started OK without being on the optimate.

Personally get some ACF-50 and spray all the metal bits, ( apart from the brakes ) with that, then just ride it and put it away when you're done.

Then come spring, give it a through wash to remove all the ACF-50 and the dirt thats sat on the top of it off. WD40 wont stop the shiney bits going rusty...

If you ride alot over winter, striping cleaning and rebuilding your brakes is a good idea.

Personally I wouldnt worry about it to much, coating it with ACF-50 is the best thing you can do with it IMHO.

[Biker Biggles]

I would use the Optimate.Dont need it on all the time,but a few hours every couple of weeks keeps the battery fully charged which is what makes them last a long time.
Otherwise remember the chain needs more lubing in crappy weather and rinse the salt off as often as possible if you dont use ACF50

Originally Posted by fizzwheel

Riding that much I wouldnt bother... Then come spring... ACF-50 and the dirt thats sat on the top of it off. If you ride alot over winter, striping cleaning and rebuilding your brakes is a good idea.

Personally I wouldnt worry about it to much, coating it with ACF-50 is the best thing you can do with it IMHO.

All +1

If you ride this much in the winter don't worry about the engine or fuel works. Just keep the exposed mechanical bits well covered as above and you'll be fine.

[Mej]

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Originally Posted by J2UK

keep it in the garage which helps i guess?

The garage is the best place as long as it's not damp. Keep it out of the **** the garage is great!

I always wash the bike after every use in these road conditions. I'm using Scottoiler FS365 as protection but the downside to this is that it washes off so you need to keep reapplying. I will move on to ACF-50 when the FS365 runs out although I believe it holds all the dirt so visually it won't look to great but IS well protected.

so does scottoiler FS365 do the sae job as this ACF-50 product?? got the free bottle that a voucher was posted here for and wasnt really sure how to use it!!!

[yorkie_chris]

FS365 is like one of those tribute acts that gets the words wrong. ACF50 doesn't get washed off when it rains and does a better job of creeping into the places you don't get to when cleaning it.

[Viney]

Originally Posted by J2UK

What kind of winter maintenance should i do if i am riding once or twice a week for about two hours at a time?

I have got the optimate which i use after i ride, but are you supposed to leave it on all the time?

I also realise that you should be spraying WD40 on all the nuts and bolts apart from the brakes.

I give my brakes a wish with the hose after i have ridden the bike to try and get rid of some of the salt, which the dealer recommended.

Anything else?

Dont ride it int he winter This ACF50 stuff is good (apprently!). Never used it myself but when when look at my bike you can see that!!! This year im going for the 'year of dirt' protection!! Just give it a clean once a week. I used to for the 1st ocuple of years...

Originally Posted by fizzwheel

If you ride alot over winter, striping cleaning and rebuilding your brakes is a good idea.

Just give them the once over say early december, then again in march time. A can of brake cleaner will help here. Pop the calipers off, give them a good squirt (Pads as well) then put back on. If you want to be really good, then get some red grease for the pistons and a pit of copper slip on the pin.

Vernas SV ahs sat outdies for 2 years now and without an optimate has started everytime without fail. Last year it only done 1800 miles!!!