Winter Problems

With the predictions already of a cold winter ahead are there any things I need to pay special attention to when leaving the bike outside on cold icy nights?

I don't have the luxury of a garage, so the bike (whilst being used most days) will stand overnight on it's own cold self.

With the exposed engine are there any things liable to freeze/pop/expand/stop working, and if so can they be prevented. Or maybe I'm just worrying too much, too early?

the obvious, make sure the coolant has enough antifreeze in it. Other than that get a good bike cover to keep the frost off. That's what I have to do as I too don't have a garage. Not that anyone is gonna nick Bucket

You will more than likely get carb icing... and i would watch out for your battery, they tend to go dead very easy over winter, especially if you have an alarm. Other than that, what ape said, a good cover. A couple of my mates also use an old duvet to try and keep some sort of heat in and the bad frost out..... they say it works, not tried it myself.

Hope this helps

Originally Posted by DeeJay

You will more than likely get carb icing.

I don't think so, not when the bike's parked up with the engine off.

Oh mate, buy a cheap shed (with a door wide enough). Or put the bike in the lounge!! Or make a lean to and attach it to your house.

The elements can batter a bike, my old CBR was left outside for two weeks while I went on holiday a few years back and I never got all the shine back.

Council garage? Bikesafe?

[rictus01]

On a more practical level,
when parking up each night with a hot engine spray over everything with a bit of WD40 (BRAKES & CONTROL SURFACES EXCLUDED ) it should create a cloud to envelope the bike.

also make sure you squirt the locks to displace any water in them.

cover the bike if possible, if not cover the fuel cap and ignition lock with something.

give the bike a good clean once a week min, and wax/polish to all the bodywork.

Make sure to grease the caliper pins well, good clean of the brakes every month or so (plenty of water/ re-grease pins).

Fenda extenda, if you haven't got one fitted, or seal the front plug.

If you do a lot of traffic work, try jacking up your idle speed a bit to keep your battery in top shape.

that should just about do, to keep everything going over the winter period.

Cheers Mark.

Originally Posted by rictus01

give the bike a good clean once a week min, and wax/polish to all the bodywork.

You been drinking?


.

[rictus01]

Originally Posted by jonboy

You been drinking?
I wish,


.

Originally Posted by rictus01

Make sure to grease the caliper pins well, good clean of the brakes every month or so (plenty of water/ re-grease pins).

Hi Mark
You talk like re-greasing the caliper pins is an easy job. Is it as simple as you make it sound?
I had pictured that you would have to strip the calipers to do this.

[rictus01]

Originally Posted by Chris V

Hi Mark
You talk like re-greasing the caliper pins is an easy job. Is it as simple as you make it sound?
I had pictured that you would have to strip the calipers to do this.

You don't even have to take them off the bike, the front are easy to get to, the rear a bit more of a problem, but not hard to do.

Once the pins are free, keeping them greased is a 5 minute job, the problem comes if you don't do it and then we're talking complete caliper strip downs and such.

Cheers Mark.