How do you take care of your motorcycle in winter season?
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Squid
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 3
From: California
How do you take care of your motorcycle in winter season?
Winter is really a terrible season for motorcycle enthusiasts and riding in sub-zero conditions is a totally new experience for me. Many riders park their bikes for a few weeks during the winter. A friend of mine told me if I would start my bikes up once a week and let it run for a few minutes, it would prevent a lot of problems. He also suggested to use a small trickle charger to keep the battery fully charged. Wondering what kind of extra bike care should I have while winter season.?
Thanks..
Thanks..
Senior Member
Superstock
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 344
From: Concord, NC
starting it for a short time is not good for it. If you are going to start it, it needs to run for a while to get good and hot. Moisture collects inside, and it needs to get hot to burn it all off. When I lived in Ohio, I used to not let the bike sit for more than 2 weeks without starting it. When I started it, I at least took it for a ride for as long as I could stand the cold. I recall times when tears were freezing on my face because it was so cold! LOL
If you are not going to be consistant about running it, Bill's suggestion above is on track.
If you are not going to be consistant about running it, Bill's suggestion above is on track.
its a wonderful 18 here today
Member
Squid
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 88
From: Burlington, Ontario, Canada
-18 deg cel. last night ... Winter has arrived
I change the oil /filter, top of with 94 octane plus Sta-bil, pull battery out ,
and I cap the cans to avoid moisture going in .
but I'm actually making a list of "things to do" to the VTR ..
thanks to you guys and your brilliant ideas ..
I change the oil /filter, top of with 94 octane plus Sta-bil, pull battery out ,
and I cap the cans to avoid moisture going in .
but I'm actually making a list of "things to do" to the VTR ..
thanks to you guys and your brilliant ideas ..
Senior Member
MotoGP
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,132
From: Phoenix, AZ
Let's not go down that path again, there are a few true believers in the new religion on this forum, ignore them and it will remain calmer here.
Senior Member
SuperSport
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 818
From: Thornwood, NY
starting it for a short time is not good for it. If you are going to start it, it needs to run for a while to get good and hot. Moisture collects inside, and it needs to get hot to burn it all off. When I lived in Ohio, I used to not let the bike sit for more than 2 weeks without starting it. When I started it, I at least took it for a ride for as long as I could stand the cold. I recall times when tears were freezing on my face because it was so cold! LOL
If you are not going to be consistant about running it, Bill's suggestion above is on track.
If you are not going to be consistant about running it, Bill's suggestion above is on track.
J.
Senior Member
Back Marker
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 233
From: Oxnard, Ca
Senior Member
MotoGP
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,547
From: Way Out West
My 2 cents;
Much of the advice on this thread is excellent if you're mothballing your bike for 6 months, a year or more.
For three little months? Fill the fuel tank to minimize the effects of condensation. Slap two amps of battery charge on the thing for a couple of hours ever two weeks.
If you're slightly ****, syphon out most of the gas in March, top off your car or truck with it and put a few gallons of fresh in the VTR.
If that's all you do, you'll be absolutely fine.
Much of the advice on this thread is excellent if you're mothballing your bike for 6 months, a year or more.
For three little months? Fill the fuel tank to minimize the effects of condensation. Slap two amps of battery charge on the thing for a couple of hours ever two weeks.
If you're slightly ****, syphon out most of the gas in March, top off your car or truck with it and put a few gallons of fresh in the VTR.
If that's all you do, you'll be absolutely fine.
Senior Member
Superstock
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 293
same here...just a little more choke/fast idle (for my rc51) LOL
i visited worcester/boston, ma recently, despite how cool and different things are out east, its really REALLY REALLY hard to beat socal weather. 60°F is a "cold" day...:]
i recently started using a real battery tender and i can't for the life of me explain why i never did it sooner. (it gets cold enough over night that starts can be hard the next morning--not near impossible, but a little harder than usual, definitely strains the battery)
i visited worcester/boston, ma recently, despite how cool and different things are out east, its really REALLY REALLY hard to beat socal weather. 60°F is a "cold" day...:]
i recently started using a real battery tender and i can't for the life of me explain why i never did it sooner. (it gets cold enough over night that starts can be hard the next morning--not near impossible, but a little harder than usual, definitely strains the battery)
Senior Member
MotoGP
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 4,138
From: Austin, Tx
Then it's your time to go to rehab. That's the part that comes after the cast. Not the other way.
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