How do you store your bike?

[Pat Kelly]

What makes it tolerable (if not actually pleasant) to ride in winter is the huge Pacifico fairing (with lowers). My feet are behind the alt and timing covers (warm) and the fairing lowers keep the warm engine air directed to my legs. The Fairing and windshield deflect nearly all the cold air, enough that the helmet vents don't get sufficient airflow to dissapate faceshield fogging. The only part I can't seem to keep warm is my thumbs. I'm sure "Hippo hands" would cure that but haven't bought them (yet).

[81xsproject]

The modding never stops and winter is when I try to do it. Plus, the coast allows for a few decent riding days during the winter.

This winter, I think I will get a gasket kit and stop the oil leaks. Maybe even go for paint.

[cywelchjr]

I rode all winter last year, and I intend to spend most of this winter riding too. It's one of the few good things about Kalifornia.

[bikerphil]

I just cover her up with a blanket when it drops below 60F here at night in the winter months.

[yamahansolo]

i ride all winter! heated grips and ski bibbs!

[ozlad]

no winter to worry about....ride all year long so no storage worries.. AHHH those loverly tropics...

[blue giant]

I'm still on the fence as to whether I get them ready for storage or keep the heat on in the garage and putter with some small winter projects I have in mind. Now that Mrs. BG has a hot tub, keeping both heated all winter might cut into my "bike stuff" budget.

[randy]

The past couple of winters, I've used stabil in a full tank, pulled the battery and kept it on a trickle charger. No problems each spring. This winter, though, I'll be pulling the motor to install a new starter clutch so it'll be a 'dry storage'

[foreda]

Storage??

Winter? What winter? We have no winter in South La. I do keep my bikes in a controlled enviroment though.

[blue giant]

The past couple of winters, I've used stabil in a full tank, pulled the battery and kept it on a trickle charger. No problems each spring. This winter, though, I'll be pulling the motor to install a new starter clutch so it'll be a 'dry storage'

Sounds like a kitchen table project Randy!

[randy]

Yup, and with no SWMBO in house no everday cleanup sweet

[CatatonicBug]

Storage,who stores them?? Actually, I do put stabilizer int he fuel, but in between upgrades and working on wha tmigh tbe ailing her, I ride the machine every chance I get. 24 deg F is a bit to cold, but 38 and above I can bundle up enough to get a few miles in.

I'm with you! As long as the roads aren't icy, I'll be riding. I just changed the oil to a lower viscosity for the winter months, but that is about all the "winterizing" I'll be doing.

[thebottle]

I don't know what I will be doing. When I had my Goldwing and my Hurricane I just parked them in the garage without doing anything to them and they always fired up and ran perfectly the next spring.

With this bike however, I am not planning on selling it. I want to keep it as long as I can ride. I love my XS and I am putting so much work into it that I will most likely baby it by my standards every winter.

I currently have it torn apart and am piecing it back together, but after it gets put back together I most likely will dump seafoam into the gas tank, run it awhile, and then drain the carbs. I will put new gear and engine oil in it since I drained everything to take the engine out. I obviously will grease all the inserts and gears since it is apart as well.

Next winter I will most likely just run the seafoam and drain the carbs and then park it. Then before I start riding it in the spring change the oil and go over the gears and inserts with grease. That is how I usually do it.

[79XS11F]

I'm still on the fence as to whether I get them ready for storage or keep the heat on in the garage and putter with some small winter projects I have in mind. Now that Mrs. BG has a hot tub, keeping both heated all winter might cut into my "bike stuff" budget.

Hey Paul, I was on the fence as well but I decided to get my bike storage and yard work all done and behind me along with prepping the lawn mower and snow thrower, the boat, the camper and other yard chores etc etc. Man the more motorized stuff I buy the less time I have to use them. Something always seems to need to be prepped for something or another. In any case if we should happen to have a real nice weekend come along I can roll out the 79 and fire her up for a run. Only the Kat is in "long term" storage.
Rob

[mstic2000]

On any bikes I've ever owned, I let em sit in a cold garage, no seafoam, no trickle charger, no heat, no preppy preping , just start em up once in a while and in the spring they are just fine. Never had a problem. If it ain't living it don't need heat.