Re: Winter Storage Tips

[motoman]

Up here in the North, ( I know, it's South for some of you guys) there are a few times my garage will get below freeze temps, so I bring in the trolling motor battery and the XS battery. To get them to last more than 2-3 years, you have to baby the things.

Untrue of battery contents freezing unless it goes 'flat' or dead on voltage.

[donebysunday]

In non running bikes, I usually drain the float bowls and tank and then spray the insides of the float bowls and tank with wd 40....if you use then red tube, its easy..

It's the ethanol causes the problem/s as I see it. Blue stabil, Sea foam, and others will help keep the fuel from breaking down and turning to a mud like mixture in the float bowls. I suggest it may even have to do with some reaction to the aluminum in the carbs. Some carbs cleaners can draw the oils out of the aluminum to cause this sludge.
Still run the engine when possible if you leave the fuel in (good idea as I see it)
open the fuel valves every month to keep the bowls full as possible.
Well ?

[aquamantx]

Wish I could find non ethanol. The reason the midnight is down is because I was called out on a job for 3 weeks and had to leave next day. Got back and the dang carbs were shot. Best thing now is the v is fuel injected. handles sitting and ethanol much better.

[BA80]

Wish I could find non ethanol. The reason the midnight is down is because I was called out on a job for 3 weeks and had to leave next day. Got back and the dang carbs were shot. Best thing now is the v is fuel injected. handles sitting and ethanol much better.

3 weeks shouldn't have been an issue.

There are a few non ethanol stations near Conroe. Google non ethanol gas in Texas.

[trbig]

Seafoam is to be used in fuel as a cleaning agent, not a fuel stabilizer.

I use Seafoam in the winter with everything I own that has an engine. It's a better stabilizer than Sta-bil. In the spring after months of sitting, power washers, mowers, chainsaws, 4 wheeler, bikes, etc.. all smell like fresh gas and it's probably done some cleaning for me that it needed from normal use. Everything fires up in the spring like it did in the fall.

So, not sure why you'd make that statement, but my experience is the exact opposite. Glad you've found something that works for you though.

[aquamantx]

It did a lot of on and off sitting over the years. Po started it about every 2 weeks may have ridden it every 6 months.

[trbig]

It did a lot of on and off sitting over the years. Po started it about every 2 weeks may have ridden it every 6 months.

Oh heck.. It's wore smooth out then. Better let me take it off your hands.

[aquamantx]

Ummmmmmm. NO. It has about 65000 on the clock and currently in rehab. Like most rock stars it will be big again.

[trbig]

Well, most rock stars just keep going back to rehab... lol

[skids]

My garage gets below freezing. My neighbors probably hate me, but I run the bikes at least every 10 to 14 days for 10 minutes. I use a throttle lock and a fan if I can't ride them. Use StaBil. I have throttle locks and ear plugs. The main thing is not make sure that you don't over-charge the batteries. I haven't had to rehab the carbs in many years (knock on wood).

[Blank Slate]

Wikihow usually sucks but did a good job here

http://m.wikihow.com/Winterize-Your-Motorcycle

[BA80]

Be sure and check the antifreeze........

[ViperRon]

A good step for the bikes is put them on the centerstand or jack it up level stick a 2X4 under the front wheel so the back is down. This does a few things first if carbs and petcocks leak it goes back to filter box and not into engine. Second if you start and run the bike it is running level and does not wear the floats to where they stick open on the side of the carb bowls. And also if gas is left in it then it is sitting in there level and does not leave a scum line that is cross ways on the bowel and float pin.

[webbcraft2150]

Easy fix for everyone's problems of storage. Pull your man card out and clip it to your shirt. Move the dining room table somewhere else. Wheel the ole XS right into the spot the table was at. Put er up on the center stand. Put a couple of family pictures on the tank and seat and maybe a jar of the potpourri stuff and a couple of bar stools next to it. There, climate controlled storage. If you line the exhaust up pointing toward the sliding glass door, weekly startups should not present a problem. I am sure your cot will fit in the space the bike used to be parked in the garage.

[HalfCentury]

The first wither, 2008, that I owned the XJ650, I rode it every day that there was no snow on the roads. A few days were 10 deg F. I looked like the Michelen man on the bike.

I begin using Stabil in the fall and use it all through the winter. Just in case I get called out of town or get too busy to ride it often.

Owning a balaclava is what cured me of fearing winter rides. The only real problem is fogging of the helmet face shield. Its an art to opening it just enough to keep the fogging down while not freezing the face.

On the truly cold days I wear 3 layers of clothes and I use really good ski gloves.