Winter Storage - Help for a virgin storer!

[Bracechenko]

This year is the 1st year that i'm fortunate enough to own 2 bikes. Namely a FZS600 commuter and a FZ1 weekend toy. But, as soon as the salt goes down i'll be retiring the FZ1 until the Spring and just wondered if there's anything that I should be doing?

What do you guys do? I don't want to go to any extreme lengths (ie, filling engine with oil etc) but was just thinking of dis-connecting the battery and bringing it indoors and maybe once a month i'd fire it up and let it idle up to temp?

Will that do?

[locksmith]

Me, I'd clean it and put it in the corner of the garage with a dust cover over it. Come the spring, plug a charger in and a day later fire her up!

[Bracechenko]

Hmmm....dust cover..I need one of those 

[BIG MAC]

send it to me

[Bracechenko]

send it to me

 

[mr grimsdale]

Me, I'd clean it and put it in the corner of the garage with a dust cover over it. Come the spring, plug a charger in and a day later fire her up!

  ...works for me..

[richfzs]

thats all you need to do...

[mr grimsdale]

Me, I'd clean it and put it in the corner of the garage with a dust cover over it. Come the spring, plug a charger in and a day later fire her up!

  ...works for me..

Ps...I also cover it in wd40....smells great when you fire it up in the spring......

[oldmotherfoccer]

get it cleaned, yourself or using a good bike valet service like allyear biker or  shineybikesyndrome then dust cover then centre stand then bed time, then spring - then get out and ride while all your mates are busy cleaning theirs

[pointer2null]

lots of cling film? 

Seriously, if you do start it "once a month" make sure you allow the engine to get to normal working temp. If you don't (say only run in for a minute) then you are not getting the innards hot enough to shift any condensation.

Personally, if you're just storing it over winter I wouldn't bother starting it, just keep the battery topped up. If you plan to store it for longer then you want to look at taking the weight off the tires and protecting it against corrosion/rust etc. I vaguely remember an article in one of the bike mags about storing bikes - Ride possibly?

[DILLIGAFF]

Take it down to Nooj for an SPF50 treatment. Then put it to bed.

[Captain Haddock]

I'd be tempted to turn the fuel off and let it run out so the carbs are not full of crud in spring(either by running or through float bowl drain screws), modern fuel leaves some horrible gunge behind when it evaporates.
Make sure it's been properly up to temp before storing, if you just fire it up and run it for a few minutes it will sit full of condensation all winter and rot.

[Bracechenko]

Thanks all, seems like the thing to do is to clean it and leave it for the winter without bothering to fire it up every now and again. I've just taken it out on a big blast so any cobwebs are blown away.

Seems simpler than I thought then, night night FZ1 

[Grahamm]

Take it down to Nooj for an SPF50 treatment. Then put it to bed.

SPF 50? Isn't that for leaving it out in the sun...?

[locksmith]

Captain, FZ1 ain't got no carbs!
As I said above, I just park mine up. My current one hasn't got an alarm and just fires up as soon as you touch the button, weeks after last riding it.

[dx408]

When I stored mine (OK more then over the winter) washed it then covered it in WD40 coated the chain in lube all bolts etc covered in grease and put polish on all the paintwork but did not clean off. When it came to reviving it rubbed off the polish jet washed the grease etc off fired it up no problems did not empty the carbs or turn fuel off I did start it about every couple of months (buy buy WD40) left it run until the fan cut in waiting for it to go off then turned the bike off, it was on an optimate all the time so did not have a problem with the bat '98 FZS 600 hence the grease on bolts etc. 

[dolau]

I have an FZ6 so there is no alarm which used to trash the battery on my old FZS6 I have an optimate now and will keep it on trickle charge.
 
I did read somewhere that you should put it on the centre stand and put a piece of polystyrene under the front tyre - cant remember why- cold floor or something.
 
So the brakes dont seize up I tend to ride mine occassionally through the winter on sunny cold days where the salt is not on the roads. I tend not to wash it before I put it away as the discs allways seem to get very rusty until you next take it out.
 
I also over lubricate the chain as that will just sit there through the winter- probably doesnt do any good but makes me feel better!
 
I like to ride on cold winter days so its no problem for me to keep the bike free and ready for when I ride out in the spring and I havent lost all my riding skills over winter- but you said you had a winter hack (is that insulting of your FZS?) so you probably still ride that.
 
I wonder if anyone has done a study into the relationships between accidents and bikers whi have had a winter lay off from riding?

[BIG MAC]

If and when I put a bike in storage (I often dont bother)  and running a stored bike I will  put it on the stand and carefully  put it in gear letting out the clutch partially to allow the rear wheel to turn this helps delay the onset of tight spots in the chain and allows me to apply the rear brake a few times and clean the crud off the disc also helps prevent clutch seizure.... I also before starting give the bike a good shake from side to side this helps slosh some fuel about and coat the high reaches of the tank and also seems to ensure floats dont stick etc.. I let tyres down a few psi and put a block under the engine so that the wheels are off the deck and bearings therefore not sitting taking the weight on one spot month after month...

[Captain Haddock]

Captain, FZ1 ain't got no carbs!

Doh! Me bad.

[Bracechenko]

Dolau - I'd never call my FZS 'a winter hack'....shame on you!  It's a total trooper of a bike and will always bring a smile to my face  . I will be getting the wheels off the ground though to save tyres/bearings

Big Mac - Yep, cheers for the advice. Think I just need to order a dust cover and we're ready to go

[Major Rant]

just thinking of dis-connecting the battery and bringing it indoors and maybe once a month i'd fire it up and let it idle up to temp?

Good plan ... The OEM spec "Gel" battery is VERY fragile when its discharged or been left a while (and they self-discharge at about 2% per day so in about 30 days it stands a good chance of being shagged). Modern AGM batteries are a lot better but you should still charge them every 2 weeks or so.
 
The worst thing you can do to a battery (besides dropping it or setting it on fire!) is to let it discharge to 10 percent capacity and then say "Right- now let's have 100 amps to crank my cold engine with dead fuel in its carbs".
 
Expect "Sudden Battery Death Syndrome" if you do that.
 
And ... If you haven't got an optimate or similar, make sure the 'on-charge' battery voltage doesn't go above 13.5V

[mickdel]

Is it worth putting some of that fuel stabiliser stuff in the tank, so it doesn't go "off"? Guy I bought a bike from a few years ago (it was a very good bike) used it as it was laid up for most of the year.   Just thought I'd mention it.    I used to spray mine from top to bottom with acf50 and left it at that.

[dickturpin]

I recall the thing about getting the tyres off the floor was to stop the rubber drying out against the concrete!

[Captain Haddock]

I recall the thing about getting the tyres off the floor was to stop the rubber drying out against the concrete!

I thought that was more to avoid cracks and perishing at the flat spot where the sidewall bulges.

[dickturpin]

Maybe it's both!   Are we paranoid?