13-10-13, 02:31 PM
Hi all. My bike is going to be going into storage for the winter. Whats the best way to store it, any hints and tips?
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Storing the bike
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try and keep the bare minimum of fuel in it, in case it goes "off" over the winter.
disconnect the battery or fit an optimate 
13-10-13, 02:47 PM
(13-10-13, 02:31 PM)thunderpantz link Wrote: Hi all. My bike is going to be going into storage for the winter. Whats the best way to store it, any hints and tips?....i always put a bit of old carpet under me tyres after letting them down abit!..put fuel stabilizer in tank,i use putolene,i 500ml bottle does 5gall i think?...best filling tank to brim to keep out condensation etc before putting in additive  ...run engine for about 5 to 10 mins so new fuel with stabilizer gets into carbs!!...make sure bikes nice and clean/dry,give paintwork a good polish but dont buff till you next use it?..then give it a good spray of acf50...job done!!....oh and dont f,get to cover it up!! ps if got optimate use it? keep battery up for alarm!!
13-10-13, 03:03 PM
(13-10-13, 02:53 PM)thunderpantz link Wrote: What does the stabiliser do buddy?....stops the fuel going off!!...keeps it fresh for up to two years,or so it says?...ive only tried it up to 12months and it was fine?...i also use it in my lawnmower does the trick!! also if you have any water in the bottom of tank it gets rid of it and stops condensation reapearing and rusting your tank!!....costs about £7.00 but well worth it,acf50 is around £12/14 a tin but that goes along way?spray it all over for full protection!!
13-10-13, 03:04 PM
Why let tyres down a bit - wont that just add to deforming the shape if left with weight on it. Maybe not so bad with a centre stand as the back is off the ground and there is only a bit on the front I supose.
And why not ride in the winter - there are plenty of good dry days to be had
I don't do rain or threat there of. dry rider only with no shame.
(13-10-13, 03:04 PM)fazersharp link Wrote: Why let tyres down a bit - wont that just add to deforming the shape if left with weight on it. Maybe not so bad with a centre stand as the back is off the ground and there is only a bit on the front I supose.....read somewhere that by letting the tyres down a few psi,s relaxes the rubber so as to help with the walls and in between the treads to stop cracking and perishing!! i used to do it with my caravan tyres when not being used for months at a time and it worked for that!! ....i have a norton commando in storage and its been there for years and the tt100 dunlops are still like new so it must work!!...the carpet idea just stops any damp getting into the rubber!....and yes i suppose it wouldnt hurt to lift the front wheel?...but ive never bothered! and they been fine? 
13-10-13, 03:36 PM
I usually try and start mine up and let it run until the fan cuts in every 4 to 6 weeks in the winter if the bike is not used and then once its cooled cover it over with some old velvet curtains (no tassels)
Andy
13-10-13, 03:42 PM
(13-10-13, 03:36 PM)Andy FZS link Wrote: I usually try and start mine up and let it run until the fan cuts in every 4 to 6 weeks in the winter if the bike is not used and then once its cooled cover it over with some old velvet curtains (no tassels)...velvet curtains?..posh foccer!! :lol ....i find that if you do what your doing the engine oil tends to emulsify and goes milky after a while?...so i stopped doing it!! 
13-10-13, 04:03 PM
(13-10-13, 03:36 PM)Andy FZS link Wrote: I usually try and start mine up and let it run until the fan cuts in every 4 to 6 weeks in the winter if the bike is not used and then once its cooled cover it over with some old velvet curtains (no tassels) Obviously there's some significance to the reference to not using velvet curtains with tassles? Intrigued! And does a particular colour of curtain work better? Patterns? Do they have to match my smoking jacket and slippers? Hmmmm, Jeeves, we're changing the curtains! :lol
13-10-13, 04:27 PM
one would assume its because the tassels might damage the paintwork? either way, sounds like a bit of kinkiness to me.
13-10-13, 04:31 PM
13-10-13, 04:56 PM
I find a pale mushroom shade works the best but then thats the only colour I have......l know what you mean about the oil emulsifying but I was hoping that if I run it for 30min or so and the fan has cut in then everthing would be hot enough not to get the condensation. Being a bit of a wuss I don't use the bike in winter very often but do try and get out on few dry days we get as I tend to think most thing last longer if they are used occasionally rather than just left. If only I could persuade the wife in to this way of thinking, lol..
Andy
13-10-13, 05:11 PM
best thing to do is drain the carb bowls so they dont foul with crap fuel. Then when you bring it out of storage (if its a couple of months or more), change the oil and put fresh fuel in. As long as the battery is good then it should be fine.
13-10-13, 07:16 PM
(13-10-13, 05:11 PM)scottyboy2203 link Wrote: best thing to do is drain the carb bowls so they dont foul with crap fuel. Then when you bring it out of storage (if its a couple of months or more), change the oil and put fresh fuel in. As long as the battery is good then it should be fine.....thats a good thing to do if you not using fuel stabilizer?...but using it makes it unnecessary !! as long as when you put it in your tank you run your engine for 5 to 10 mins to allow the carbs to fill with it?...any traces of water etc will be binded up!!....as for changing the oil it would be best doing that before laying up for winter as long as you dont start it!! reason being the acidity in the oil caused by starting and stopping and not running up to enough temp!!..which also causes the oil to emulsify!!...
13-10-13, 07:38 PM
Don't know how ye can park it up for months. Haven't had mine for the last week so I've been swerving through traffic on the bicycle to get my fix :lol
13-10-13, 08:40 PM
CURTAINS :eek ........the worst cover to use..just going to hold all the moisture in,a breathable cover is what you need and both wheels off the ground and start up once a week..........worse thing you can do with anything mechanical is not use it................if you cant use it get a friend to run it for you
One, is never going to be enough.....
13-10-13, 08:54 PM
Ok yes breathable cover sounds good, there are some on e bay for less than £20. Any suggestions / recommendations?
13-10-13, 09:03 PM
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