Winter storage

[Jon-W]

As the summer is looking pretty hopeless this year (constant rain) and the winter is looming I was wondering what people reccomend doing to take a motorcycle off the road for the winter? Is it a good idea to run it now and again? Any tips would be appreciated.

[Bendy]

I've never had any problems with just 'not using it'. Bikes can quite happily sit for months with no ill effects whatsoever, in my opinion. Hell, the old CBR I got that had sat for 3+ years fired up on the fourth press or so.

The only thing to consider is if you've got an alarm fitted, you might want to stick the bike battery on charge now and then to stop it being slowly drained.

Besides, there are nice days in the winter too!

[Jon-W]

true, The reason I asked really is because the batterys in my ZZR tend to get un reliable if the bike is left un used (I guess its the same for any bike) and I dont really want to have to fork out for another next spring (just replaced it a couple of months ago)

[The Shaggy D.A.]

I wouldn't call 4 months "looming"

You could go through this but because it's Britain you've got to take what you can get, and ride all year.
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Chances are quite high you are not in my Monkeysphere, and I don't care about you. Don't take it personally.
Currently : Royal Enfield 350 Meteor
Previously : CB100N > CB250RS > XJ900F > GT550 > GPZ750R/1000RX > AJS M16 > R100RT > Bullet 500 > CB500 > LS650P > Bullet Electra X & YBR125 > Bullet 350 "Superstar" & YBR125 Custom > Royal Enfield Classic 500 Despatch Limited Edition (28 of 200) & CB Two-Fifty Nighthawk > ER5

[Bendy]

If it's in the garage and you've got a plug, just get an Optimate on the battery to keep it happy.

[Finglonga]

[stinkwheel]

If you're doing it for the whole winter:

Wash the bike and make sure it is dry.

Brim the tank, add fuel stabiliser. Either drain the carbs or open the drains with the tap on "prime" to allow stabilised fuel to fill the float bowls. This stops the tank rusting and the fuel going stale.

Take the battery out of the bike, keep it inside.

Remove the sparkplugs, put a few drops of engine oil down the holes and turn the engine over a couple of times to spread it about, replace the plugs.

Make sure there is enought anti-freeze in the coolant.

Spray everything except the brake pads with a corrosion inhibitor like F365.

Park it somewhere dry, preferrably on a stand with both wheels propped off the ground.

When it comes to spring, charge and re-attach the battery, prime the carbs. Turn the engine over a bit on the starter with the plug caps off to get oil circulating to the top end.

Then fire it up. Once warm, do a mini service (change oil, check brake fluid, check tyre pressures, coolant levels etc. If it is latchy to start, put a few drops of petrol down the plug holes to help clear the oil that's been protecting the bores.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[iooi]