Mothballing bike

[Freddyfruitba...]

So, following a recent shoulder injury I've been scheduled for surgery in a couple of weeks, which I'm told will stop me from driving for 2 months minimum and Gawd knows how long from biking So much for my summer touring plans.

The op happens the day after I get back from my hols, so this weekend will be my last on 2 wheels for quite some time. Apart from making sure it's nice and clean on Sunday evening, what else should I be doing to the bike to keep it in good shape, please (considering worst-case scenario, the lay-off could run to several months, or even indefinitely )? The bike (V-Strom 650) lives in a dry garage, on a centre stand.

I've been advised to brim the fuel tank to keep water vapour out, and I've got a battery trickle charger thingy. Apply for SORN. Rotate the wheels occasionally - anything else?
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[The999Kid]

change oil and filter, so the shit dredged up by your current oil doesnt settle in the sump and become a solid crap lump thats difficult to remove,

or just drain oil and make a note to refill prior to resuming normal level of holloganism
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NDB 19/10/1989 - 1/11/2010 |Nowhere.Elyseum wrote: I get the distinct feeling that Tim should be our secret weapon for future trolling. I don't know many people that can rip the piss in Iambic pentameter

[Alpineandy]

Some fuel stabiliser would help if you think it'll be used again in 3-4 months odd (if only to stop the fuel in the pump etc varnishing up) but longer than that and I'd probably drain the tank.
Assuming it's a metal (rather than Plastic) tank I'd just give it a squirt of duck oil or something similar.
I don't know if it's wise to drain the full fuel system....
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The above comment isn't necessarily the truth and anyone that says it is, is only correct if it's the truth or they're bigger than me.

[M.C]

I wouldn't bother doing anything, particularly this time of year. I've left the bike outside for a few months at a time, and apart from the battery getting a bit weak (it still started) it was fine.

[owl10]

A few months?

Brim the tank, keep the battery charged, turn it over for a few mins once a fortnight.

Move back and forward a bit to stop tyres misshappening maybe, at most.

My 00 x6r was simply left for a couple years (tank off, but otherwise nothing else)

New battery, new tyres and fired up nicely.
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[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

[Freddyfruitba...]

Thanks all. Am expecting a bottle of stabilizer from Amazon in the morning

[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

It's not a long layoff, I'd not bother with fuel stabilisers. Think of all those new cars sitting in compounds for over a year..or 2nd hand bikes in showrooms...d'yer think they have fuel stabilisers?
Brimming the tank so no air gap for condensation to accumulate is the main thing. You could spray a bit of WD40 up the exhausts and bung a rag in.

Don't bother starting the engine unless you're going to ride it.
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[kawakid]

I have 2 bikes and my summer ride gets left for half the year.

I bag the exhaust.
I take the battery out of the bike and keept it in the house nd charge it once a month.

I also have some carpet in the garage and the wheels go on this. (Due to a seriously cold winter years ago and a tyre miss shaping).

Saying that you have a centre stand, so one wheel will be fine.

The oil change is a good idea too.
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I've a twin and a 4.

[Alpineandy]

Whereas I would use the Fuel Stabiliser, purely as new Ethanol fuel loses it's octane very quickly, whilst attracting moisture at the same time.
If you were 100% certain that you'd be using it again within a few months then maybe not, but as you really have no idea if it'll be a few months or a year+, it's easier to take that minor precaution.

As for bikes/cars in showrooms.
Do they really keep anything more than a few drops in them for any length of time? I'd guess they're near empty and filled from a can if they going to be test ridden/driven...
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The above comment isn't necessarily the truth and anyone that says it is, is only correct if it's the truth or they're bigger than me.

[1198]

Park it up, give it a quick clean, lub the chain, walk away happy.
Depending on the bike I'd suggest removing the battery and giving it charge every few weeks, but that's all.
I certainly wouldn't run it every week / fortnight / month / whatever. That allows condensation to gather that normally gets flashed off if the engine is run up to temperature.
Maybe change the oil and filter before you ride it again, but I probably wouldn't bother.
It's a regular subject on the Ducati forums, where there's a lot of passion about it....

[Northern Monkey]

2 months? put a sheet over it and take the keys out.
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Fisty: after polishing the tank with the glistenng beads of sweat from my full hot scrotum, I filled the headrace bearings with 10cc of my manmilk

[MCN]

[Alpineandy]

[Freddyfruitba...]

[M.C]

[tom_e]

I left my YBR in the shed from the day I passed my test until a couple of weeks ago when I sold it. It was sat there for a little under 2 years with a trickle of fuel in the tank and a good coat of ACF50 on the outside.

Apart from that it wasn't touched until I dragged it out to get it MOT'd which it flew through with no work needed.

Bikes aren't all that delicate.

[Freddyfruitba...]

[Mawsley]

My XJ was parked one day and not started for another two and a half years. Popped in a new battery, pumped the tyres up to pressure and all was well with the world. Fuel was fine, carbs didn't fill with jelly, tyres didn't become misshapen. Oh, I did have to remove field mice from the airbox.

Maybe some bikes need all of the aforementioned fettling, my direct experience is that they don't.

[haroman666]

My CBR has been outside under a cover for around 10 months now. I go out there every few weeks and fire her up, get her hot and have been down the road once or twice (obviously not something you can really do) and all is well.

When I go to put her back on the road, it will be a case of going to the local fuel station, brimming the tank and going for a ride that will go through at least 3/4's of that tank.
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[Alpineandy]

Old fuel affects different fuel systems in different ways.
I've seen cars and bikes which just need fresh fuel to run pretty well after near 10 years without being started.
I've also seen both cars and bikes which need carbs/Injectors sonic cleaned before they run right after only months unused.
You pays your money and makes your own choice...
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The above comment isn't necessarily the truth and anyone that says it is, is only correct if it's the truth or they're bigger than me.