Winter Questions

[jeffm]

full tank of gas stabil, battery tender, & ride it every time the weather clears.

[scion0]

full tank of gas stabil, battery tender, & ride it every time the weather clears.

Thanks....

[Idaho]

Hey BD, actually, Fly Fishing is great in Idaho year round. Best in the dead of winter with snow coming down. Glad to know that someone likes California. That's what makes the world go round, we all like something different.
IDaho

[ponch]

I live in Iowa and never winterize. I just find a way to ride it at least a couple times a month.

[flightdoc]

In New Hampshire.....winter lives!! Hate it but have to deal. My bike is winterized in the following ways: oil/filter change, rear diff oil change, fill tank to top and add the appropriate amount of stabilifuel, let it run for at least ten minutes so the stabilifuel gets thoroughly throughout the fuel system. Wash , polish and wax. Jack it up so the tires are off the floor and reduce the tire pressure to about twenty pounds. Put it on a battery tender ( which is hard wired onto the battery and cover the muffler ends with plastic wrap ( so little critters don't have a chance to move in)

[flightdoc]

I meant to add that I've read in several places that it's not good to idle the bike once or twice a week to charge the battery. It supposedly is bad for it and the hot and cold change can cause condensation in the mufflers which will lead to rusting issues. If you live in a place like NH where you can't ride the bike on a regular basis for those few months then it is better not to run it at all until it's time to break it out for the season. Also......be VERY careful when putting the transmission in gear that first couple of times after sitting all winter!! The first year I had mine and put it in first gear that first time it almost shot across the garage!!

[ponch]

You probably get more snow than Iowa does. It gets cold here, at least for a couple weeks we usually get -10 to -15, otherwise it's not a lot different than Long Island in terms of weather, may be 10 degrees colder. If it's 25 or higher and no snow or ice on the roads, I will try to get out and ride it a bit, at least that worked for my 800 Classic. My GPz and KZ had to be run more than once a month. The charging systems on them were not very good. The KZ had a kick start though...

I meant to add that I've read in several places that it's not good to idle the bike once or twice a week to charge the battery. It supposedly is bad for it and the hot and cold change can cause condensation in the mufflers which will lead to rusting issues. If you live in a place like NH where you can't ride the bike on a regular basis for those few months then it is better not to run it at all until it's time to break it out for the season. Also......be VERY careful when putting the transmission in gear that first couple of times after sitting all winter!! The first year I had mine and put it in first gear that first time it almost shot across the garage!!

[flightdoc]

I think riding for awhile is considered ok, just not letting it idle.

[ponch]

Idling is a waste. So what part of New Hampshire do you live? I own property in Maine, Jackman. It's pretty up there.

I think riding for awhile is considered ok, just not letting it idle.

Hey BD, actually, Fly Fishing is great in Idaho year round. Best in the dead of winter with snow coming down. Glad to know that someone likes California. That's what makes the world go round, we all like something different.
IDaho

Nico & I like California!!!

[dui546]

Everybody talked about the obvious but flightdoc mentioned something very important...covering the pipes to keep the critters out. Use a rag or old shirt and a rubber band and that will work well. I had mice get into my yamaha (stored in a attached garage) and they also got into my bird seed. I was in the military then and deployed so the motorcycle sat without any actvity. In the end, I bought a new battery and did all my required maintenance. When I started the bike I had lots of sunflower seeds flying out the backof the motorcycle!

Since then...when I believe I will have periods of inactivity I cover the pipes.

[flightdoc]

what a sight it must have been....bird seed flying out your pipes......POUNCH, we live in the seacoast area near Portsmouth which is right on I95 and the border of Maine and NH. Jacjman is way up there. lot of moose.

[ponch]

Yes there is a lot of moose, and not a lot of people. If I could get a decent job with security, I would move there, but the economy sucks there and the people don't help it. They are afraid of any progress, so they would rather see it wither.

what a sight it must have been....bird seed flying out your pipes......POUNCH, we live in the seacoast area near Portsmouth which is right on I95 and the border of Maine and NH. Jacjman is way up there. lot of moose.

[flightdoc]

yeh. I know what you mean about the folks up there but if they start wanting "progress" it won't be the place you want it to be. The moose and wildlife will be only pictures and memories. You'll be saying "I remember when"............

[nsmorgan]

I live in Texas, a little Northwest from Trip. My winterizing consists of putting on long underwear and using the choke when needed.

I put the long underwear on me, not the Nomad.