Winter Tip(s)

[Money]

Hola All, So I've never had a bike that had to sit thru a cold, wet, dark, Winter until now. Bummer. But here I am, and so is my 07 K9. I've been reading on the internet advice that claims that you should start your bike every week or so and let it run for 15-20 minutes. According to these proponents, this will get everything lubricated, oiled and keep the carb from getting gummed up. . Others claim that you should just let the bike sit and not do this since the bike will send a lot of gas to the engine (if you have to use the choke even more gas) and that this gas will not all burn leaving essentially a solvent along the cylinder walls potentially damaging them. The bike sits in my garage but it is not heated on a regular basis. The temps here usually run in the mid-'30s with a few days each year getting into the '20s. So not exactly Chicago. What do my cold weather BD friends out there have to say about this?

 

[mleach72]

Hola All, So I've never had a bike that had to sit thru a cold, wet, dark, Winter until now. Bummer. But here I am, and so is my 07 K9. I've been reading on the internet advice that claims that you should start your bike every week or so and let it run for 15-20 minutes. According to these proponents, this will get everything lubricated, oiled and keep the carb from getting gummed up. . Others claim that you should just let the bike sit and not do this since the bike will send a lot of gas to the engine (if you have to use the choke even more gas) and that this gas will not all burn leaving essentially a solvent along the cylinder walls potentially damaging them. The bike sits in my garage but it is not heated on a regular basis. The temps here usually run in the mid-'30s with a few days each year getting into the '20s. So not exactly Chicago. What do my cold weather BD friends out there have to say about this?

I've always been told that it's better to just leave it sit if it's not going to be running long enough to reach operating temperature. I've heard that a corrosive chemical starts to form in the oil when an engine is first started. Once the motor warms up, it starts to burn this chemical out of the oil. Letting it idle for 15-20 minutes might be long enough to do this, but sitting at idle for long periods isn't really recommended either. My advice would be put the battery on a tender or bring it inside for the winter. Drain the carb float bowl (make sure the petcock is off). This will keep fuel out of the jets. Either that, or bundle up real good and take it for a good spin once in a while.

 

[bdm7250]

I keep mine in climate controlled (55* minimum) garage, on the weekends temperature is set to 75* when I am in there farting around with at least one of the bikes. I have fuel stabilizer in a full tank, and always keep the tank topped off, usually run the bikes twice a month for about 15 minutes each. This has less to do with what is good for the bike according to some and more to do with me just wanting to hear the sound. Winter's suck there is no two ways about it, every year I do at least partial disassembly to check everything over and do a thorough polish. My advise which I should also be following, move south...

 

[Money]

I've always been told that it's better to just leave it sit if it's not going to be running long enough to reach operating temperature. I've heard that a corrosive chemical starts to form in the oil when an engine is first started. Once the motor warms up, it starts to burn this chemical out of the oil. Letting it idle for 15-20 minutes might be long enough to do this, but sitting at idle for long periods isn't really recommended either. My advice would be put the battery on a tender or bring it inside for the winter. Drain the carb float bowl (make sure the petcock is off). This will keep fuel out of the jets. Either that, or bundle up real good and take it for a good spin once in a while.

Great Advice - I actually like riding in the cooler weather. The problem I have is that it rains up here almost every day for weeks at a time sometimes months. Riding in the rain is definitely not in my DNA!

 

[Money]

I keep mine in climate controlled (55* minimum) garage, on the weekends temperature is set to 75* when I am in there farting around with at least one of the bikes. I have fuel stabilizer in a full tank, and always keep the tank topped off, usually run the bikes twice a month for about 15 minutes each. This has less to do with what is good for the bike according to some and more to do with me just wanting to hear the sound. Winter's suck there is no two ways about it, every year I do at least partial disassembly to check everything over and do a thorough polish. My advise which I should also be following, move south...

If i could move to Florida right now I would be gone. Living up here in the PNW is like living in a damp cave. Thanks for the response!

 

[Money]

I keep mine in climate controlled (55* minimum) garage, on the weekends temperature is set to 75* when I am in there farting around with at least one of the bikes. I have fuel stabilizer in a full tank, and always keep the tank topped off, usually run the bikes twice a month for about 15 minutes each. This has less to do with what is good for the bike according to some and more to do with me just wanting to hear the sound. Winter's suck there is no two ways about it, every year I do at least partial disassembly to check everything over and do a thorough polish. My advise which I should also be following, move south...

By the way, love your bike!

 

[Mickmorris]

Florida is a great place to get away from the Cold of Winter.

 

[awg]

I have the answer......buy a big heating blanket. Wrap it around the bike. Then throw another 100% cotton sheet over that. Plug it in, set the temp you want, and your good to go! Like having a heated garage.

 

[liferider]

 

[awg]

View attachment 94895

O stop it!

 

[Mikeinjersey]

My recommendation if you have a carburetor is to Fill the fuel tank and add the proper amount of Sta-Bil fuel stabilizer. Run the engine for a few minutes to get the mix into the Carb. then close the petcock and let the engine run until it runs out of fuel. Just before the engine stalls it will increase rpm's and at that time you could ( optional ) spray a little Sta-Bil fogging oil to help protect the cylinders.
I like to jack my tires off the floor and remove my battery for the long winters nap. I do keep the battery on trickle.

 

[Mr. Wright]

The main thing is to make sure the fuel tank is full. You do want the liner drying out. I start mine once a month, for the main reason, it has a tendency to sump. That and to massage my nuts.

 

[Sven]

My way of prepping for winter is to drain the gas out and throw it in the car. Save a little gas that remains, then pour ATF in the tank, mix both up, then turn the tank in all areas, especially the ceiling of the tank the topped off tank can't. Cycle the spin every month so the tank is easy to lift and roll.

Squirt oil down the cylinders and roll the bike in gear back and forth so there is a full stroke. Leave the plugs loose, because this is engine hours off the bike is who starts this thing up? Bend over, it's coming is to rip your ass apart start my bike and waste riding time... get outta here!

Prop my bike up with tires off the ground? Why? First time I go ride it, heat it up, shit goes back to memory... get outta here!

Whathell is a season screw? Oh, screw you, keep the gas in the carb and varnishit up... Get The Fuck OUT OF HERE!... is the gas I meant. LOL

 

[Mikeinjersey]

It would seem that Sven has started his New Years Eve party early this year

 

[Mickmorris]

My way of prepping for winter is to drain the gas out and throw it in the car. Save a little gas that remains, then pour ATF in the tank, mix both up, then turn the tank in all areas, especially the ceiling of the tank the topped off tank can't. Cycle the spin every month so the tank is easy to lift and roll.

Squirt oil down the cylinders and roll the bike in gear back and forth so there is a full stroke. Leave the plugs loose, because this is engine hours off the bike is who starts this thing up? Bend over, it's coming is to rip your ass apart start my bike and waste riding time... get outta here!

Prop my bike up with tires off the ground? Why? First time I go ride it, heat it up, shit goes back to memory... get outta here!

Whathell is a season screw? Oh, screw you, keep the gas in the carb and varnishit up... Get The Fuck OUT OF HERE!... is the gas I meant. LOL

Happy New Year Sven! Hard to top a commentary like that!