Any Tips For Winter Storage?

[Blackops272]

Keeping it short and sweet, you guys/girls got any tips for winter storage? i havent got a battery charger yet so i couldnt keep it on a drip charge

 

[dpaul007]

What I did:

Filled tank with stabilized fuel
Wash and wax
Lubed chain
Oil change was done under 500 miles ago, so I'm letting that slide
Removed battery (don't have a charger yet, either)
Put on center stand and covered

 

[Blackops272]

What I did:

Filled tank with stabilized fuel
Wash and wax
Lubed chain
Oil change was done under 500 miles ago, so I'm letting that slide
Removed battery (don't have a charger yet, either)
Put on center stand and covered

stabilized fuel?
i've washed it all down and covered it up and it's in my garage
need to do a oil change on it so i might do that soon
my battery is under my tank and i haven't a clue on how to get the tank off and get in to it

 

[pookamatic]

This is my first winter owning a bike. I'm still waiting to see how far I can go... I think I might go for rides often enough provided the temps are above 32 to not require fuel stabilizer.

I believe Erci takes a similar approach so I'm curious what he does.

 

[pookamatic]

stabilized fuel?
i've washed it all down and covered it up and it's in my garage
need to do a oil change on it so i might do that soon
my battery is under my tank and i haven't a clue on how to get the tank off and get in to it

Fuel stabilizer - available at Autozone, Pep boys, etc.
Yes - do the oil change before winterization... keeps the insides nice.
Tank lifting is easy. There are plenty threads here that describe this.

 

[Blackops272]

Fuel stabilizer - available at Autozone, Pep boys, etc.
Yes - do the oil change before winterization... keeps the insides nice.
Tank lifting is easy. There are plenty threads here that describe this.

I'll have to see if i can take this battery out it seems the simplest option if you dont have a charger!

 

[dpaul007]

I'll have to see if i can take this battery out it seems the simplest option if you dont have a charger!

It's a lot easier to do with a second set of hands or some type of set up that holds the fuel tank up while you get the battery out.

 

[pookamatic]

Bungee cords* or rope to the grab rails.

* Careful with the metal S hooks.

 

[Red Wazp]

If you store it where mice are a problem a few traps around the bike or some mouse poison is a good idea so you won't find a mouse nest in your air box

Be sure to use a fuel stabilizer in a FULL tank of gas that's for an ethonal blend if that's what they sell in your area.

 

[Humperdinkel]

Best advice I can give anybody................... Move to Australia & ride all year round :BLAA: :BLAA: :rockon: :rockon: :rockon:

 

[PosterFZ6]

Best advice I can give anybody................... Move to Australia & ride all year round :BLAA: :BLAA: :rockon: :rockon: :rockon:

Sounds like an excellent advice if only you would mention also that there's like dozens of world's deadliest bugs and shiet that can kill you there too.

i think I will take my chances with a little bit of snow.

 

[adberns]

Good advice from all - battery on a tender somehow (in or out of the bike), perhaps some cardboard under the tires so they don't sit on cold concrete, Sta-bil for ethanol in the tank (note a lot of places don't need to label ethanol below a certain percentage - hard to get straight gas anymore). Plug your exhaust, too - I put some steel wool in a zip-loc bag (to prevent the fibers from falling into my exhaust) and plug with that. Didn't once in the past, ended up with cat food filling the exhaust from mice!

I used to go all out for storage, even fogging the cylinders with oil. I've stopped that - for the minimum amount of extra wear I'm causing (if any), I'm saving a ton of headache!

 

[Blackops272]

Best advice I can give anybody................... Move to Australia & ride all year round :BLAA: :BLAA: :rockon: :rockon: :rockon:

Haha i wish i could ride all year round sunny! maybe one day

 

[Blackops272]

Good advice from all - battery on a tender somehow (in or out of the bike), perhaps some cardboard under the tires so they don't sit on cold concrete, Sta-bil for ethanol in the tank (note a lot of places don't need to label ethanol below a certain percentage - hard to get straight gas anymore). Plug your exhaust, too - I put some steel wool in a zip-loc bag (to prevent the fibers from falling into my exhaust) and plug with that. Didn't once in the past, ended up with cat food filling the exhaust from mice!

I used to go all out for storage, even fogging the cylinders with oil. I've stopped that - for the minimum amount of extra wear I'm causing (if any), I'm saving a ton of headache!

Great advice everyone thanks!

 

[ChevyFazer]

Best advice I can give anybody................... Move to Australia & ride all year round :BLAA: :BLAA: :rockon: :rockon: :rockon:

You beat me too saying it hump!!! Lol

To the op though, I don't think I saw or read where you live at, as long as its not too far north with the right gear you really could keep riding.

 

[Blackops272]

You beat me too saying it hump!!! Lol

To the op though, I don't think I saw or read where you live at, as long as its not too far north with the right gear you really could keep riding.

Living in the north east of england

 

[Blackops272]

Weather is terrible atm

 

[fb40dash5]

I swear by the marine grade Stabil, put it in pretty much any gas I'm planning on leaving for >2 weeks these days. I dunno if you can get it easily in Brit-land or if you guys have the same awful fuel we've been cursed with nowdays.

I've never bothered pulling my battery, but I use an AGM, so it's more tolerant of that kinda abuse. A regular battery probably wouldn't be too happy about it. But I remember it being a serious PITA to lift the tank when it's full, and one way or another, you pretty much have to lift it full at least once.

 

[Blackops272]

I swear by the marine grade Stabil, put it in pretty much any gas I'm planning on leaving for >2 weeks these days. I dunno if you can get it easily in Brit-land or if you guys have the same awful fuel we've been cursed with nowdays.

I've never bothered pulling my battery, but I use an AGM, so it's more tolerant of that kinda abuse. A regular battery probably wouldn't be too happy about it. But I remember it being a serious PITA to lift the tank when it's full, and one way or another, you pretty much have to lift it full at least once.

Brit-land? you mean England, as far as i am aware our feul is fne and i've never heard of any of my biking mates using feul stabilzers

 

[2006_FZ6]

If you store it where mice are a problem a few traps around the bike or some mouse poison is a good idea so you won't find a mouse nest in your air box

Be sure to use a fuel stabilizer in a FULL tank of gas that's for an ethonal blend if that's what they sell in your area.

Thanks for mouse tips! We didn't ride the scoot very much this year and as I was winterizing it this weekend, I found a couple of peanuts stashed here and there. Didn't find any nests, but I'll be sure to buy some mouse poison and place it by the scoot and FZ6.

btw, I use stabilizer as well, battery tender (in the bike, put the charging cables on the battery), wash and wax and cover her up until next spring.