The winter storage debate/advice

tor1150r · Post by **tor1150r** » Sat Oct 13, 2007 11:01 am

I usually store my bike at the dealer. Yes. It's warm, secure, away from the elements and the battery is tricked (I don't think they remove it). I give them enough $$ during the season. I'd prefer to keep the 300$ in my pocket this winter!

I've read other posts here and poked around on-line for storage tips & advice. It all makes sense (oil change, clean/wax, cover, stabilizer, etc).

The part that varies is about the battery. Some say to remove it, some don't. Some say disconnect, some don't.

1. I have an unheated, dark, dry gargage. Many of my buddys store it in their garage with a trickle charger - that's it. Can I not do the same? I have the BMW motorcycle charger. I live in Toronto. It gets cold but far above arctic temps.

2. Is it common practice to remove the plugs and spray a defogging oil into the cylenders?

I know this seems a little like the "my oil level keeps changing" thread (numerous posts) but there are many different opinions out there, and it's really only 4 months of no riding (Dec through March).

geothepencil · Post by **geothepencil** » Sat Oct 13, 2007 2:16 pm

Do you have salt vapor to consider coming off cars in the garage ? Rust and corrosion can be a factor in keeping it in the garage sometimes. With fuel injected bikes, I would just throw the charger on every two weeks and turn the tires at that time as well. I would rather see you siphon the gas out and refill in March than use a stabilizer if the gas is a concern to you. Not much else to do except wait for better weather. Several months isn't very long as you say. Don't short run the engine. A few short trips during the winter to full engine heat always make me feel better about it if that is possible for you.

geo

Post by **mcollect** » Sat Oct 13, 2007 3:23 pm

I have the same situation as you. I put the bike away after filling the tank adding the correct of Seafoam, wash and wax, and tr4ickle gharge once a month. In the spring I change the oil, rear diff engine, bleed the brakes and I'm good to go. Been doing this for years on many different bikes and so far no problem. Normally I have done an oil change in Sept or Oct so it is fairly clean before winter; otherwise I might put clean oil before winter.

tor1150r · Post by **tor1150r** » Sat Oct 13, 2007 5:35 pm

The garage is a single-car garage. My car stays outside all year. So the bike has exclusive use of it.

We have days during the winter that are suitable for a ride. Even if a dry sunny day looks great, the roads are caked with salt. I'll leave it there all winter.

Thanks!

Post by **iowabeakster** » Sat Oct 13, 2007 6:37 pm

The advice above is the same as my own, except I change fluids before storage. Once I change the oil, the bike does not get started.

I also prefer not to ride on those rare nice days because of the salt. In the spring the motor oil is as fresh as if it were sitting in a bottle on the shelf, except that it is already in the bike.

Post by **boxermania** » Sun Oct 14, 2007 9:01 am

tor1150r

I have another solution, being that you hail from Ontario. Take it to bed with you......I don't know if you are married and your wife would object.

A few years back, one of the posters on this board showed how it's done. I've been looking for that post but haven't been able to lay my hands on it yet...

Post by **towerworker** » Sun Oct 14, 2007 9:23 am

tor1150r--

One thing to make sure you do prior to storing the bike away for the winter-----don't know why no one has already mentioned it.......be certain to change the antifreeze in the radiators. It's been my experience that the factory stuff is only good for two years or so.

Wayne

dragonmojo · Post by **dragonmojo** » Sun Oct 14, 2007 12:12 pm

Move out here so you won't have to.

Martyn · Post by **Martyn** » Sun Oct 14, 2007 1:48 pm

towerworker wrote:tor1150r--

One thing to make sure you do prior to storing the bike away for the winter-----don't know why no one has already mentioned it.......be certain to change the antifreeze in the radiators. It's been my experience that the factory stuff is only good for two years or so.

Wayne

If you have a liquid cooled bike................

Post by **towerworker** » Sun Oct 14, 2007 4:31 pm

Martyn wrote:

If you have a liquid cooled bike................

My r is partially cooled by liquid, had a heck of a time looking for the radiator caps the first year I owned it.

Wayne
03 r

tor1150r · Post by **tor1150r** » Sun Oct 14, 2007 5:04 pm

Boxermania.....I recall seeing a picture of some guy actually standing his bike up in an elevator to take it to his apartment. It was a BMW.

My wife wouldn't mind. She draws the limit when it comes to lifting it though!

Changed anti-freeze on the last service. Will top it up before laying it away.

Thx!

Post by **Biff's R** » Sun Oct 14, 2007 6:02 pm

My father has just filled the fuel tank, aded some stabil, and plugged the bike in to the battery tender. It has worked for the last 7 years when he goes to Arizona for the winter(6 months).

1150929 · Post by **1150929** » Sun Oct 14, 2007 8:29 pm

I'm in Ontario too, I store it in my garage with the trickle charger (I took the battary out one year...too much work! Otherwise, I do the usual - clean it, change oil, full tank, stabilizer, cover it on its center stand...that's it.

Our winters aren't too harsh anymore, and I powerwash my cars when they get salty.

Post by **iowabeakster** » Sun Oct 14, 2007 9:17 pm

boxermania wrote:tor1150r

I have another solution, being that you hail from Ontario. Take it to bed with you......I don't know if you are married and your wife would object.

A few years back, one of the posters on this board showed how it's done. I've been looking for that post but haven't been able to lay my hands on it yet...

I think the prodcedure was:

1. flowers
2. dinner at a fancy restaurant
3. long-island iced tea

Gary C · Post by **Gary C** » Tue Oct 16, 2007 3:16 pm

A very timely subject for a newbie preparing to put his joy away for the winter. A specific question regarding the Odyssey PC-680 battery, I have decided not to remove the battery and will pull the fuse for the clock to reduce the drain. Is that good enough? and can someone recommend a charger et al for this battery?

Perhaps in the future those of us in Ontario will enjoy that California weather

Gary

Post by **Buckster** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 2:16 am

I would recommend getting the BMW charger that plugs into your accessory port to keep a full charge on the battery.
You have a good battery and it would be a shame to have it die on you over the winter while it was not in use.
It is not excactly cheap, but well worth keeping a battery in good working order.

cruiser · Post by **cruiser** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 4:20 am

tor1150r wrote: Changed anti-freeze on the last service. Will top it up before laying it away.

Thx!

...I hesitate to post this but, what anti-freeze?? I thought the R1150R was oil/air cooled only. Mine is anyway...

Post by **mcollect** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 10:41 am

Wayne FISH ON

Gary C · Post by **Gary C** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 12:43 pm

Buckster, thanks for the info. I've been informed that with the Odyssey I cannot use a trickle charger - will damage the battery. That and I must have a charger that will charge within a specific range. So, anyone out there with a PC-680 that they have wintered, can help me out?

Gary

tor1150r · Post by **tor1150r** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 5:40 pm

cruiser wrote:
tor1150r wrote: Changed anti-freeze on the last service. Will top it up before laying it away.

Thx!
...I hesitate to post this but, what anti-freeze?? I thought the R1150R was oil/air cooled only. Mine is anyway...

...some R-humour. Sometimes you just have to roll with it

BMW R1200R R1150R/T F800 K1200R R1100R/T R1250R RnineT Message Board

The winter storage debate/advice

The winter storage debate/advice

Winter storage