Winter Storage / Winterising

I know there will be the hardy among us who will continue riding regardless of the weather but was wondering who will be tucking up their Bike for the Winter before all the nasty Salt, Snow and Ice comes about?

If so what steps do you do to keep the Bike looking good for the next spring?

 

No longer needing to be a 'year rounder', I'll still ride on the occasional fine day in winter, so besides the usual stuff like psi, chain lube & all levels just ensure anti-freeze is up to it & spray all over with scot-oil after each use then leave a trickle charger running. If you intend no use, you can drain the tank, carbs & all sorts of other stuff which someone more qualified will no doubt tell you.
I used to 'winterise' a 2 str outboard motor with fogging oil which coats all the bearings/innards & also use a fuel additive to preserve that over winter. Always worked for me & fired up well in the spring.

 

Sorry Les, I wouldn't drain the tank, I'd fill it to the brim. Stops the tank rusting if it's steel. A mate paid £60 to have his Blackbird cleaned and ACF50'd and he's still riding it! Good stuff ACF 50, as long as you avoid your brakes. Some people put the bike on stands and remove the battery to the warmth if you don't need it for the alarm. If you do, put it on a trickle charger.

 

Adding Fuel Stabilser to a full tank seems to be the way to go as well, heard good things about adding that.

 

Don't need it, modern fuel doesn't go off like the 5 star that Les uses!

 

I'm with Mega - ACF50 is brilliant and I use it often enough. In fact, any protector with PTFE will keep moisture and rust away. Paddock stands might be helpful if you're being especially fussy about long term storage. As the guys have already said, there's no real need to drain anything on modern bikes - just make sure that everything is clean and bone dry before you put it to bed.

Aside from a couple of small 'improvements' to my bike (when it'll likely be off duty for a week or so), it'll be getting exposed to the best that winter roads can throw at it.

 

That's just so you can constantly clean it Jay.

 

If you leave it really dirty then it has a winter protective layer all ready on it

 

Taken straight from 'The Book of Tom', eh BH.

 

Mine is smothered in acf 50 and it sits on a paddock stand. Start her up every now and again and let it run for a while and then turn her off.

 

I have heard from others that winter store, you shouldn't start bike up! It just produces condensation inside the engine and exhaust that you don't get rid of. Just leave it cold, possibly bung the exhaust up with a dry rag or tissue if your shed/garage is a bit damp?

 

I thought you had to turn it over otherwise parts of the engine cease up? I'll admit I'm only guessing !

 

Don,t think so mate. Only what I,ve been told by other experienced winterisers. Never done it myself.

 

Dunno how the meths works Tony? I expect you keep a stock?

 

Goes well with Strongbow!

 

Marvelous! and you get to do summat useful with the rest of the half litre that you had to buy!!!

 

Eh?