I am about to put my S2R away until spring. What are the proper and best ways to preserve and winterize my bike for the next for 5 months?
take out teh battery
fill up the tank then put some fuel stabilizer in it
cover it up
In addition to the above you should keep the battery charged.
Many suggest changing the oil, I never get around to doing that until Spring.
Also fog the cylinders and , if possible, put the bike on stands, if not, inflate the tires to maximum pressure marked on sidewalls. Make sure the cover is breathable.
Fog the cylinders?
Quote from: NAKID on November 10, 2008, 03:48:57 PM
Fog the cylinders?
I'm assuming that means get some oil in above the piston.
On older carb'd cars what I've seen is people just dumping oil slowly into the carb until it choked the motor. Personally I just pull the plugs and squirt some oil in there.
okay okay okay.
my first winter with a duc, and yes indeed, a bike at all...
what exactly is the problem with starting it up once a week and letting her run for about 30 minutes, while in the meantime checking her over for problems, leaks, corrosion etc?? (aside from the fumes in the garage...which i can deal with)
Quote from: corey on November 10, 2008, 07:54:40 PM
what exactly is the problem with starting it up once a week and letting her run for about 30 minutes, while in the meantime checking her over for problems, leaks, corrosion etc?? (aside from the fumes in the garage...which i can deal with)
Nothing, but you're still going to want to add fuel stabilizer to a full tank before you store it.
And I'm sure 30 minutes will be plenty, but you'll want to make sure you get the engine oil up to at least 200
o F to get the moisture out of it.
Water boils at 212 degrees F
sounds like a plan. i figure if i start my lady's gixxer up right next to it, with the heat that stupid thing radiates, it'll reach 200 in about 5 minutes... ;D
i guess fuel stabilizer would still be necessary for a bike sitting that long, even if it is being run once a week.
i assume good ol' fashioned sta-bil is just fine to use?
Quote from: NAKID on November 10, 2008, 08:23:42 PM
Water boils at 212 degrees F
True, but by the time your oil temp gauge reads 200, the oil circulating trough the cylinder heads will be significantly warmer, and most of the water will have been cooked out of the oil remaining in the galley.
Sta-bil is fine. [thumbsup]
Just messin with ya.
But you know that oil is continuously circulated right? There shouldn't be much difference in temps in the short amount of time from the heads to the crankcase....
Quote from: NAKID on November 10, 2008, 08:40:48 PM
But you know that oil is continuously circulated right?
Shenanigans, I say! [cheeky]
Quote from: NAKID on November 10, 2008, 03:48:57 PM
Fog the cylinders?
Marine and some small engie stores have a spray product to oil your upper cylinders, more effective than squirting a little oil into the spark plug hole and turning over the engine. I should have realized this needed explanation. Here is one brand
http://www.mfgsupply.com/m/c/STA-FOG.html (http://www.mfgsupply.com/m/c/STA-FOG.html)
Quote from: NAKID on November 10, 2008, 08:23:42 PM
Water boils at 212 degrees F
At 1 atm.
Just messin with ya ;)
Quote from: msincredible on November 11, 2008, 12:16:08 AM
At 1 atm.
Just messin with ya ;)
Crankcase isn't really pressurised....
Isn't it actually at a slight vacuum, meaning that water would boil at an even lower temp?
Stop trying to prove your previous statement...
[laugh]
Quote from: NAKID on November 11, 2008, 09:06:27 AM
Crankcase isn't really pressurised....
Yeah but it will depend on the local altitude too. [cheeky]
bit of an urgent response needed on this one. hopefully someone who knows better will be on soon...
say i want to do some work on my bike this winter that may require lifting/propping of the tank... (which i will be doing for sure)...
should i still fill the tank all the way? or should it be about half full so i dont have to worry about spill when i lift the tank?
Quote from: corey on November 11, 2008, 03:16:03 PM
bit of an urgent response needed on this one. hopefully someone who knows better will be on soon...
say i want to do some work on my bike this winter that may require lifting/propping of the tank... (which i will be doing for sure)...
should i still fill the tank all the way? or should it be about half full so i dont have to worry about spill when i lift the tank?
If you can, it'd be a good idea to drain the tank if you're going to prop it up so that the hinged area doesn't get overstressed (and crack and eventually leak). A full tank propped up isn't the best for the hinged area. After the work is done, refill the tank. (my opinion anyway)
right.
well, i'm not going to be LEAVING it propped up.
i'm just doing some minor work, like moving some wiring, removing the crank case breather tank, etc. etc.
nothing thats going to require the tank to be up for days at a time. i have about a 2/3 full tank right now, i think im just going to add some stabilizer and continue as planned. if i need to add fuel later when it gets even colder, i guess i can do that..
Quote from: corey on November 11, 2008, 03:54:01 PM
right.
well, i'm not going to be LEAVING it propped up.
i'm just doing some minor work, like moving some wiring, removing the crank case breather tank, etc. etc.
nothing thats going to require the tank to be up for days at a time. i have about a 2/3 full tank right now, i think im just going to add some stabilizer and continue as planned. if i need to add fuel later when it gets even colder, i guess i can do that..
On my 98 carbed monster, If I prop up the tank gas will flow out the overflow onto my floor. If your tank is full it might be easier to remove it rather than drain it.
Quote from: akmnstr on November 11, 2008, 10:07:25 PM
On my 98 carbed monster, If I prop up the tank gas will flow out the overflow onto my floor. If your tank is full it might be easier to remove it rather than drain it.
hmm, thats a good point. i guess these tanks are just as easy to remove as they are to prop up.
i'll figure it out im sure. for now i just topped her off (because it was apparently EMPTY) and added some Sta-bil.
I'll worry about it when the time comes.
I figure if i let it run for a half hour each week, by the time i go to do some work, it should be down a good amount.
Just move the bike into my dining room for the winter. I drain the tank instead of filling it up since it stays in a warm, dry area... Plus, less fumes that way. Except I put new tires on last month and didn't get much time to wear them in, so they're basically brand new. Now my house smells like a tire rack. Good times.
QuoteNow my house smells like a tire rack. Good times.
Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet
Better than glade
You can now fart in your house and new one will know the difference [thumbsup]
The biker home decor and scent
Quote from: akmnstr on November 12, 2008, 08:35:43 AM
Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet
Better than glade
You can now fart in your house and new one will know the difference [thumbsup]
The biker home decor and scent
i love the smell of fresh rubber in the morning. Thats why i have armorall fresh rubber trees all over my room(or a new tire sitting in the corner)
obligatory "why would you stop riding?" response.
i was always told to put the bike on stands and drop the pressure of the tires to half. not sure of the reasoning, but it's what i was told. now i see recommendations for inflating thema ll the way...what gives howie?
Quote from: KnightofNi on November 12, 2008, 09:08:31 AM
obligatory "why would you stop riding?" response.
Location, location, location... Freezing cold temps, freezing cold tires, salt/sand all over the roads. I know a lot of guys ride year round up in the Northeast but I'm not one of them. I guess I could go out and buy a bunch of cold-weather riding gear but I'm going to save that money and put it into upgraded internals for my front forks. [thumbsup]
Quote from: Toucan on November 12, 2008, 10:06:17 AM
Location, location, location... Freezing cold temps, freezing cold tires, salt/sand all over the roads. I know a lot of guys ride year round up in the Northeast but I'm not one of them. I guess I could go out and buy a bunch of cold-weather riding gear but I'm going to save that money and put it into upgraded internals for my front forks. [thumbsup]
that works.
and i'm one of those guys. it's part of the reason i bought a dual sport.
Quote from: KnightofNi on November 12, 2008, 10:31:48 AM
that works.
and i'm one of those guys. it's part of the reason i bought a dual sport.
And that's one of the reasons I want to get a dual sport as a second bike. Some day.
Quote from: Toucan on November 12, 2008, 10:06:17 AM
I guess I could go out and buy a bunch of cold-weather riding gear but I'm going to save that money and put it into upgraded internals for my front forks. [thumbsup]
BINGO.
But i probably will take it out for quick romps with some underarmor gear on, just to freak people out.
Quote from: corey on November 12, 2008, 12:01:39 PM
BINGO.
But i probably will take it out for quick romps with some underarmor gear on, just to freak people out.
As long as you're wearing something over the underarmor gear, I think people won't freak out as much. [laugh]
well what fun is that?!
You won't have to ask that question when "the boys" go "back in the garage."
UnderArmor is good stuff, but its got its limits.
Quote from: Toucan on November 12, 2008, 10:40:57 AM
And that's one of the reasons I want to get a dual sport as a second bike. Some day.
i also got tired of the duc sliding on the ice.
i'd rather dump the xr than the duc.
Quote from: corey on November 12, 2008, 12:01:39 PM
BINGO.
But i probably will take it out for quick romps with some underarmor gear on, just to freak people out.
they freak out more if it's snowing.
now i'm not challenging you or anything, i'm just sayin... ;D
haha right right right...
only my first year and all, maybe i'll give it a try AFTER i pay off the bike ;D
Quote from: KnightofNi on November 12, 2008, 09:08:31 AM
obligatory "why would you stop riding?" response.
i was always told to put the bike on stands and drop the pressure of the tires to half. not sure of the reasoning, but it's what i was told. now i see recommendations for inflating thema ll the way...what gives howie?
My recommendation to increase the pressure is if you do not put the bike on stands. This helps avoid flat spotting. If the bike is on stands this is not needed. Some tire manufacturers. suggest reducing pressure if the vehicle is on stands, some don't. l doubt it makes a difference.
Quote from: howie on November 12, 2008, 05:01:25 PM
My recommendation to increase the pressure is if you do not put the bike on stands. This helps avoid flat spotting. If the bike is on stands this is not needed. Some tire manufacturers. suggest reducing pressure if the vehicle is on stands, some don't. l doubt it makes a difference.
thanks howie!
One thing that I forgot to mention in my earlier post is that I store my monster in a shed built for motorcycle storage and I keep
the bike frozen for the winter, at -20F. At that temperature the bike stays nicely preserved, sort of a mechanical cryonics.
I use no form of refrigeration, just the natural ambient temperatures of Alaska.
In the Spring I thaw out the Desmo B*tch and she hasn't aged a bit. [thumbsup]
can you get the bike up to temp if you have it on a rear stand and just keep it running for 15/20 min. I'm asking cause I live in NyC and ride all winter except for maybe Jan/feb when there is a lot of snow on the ground. So I might not ride for maybe 3week strech.
'Flat spotting'? I thought that was only true back in the fiberglass belt days.... errrr, 70's.
I know keeping a metal tank full prevents rust from forming inside the tank, but why do you need to keep a plastic tank full?
Quote from: Mash on November 14, 2008, 09:45:46 PM
I know keeping a metal tank full prevents rust from forming inside the tank, but why do you need to keep a plastic tank full?
Reduces the amount of air available inside the tank to oxidize the fuel. Sta-Bil can only fight off so much.