Guys, I'm about to get ready to leave Denmark.  The S4 is staying. I won't be able to ride it for another year.

1.) What do I need to do to store it for that long?
2.) I do have a battery tender, can i leave it plugged in for a year? Without anyone watching it?
3.) I have no stands. Can the tires last that long in one place?

Is it inside or outside?

Covered?

Did you change the oil?

Fill or empty the tank?

Leave it at silentbob's bike storage.



I maintain bikes for people on deployment.

The S4 is fuel injected, so you would be fine filling up the tank to the top and letting it sit for a year.  For 12 months you don't really even need fuel stabilizer on an injected bike as long as the tank is full.

The battery will be fine if it is on a tender for a year.

The tires should at least be on something other than concrete but, preferably off the ground completely.

Don't forget to change the fluids and check your tire pressure when you get back.

Put some socks over your exhaust cans to keep the critters from making a new home. 

Fresh oil change.

Maybe you could prop your bike on some blocks to keep tires off ground.

Remove spark plugs and put a squirt of oil in cylinder bores, then replace plugs.  Crank engine a few times to spread oil.

Deflate tires by 5 to 10 psi.

Clean and lubricate everything.

Plug the air intakes. 

Don't know about battery.

Or just have a friend ride it around every few weeks.    

get a climate controled storage place, most storage places have them. not sure if they will allow a fuel burning vehicle in one though. some motorcycle shops can provide a storage that includes battery maint. & other services that will keep your bike stored for future use.

I do keep the bike quite clean already, But I figure I would spray the whole thing down with WD40 to help with any rust or anything of the sort. I'll be sure to fill the tank, and if I can get some STABIL somewhere, I guess it couldn't hurt to throw that in there.

stands would be nice. But they are expensive here in Denmark. I would pay over 5-600 bucks for a set here. I can't believe how expensive everything is. A gallon of synthetic car oil is $100

Every quart of synthetic oil from the Ducati Dealer here is $35!! Could you imagine paying $130 for JUST oil? and then another $20 for the filter? Then again, minimum wage is around $30 an hour. Can you imagine working at Mc Donalds and making that kind of money? its insane.

The earlier post is right on the money.  You're not likely to have any problems fuel-wise storing your bike for that period of time, though when you get back the fuel won't be of the best quality as it will break down.  But the bike won't suffer any ill effects.  The tender is no problem to leave on for a year so don't give it another thought.  Everyone else is right about finding a way to get it on blocks and get the tires off the ground though.  It is very likely that you'll flat spot the tires from them sitting that long.  And the idea about covering the exhausts to prevent critter entry isn't a bad notion either.  Overall I think you'll find your bike will be fine in storage for that length of time.  Since the oil is so cost prohibitive there, maybe you can buy your replacement fluids and filter here before your return there.  Good luck!

Send it to me.  I'll make sure it's run frequently so it doesn't have any problems from sitting. 

Would it also be a good idea to remove the cam belts so that they aren't in a stretched position, wrapped around the pulleys, for a year?  Just a thought.

Forget about $600 stands and improvise!   

QuoteThe S4 is fuel injected, so you would be fine filling up the tank to the top and letting it sit for a year.  For 12 months you don't really even need fuel stabilizer on an injected bike as long as the tank is full.

I thought fuel "gums up" after 3-4 months, with devastating results.

+1 on the WD-40;  spray some inside your exhausts before stuffing them.  If your brake rotors are stock then they will be rusty as hell unless you spray with WD-40  but I don't know if thats safe.

Quote from: uclabiker06 on June 01, 2008, 04:09:25 PM
I thought fuel "gums up" after 3-4 months, with devastating results.

+1 on the WD-40;  spray some inside your exhausts before stuffing them.  If your brake rotors are stock then they will be rusty as hell unless you spray with WD-40  but I don't know if thats safe.

If it is a carbed bike you will have problems because the float bowls are open to the atmosphere and contain only a small volume of gas, so it evaporates and turns to varnish.  4 gallons of gas in a closed tank will be fine for a year.

The stock rotors are stainless steel and will not rust.  If they were replaced with iron, then they would get a slight coating of rust that comes right off with the first stop.  Don't use WD-40 unless you 1. have iron rotors and 2. plan on replacing your brake pads.

QuoteIf it is a carbed bike you will have problems because the float bowls are open to the atmosphere and contain only a small volume of gas, so it evaporates and turns to varnish.  4 gallons of gas in a closed tank will be fine for a year.

Silly me,  I put in fuel stabilizer last time I stored the FI bike for just 3 months.  Wont be doing that next time.

The stock rotors are stainless steel and will not rust.  If they were replaced with iron, then they would get a slight coating of rust that comes right off with the first stop.  Don't use WD-40 unless you 1. have iron rotors and 2. plan on replacing your brake pads.

Okay so no WD-40 on the rotors.

Just sell off the bike .... 


p/s: any vacancy in McDonalds in your area?? ......