Ducati care while gone for 4 months

[herm]

Hey there,

I have a Monster 696. With 2K on it. I also have it serviced almost 1000 thousand miles ago.

I have to go abroad for at least 4 months and I am worried that how will I keep the bike in a running condition. I was thinking of doing following things

-   Disconnect the battery and putting it on Battery tender  Good
-   Put fuel stabilizer in the tank so that Fuel doesn’t go bad. Good
-   Store it in underground garage with all weather cover. Good as long as its secure enough for you to be comfortable

I do have some one who may be able to come and start the engine and let it run idly for 15ish minutes every 2nd weekish. I am tempted to do that because I know that removing the battery is a pain and avoiding that will be a great idea.  Bad idea this is worse for the bike than letting it just sit.

Is there anything else I can do to make it sure that when I come back after 4 months, the bike start in first go.

Can some one please help me out what should I do and whats the best way to handle this long absence and making sure the bike runs optimal when I come back.

FWIW, i stored my bike from almost 6 months last year. not much different from storing it for the winter. i did the following to take care of it.
a) put the bike up on stands to keep the tires from getting flat spots
b) battery on a trickle charger
c) fuel stabilizer in a full tank of gas
the bike was left alone in an unheated garage, with no one to check on it for the entire time. i left myself a checklist of the things that i would want to check on before riding it again, and all was good.

as long as the bike is in a secure location, dont sweat it

[Bigbore4]

Agree with most of what has been said.  30+ years of motorcycling in Minnesota, read long winter storage period, is where I am coming from.

Tank full to the brim with stabilized, non oxygenated fuel if you can get it.  Run the engine long enough to move stabilized fuel through the entire system.  Top it back up.  A full tank will rust far less on the interior.  Don't worry about the tires, bike generally aint heavy enough to flat-spot a tire.  And if it does, a modern tire will smooth out in a couple miles.  If you can afford it and have time, get a stand or a pair of them to help prevent some dickhead knocking it over.

Battery in or out does not matter.  Get it on a tender if ya have one, get the trickle charger on it a couple days a month if you don't.   Should be bale to find a plug-in programmable timer at a home center, or have your buddy do that. 

Don't need to fog or pre-lube at start up for the time you mention.  If your assignement overseas might go beyond 6 months, then fog it.  Pull the covers and spray fogging lube on the cams etc. to protect them as well. Again, under 6 months no need.

CHANGE THE OIL BEFORE STORAGE!  Get the crud out!

Do not run it.  You will just load the exhaust and engine with moisture form condensate, and idling int he garage will not burn it off.

When you get back and are ready to ride, air the tires, look it over good, fire it up and go.  The most important tip is GO EASY for a day or so.  You get rusty and reactions slow down on a long lay-off.

[Langanobob]

Pretty much what Bigbore4 said.  I'm gone a lot and I have 5 bikes and don't do much except fuel stabilizer and battery tender.  I usually don't bother to change the oil first and nothing bad ever happens.  Loosening the timing belts is also a total waste of time.  They just aren't that delicate at all to take a set and weaken while not being operated.  I really don't like the idea of someone coming over once a week or so and rolling the tires, etc.  Not only a complete waste of time, I also just don't like the idea of anyone, good friend or highly qualified or not, messing with my bike once a week. 

Don't let on that I said this, but if you just go on your trip and don't do anything special at all to prepare your bike for 4 months storage, nothing bad will happen.  But the battery tender and fuel stabilizer are still a good idea.

Off topic - 4 months in Japan sounds like a great adventure.  If it were me I'd just focus on the trip and have a great time and forget about the bike.  If you can tell us without having to  kill us if you do, what are you going to be doing there?