| Author | Message | ||
     X1brett |
Looking for some winter storage advice. There isn't room for my Suburban, X1 and 1125r in the garage. I'd like to keep my bikes in a shed, on stands and trickle chargers so I can avoid scraping windows. My garage will probably get down around 30 degrees, while the shed will be the same temperature as the outside Kansas winter, below 0 sometimes, but at least dry. My concern is this, for the sake of preserving seals etc. on the bikes, should I scrape windows and keep the bikes in the garage? Thanks! | ||
| Mikeymike |
Keep the bikes in the garage. The Suburban is a truck and is meant to be out in the weather. | ||
| Jcjohnson33 |
If you have the ability to use trickle charges in the shed why not put a small space heater? | ||
| Stevel |
Keeping the bike in the shed is no problem. However, it is better to remove the batteries and bring them inside and use battery tenders. Batteries really dislike cold. Doing this can really extend their life. | ||
| X1brett |
Thanks for the input guys. I was going to purchase a solar battery tender for the shed but I could easily remove the batteries and put them on tenders in the garage. Still, my main concerns are all the tight tolerance parts, especially in the 1125, that I don't want to hurt. | ||
| Dannybuell |
fresh fluids for winter storage? | ||
| Bob_thompson |
I have the room for both my vehicles in my garage attached to the house so I have my 1125R on a trickle charger and ready to go. I get a few days through the winter to do short warmup rides without going into the canyons and it keeps both of us ready. I do not change fluids until spring to be new and fresh for some canyon thrashing. What might work for you is to keep your bikes in a similar state and keep the suburban outside with large beach type towels over the windshield and rear window to keep frost and snow off. I do that on my Jimmy 1/2 ton when outside in the winter. I secure them with bundgies so they do not blow off in case of high winds. Ten inches of snow will come off in seconds and never any frost as it settles overnight. This has worked for me in Chicago and northern Mn. during winter spells for years. And, merely put the towels in the back seat going to work and they will defrost, be soft and be ready to go when leaving work. Bob | ||
| Nobuell |
At me house, the wife must always be able to get her car in the garage. That leaves plenty of room for the 4 bike I currently have. My Jeep remains outside. This is the best way I have found to keep the peace and by more race parts. I just made sure that my new Jeep has seat warmers. It is a sacrifice that I am willing to make to keep the bikes warm and snuggly. | ||
| Rogue_biker |
I would keep all of them indoors. Stabil in the fuel tank of both bikes with the fuel tanks topped up. Batteries off and trickle charged in the house. Space heater in the shed for the bikes. Suburban inside the garage too. Have it all. I can't imagine leaving bikes outside in the winter cold. Too much exposed plastic and rubber. The 1125R body parts don't tolerate the elements very well. | ||
| Brokengq |
You could just be like a lot of us and park it inside the house for the winter. My bikes mean a lot to me. Harley #1 goes inside the garage at the back where its well insulated. Harley #2 makes the trip out to a friends heated shop (he cleans it regularly with his bikes) and the Buell goes in the living room behind my couch. | ||
| Dennis_c |
Brokeng Why are you hideing your Buell behind the couch?  It should be next to the TV  Harleys goes out in the snow. | ||
| Stirz007 |
A buddy keeps his XB9 in his living room. Wifey may not go for that, but is does solve the garage problem. | ||
| Thefleshrocket |
Admittedly my bikes stay garaged or in the basement so they don't get exposed to the bitter cold of winter, but if they bikes are staying parked (IE you're not starting them), I doubt they'll experience any accelerated wear in 0-degree temps. Just make sure your antifreeze is good down to that temp so you don't get a cracked engine block, and tender your batteries or bring them inside. | ||
| X1brett |
Great input, thanks for all the advice. I'm looking into a remote start for my suburban (1997), incase I leave it outside. My "shed" is actually an enclosed trailer, which seals up tight so nothing inside sees the elements, only temperature. I'd hate to keep a space heater running for long amounts of time in there but it's something to consider. Would I need to worry about gasoline fumes from the bikes with a space heater running, in the unventilated trailer? (Message edited by X1brett on November 05, 2014) | ||
| Rogue_biker |
Yeah any enclosure needs to vent. | ||
| Two_seasons |
I'm in the process of planning an infrared heater in the garage. No space heater moisture attraction, smell, or in the case of forced air, dust! Heat goes right into the garage floor and rises from there! Space-Ray out of Charlotte will be getting my business soon. My auto body man says it is the best they've ever used. Here's a link... http://spaceray.com/ | ||
| Figorvonbuellingham |
Use a Golden Rod. Just lay a golden rod on the seat or somewhere on the bike, then put some plastic over it. That should take care of any condensation. Much safer then a heater runnng. |
