Author |
Message |
Voofighters
| Posted on Tuesday, February 03, 2009 - 05:07 pm: |
|
Im planning on going overseas for the next 6-8 months and need to put my 08' XB12Scg into storage. During this time, the bike will not be ridden/started at all. I wont be leaving for a little while, but I figure I should start making plans to 'store' the bike. I live in SoCal and the bike is going to be placed inside my garage where it's dry and at a relatively consistent temperature. It'll be under a bike cover as well. I'm sure there's other things, but the 3 areas that I wanted to address were gas, tires, and oil. Gas: I remember reading about additives to pour into your tank to help keep it from clogging, but is 6 months too long? Are there better alternatives? I really really dont want the fuel to gum up on me while i'm gone. Oil: Frankly, I have no idea what to do about this. Should I drain it dry or fill it up? Tires: I have a front and rear stand, so I was thinking i'll prop it up off the ground. Is this a bad thing for the suspension? Should i keep the tires inflated/deflated? Honeslty, I've never had to winterize/store a bike or car for this long, so I'm fairly clueless on what to expect. Is there anything else I should take into account that's equally important but forgetting to mention? Any tips/suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! |
Oxygen151
| Posted on Tuesday, February 03, 2009 - 05:21 pm: |
|
For the gas, sta-bil will do just fine. Put some Sta-bil in and top her off. For the oil, change the primary and engine oil. Old oil has junk in it that over time can be corrosive if it sits for a long time. Tires, put your bike on stands and maybe take a few psi out of each tire. Also take the battery out and put it on a tender. Other than that you should be all set. Should be good as new when you get back. |
Boney95
| Posted on Tuesday, February 03, 2009 - 05:21 pm: |
|
Fogging oil in each cylinder. |
Sfinton
| Posted on Tuesday, February 03, 2009 - 07:25 pm: |
|
Speaking of winter-izing. My bike is stored in Ohio and I was planning on doing some engine work when one of my engine mount bolts snapped off in the head. To make a long story short I haven't made it back to Ohio since Christmas and my bike has no oil or primary in it. Should I worry? |
Ourdee
| Posted on Tuesday, February 03, 2009 - 09:38 pm: |
|
Sfinton, What good would worrying do? The crankcase and primary should be fine. Bigger concern is weather or not you got the stabil in and the battery out and on a tender. |
Punkid8888
| Posted on Wednesday, February 04, 2009 - 12:27 pm: |
|
I disagree with the battery tender, I think just disconnect it will work fine. I have never had a battery tender on any of my vehicles. and during the winter some will sit 3, 4, months. I would say when you get back after the 6 months just bring a battery charger and let it charge before trying to start the bike. |
Stevenc150
| Posted on Wednesday, February 04, 2009 - 12:50 pm: |
|
"I disagree with the battery tender, I think just disconnect it will work fine." ....what he said, just disconnect & store it in a warm place. The cold sucks the life out of them. |
Voofighters
| Posted on Wednesday, February 04, 2009 - 08:42 pm: |
|
good stuff.. thanks for the info guys.. I spoke with Al and Joanne at American Sport Bike today and Al pretty much said the same thing.. Put in Stabil(sp?) Put in new oil Prop it up on my pitbulls and let some air out I told him I wasnt crazy about leaving it hooked up to a battery tender while I was away and he simply commented it wasn't a big deal either.. I could always just get a new one or try to rejuice it with a tender when I returned.. again, much thanks! |
Panhead_dan
| Posted on Wednesday, February 04, 2009 - 10:24 pm: |
|
don't forget to run the bike after you add the sta-bil to circulate it through the entire fuel system. |
|