Winterize 101

Grnole wrote: I guess I should move again. I am in the process of buying a house, and keeping the bike in a friends garage. Until I close. I think I will likely ride it less than I would like or have access - so I am going to go with some stabil in tank, Run it through the bike, then drain the carbs.

That or pack my sh** and move to arizona.

If you do,



watch out for these critters.

June bugs

Us neighborhood kids that lusted after but couldn't afford gasoline powered control line model airplanes, used a piece of Mom's sewing thread to tether a June-bug and fly it round and round. :woohoo:





This is when we weren't otherwise occupied trying to get somebody to push us around playing motorcycle rider while sitting atop an apple box on a common kid's scooter.

(With apologies for aiding and abetting the on-going thread hijacking.)

Good Fortune!

Just thinking ahead my friend, just thinking ahead.

When I lived where there was snow, winter was the building season. When you can only ride so many months out of the year, why waste those months tearing your bike apart.

I always had a bunch of new and improved goodies for my bikes stashed just waiting for wintertime to install them. Bigger pistons, cylinder head with bigger valves, or the biggest cam I could buy and still be able to ride it on the street.

Try to put that fancy new swingarm on your bike that the builder told you "bolts right up" and it doesn't fit by a mile. In the winter you can send it back and not lose one day of riding time.

You have all winter to do this. You can take your time, and not half-ass anything together!!

Plus that new set of CR's looks so good under the Christmas tree!!!!

JR wrote: Depends where you live and how cold it gets. My bike is under a cover since last week and I wont see it until March. We have snow on the ground and temperature is currently -8 C

I
Change the oil
Clean the bike
Put Stabil in the gas tank and fill the tank right up - prevents rust
Drain the carbs
Put a tea spoon (5cc) oil in the cylinders and turn engine over a few times with the plugs out.
Remove the battery and bring it inside and put it on a charger once a month or so
Place bike on center stand and raise front wheel off the ground
Let some air out of the tires.
Stuff a plastic bagl in the exhaust to discourage critters.
Stuff the airbox
Put on the breathable cover
Dont look at it until March

In the Spring I usually transfer the gas with Stabil to the car and buy fresh gas

+1

Only thing I would add is to lube the cables. But that's pretty solid procedure there. ^^^

Texas we summerize our bike's. July August it get's to hot to ride
so that's when I do project's then ride all winter

I follow much the same winterizing list as above.
Never have lubed the cables, but I will certainly consider it for this winter.

Although, I presently live in a house with an unfinished basement, and a fairly steep, but usable walk-through into the basement. Last year when I tore the bike/engine apart for a rebuild, I was able to do it all in there. I might try the 'run it once a month' method this year, and vent the exhaust out a window with dryer venting or suchlike. (YES! I have a CO monitor in the basement, so I shouldn't kill myself if there is a leak.)

Worth mentioning I figure is giving all the chrome/shiny aluminum bits a wipe with something to protect them from moisture/oxidation over the winter. I have had good luck with NevrDull, It comes in a tin, and is a cotton wadding like material presoaked with some kind waxy polish. You are generally meant to buff it off right away, but I've found that when I leave the slightly cloudy polish liquid to dry, it still wipes away easily and cleanly months later, and the finish on all the shiny bits is as good as the day I put it away.

Jon

Be really really careful regarding CO. Very dangerous stuff. Odorless and colorless. You don't notice it then you get dizzy and it you don't hit the off button at that point or get to fresh air immediately then there's a good chance you're dead.

I like the Never Dull tip.

JR wrote: Be really really careful regarding CO. Very dangerous stuff. Odorless and colorless. You don't notice it then you get dizzy and it you don't hit the off button at that point or get to fresh air immediately then there's a good chance you're dead......

That is absolutely true!! Years ago I was building a house and I put a small portable generator in the basement for power for a task I was doing at night. I didn't want it outside because the neighbors might raise hell about the noise. The house had no windows in it yet, and I was working on the 2nd floor, so I figured there was plenty of fresh air blowing through so I would be ok. WRONG! I was very lucky to recognize I was getting very woozy and get out of the house before it killed me. Be VERY careful! Ed

I drain the tank, then fill it with av gas. Run it enough to get the carbs full of it, then let it sit over winter. Never fails.

LIIIIIIVVE!!!
Sorry to revive an old threat, but I'm trying to winterize my KZ for the first time (my first year riding). Does anyone "lube the forks"? And what exactly does that mean? Also, what lube/oil do you use for this? I've tried searching google, this site & can't come across anything.