Winterizing

Hey all;
It's coming around to that time of year to start thinking about how I'm going to store the bike. Since it's running great and I want to make it through the winter, how do I go about keeping it in great condition? I've found some shops that store them, but prices are a little outrageous. I have a storage shed where she sleeps, so staying in there and wrapped up whenever not being worked worked on or started

For my Monte Carlo that gets garage kept throughout the winter, I close her all up, close off all openings to the motor, put some fuel stabilizer in and she stays under wraps until April. Oil change in then and she fires right up. Never had a carb issue or anything. I know with the bikes, they're a little different, so should I throw some stabilizer in and try to start it every now and then?

She will not be ridden until the weather gets nicer... probably April.
What do you guys do, and what do you recommend?
Thanks

I have found that the very best approach is simply not let it sit without running it over the Winter. During the Winter, I start my bike at least once every 2 weeks and let it idle for about 15 minutes or so. Because the ambient temperature is so cold, it doesn't overheat at all in that time frame. Doing that keeps oil on the cylinder walls and other parts, keeps the battery charged and healthy, and prevents fuel goo from forming inside the carbs. I add some fuel stabilizer to the fuel tank at the end of the riding season so the gas doesn't go bad. Although may not really be necessary, I suspect this is a good idea since that tank of fuel is going to last all Winter. I do take the bike for a spin around the block if weather permits, but that generally is only a couple times until Spring arrives. Once Spring arrives the bike is ready to ride; no muss - no fuss. Ed

Mine will be Winterized soon too, and won't come out till April also.

I drain the carbs.
Fill the gas tank, and add a stabilizer/sea foam etc.
Change the oil and filter.
Remove the battery and bring it in the house, charging it on low once a month at least.
Add a little oil to each cylinder through the spark plug holes, put the plugs back in. Then once a month turn the engine over in neutral with the kickstarter to move the pistons.
Get both wheels off the floor/ground, either on the center stand or other stands.
Cover the exhaust openings, and the air box opening.

Come Spring, I install the battery, drain the gas tank and use that in the car, add fresh gas, set petcock to Prime to fill the carbs, and she usually starts no problems.

rstnick wrote: Mine will be Winterized soon too, and won't come out till April also.

I drain the carbs.
Fill the gas tank, and add a stailizer/sea foam etc.
Change the oil and filter.
Remove the battery and bring it in the house, charging it on low once a month at least.
Add a little oil to each cylinder through the spark plug holes, put the plugs back in. Then once a month turn the engine over in neutral with the kickstarter to move the pistons.
Get both wheels off the floor/ground, either on the center stand or other stands.
Cover the exhaust openings, and the air box opening.

Come Spring, I install the battery, drain the gas tank and use that in the car, add fresh gas, set petcock to Prime to fill the carbs, and she usually starts no problems.

I agree mostly.
I use fuel treatment THEN run the bike for one last time.
Then top up your tank from a can, as little air space in the tank as you can.
I also use a battery tender because I have power where he sleeps.
A heavy coat of your fav wax and DON'T wipe it off till spring on all the paint and bright work.
And something to cover him,even an old mattress pad, just something.

Mike

Wow....we are just now getting into good riding weather here! It's been too dang hot until just a few days ago when the first cool front blew thru. Upper 80's for the highs this week.

I would agree with the Ed method if I lived where it ever got cold. :whistle:

Thank you for all the good answers. I will keep her open and start her every now and then. The occasional spin around the block sounds good too. Any recommendations on fuel stabilizer? For my Monte, I always fill up with full tank of premium and dump a whole canister of whatever is on sale haha.

Man I wish it was 80. Highs of 50 next week... only going to get worse now.

I use this stuff, and I put in the amount shown in the instructions. Don't over-do it. Ed

Actually, Marine Stabil does a better job with our ethanol-laced fuels.

rstnick wrote: Mine will be Winterized soon too, and won't come out till April also.

I drain the carbs.
Fill the gas tank, and add a stailizer/sea foam etc.
Change the oil and filter.
Remove the battery and bring it in the house, charging it on low once a month at least.
Add a little oil to each cylinder through the spark plug holes, put the plugs back in. Then once a month turn the engine over in neutral with the kickstarter to move the pistons.
Get both wheels off the floor/ground, either on the center stand or other stands.
Cover the exhaust openings, and the air box opening.

Come Spring, I install the battery, drain the gas tank and use that in the car, add fresh gas, set petcock to Prime to fill the carbs, and she usually starts no problems.

Been pretty much doing this for years too except I drain the gas from the tank and add maybe a little under a Dixie cup of a 50/50 oil and wd-40 mix and coat the inside real good. I then rinse it out good in the spring and start with fresh gas. Don't really trust keeping gas for much over a month or two no matter what you do to it.