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So, today was the day I opened the fuel tank caps on each of the 3 bikes, dumped in the appropriate amount of fuel stabilizer for each, replaced the caps, and while holding the front brake, rocked each bike back and forth to mix the stabilizer well.
Then it was off to the local gas station for a top off with 93 octane.
First the Guzzi, then the CB, finally the GS. Took each one after fueling for approx a 10 mile run, then home to repeat with the next bike.
The CB and GS both had their oil and filters changed within the past 200 miles. Good enough for sitting for 3-4 months until a warm day or two sneak in. The Guzzi will still need filter and oil change.
I was rushed, but it was fun going from bike to bike and getting the chance to feel the individual characteristics of each.
Battery Tenders now at the ready!
Bob
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(11-06-2018, 12:37 PM)Cormanus_imp Wrote: Commiserations, brother. Thanks, Cormanus!
I got back into motorcycling in 1984, and it's with mixed feelings every year. Glad I took the time to get it done, sorry the season is coming to an end.
But, hey! The next day I celebrate is December 21st. It's a psychological boost for me to know that the days will once again be getting longer.
Bob
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I just went through the same pre-winter ritual this past weekend (4 bikes), which gave me an opportunity to ride each along an identical 8.2-mile route. After chronicling my impressions on this forum and acknowledging that my once all-time favorite bike was now a comparative let-down, I sold it! Be careful with those rituals!
To me, December 21 is the first day of summer, not winter, for the exact reason you mentioned. The days are getting longer!
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I rode 64 miles today.Way too early to think about putting bikes up for the winter. I usually think about that Jan 2nd.
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My riding buddies say they will ride as long as it is above freezing, until they salt/sand the roads....I'm assuming it's a friction thing. So I'd say ferret is about right.
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I stopped winterizing bikes back in '86. The winter weather got so unpredictably mild in Toronto that I always burned down the treated tanks of fuel. Even on sub-zero days, the wind was null and the sun high and the roads dry (but the damn road salt), the bike went for a decent run. No heated garages. The past years storage was just a canvas tent that has torn from the sun's UV. Fortunately over all the years, none of the bikes rotted. The carbureted bikes, however, were harder to start stone cold. Anyway, I enjoy the option to ride in any season - even if hell'ish.
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(11-06-2018, 02:14 PM)GoldOxide_imp Wrote: I stopped winterizing bikes back in '86. The winter weather got so unpredictably mild in Toronto that I always burned down the treated tanks of fuel. Even on sub-zero days, the wind was null and the sun high and the roads dry (but the damn road salt), the bike went for a decent run. No heated garages. The past years storage was just a canvas tent that has torn from the sun's UV. Fortunately over all the years, none of the bikes rotted. The carbureted bikes, however, were harder to start stone cold. Anyway, I enjoy the option to ride in any season - even if hell'ish. Don't get me wrong. If we happen to have a warm day in Jan/Feb 2019, one of these bikes will be on the road. Not much to carrying some stabilizer along, and replenishing it before riding home.
Bob
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For some stupid reason, well, maybe the 20+ reasons (i.e. years), I stopped using fuel preservative in the tank. I found that as long as the tank was topped up with reliable fresh fuel - even premium grade sometimes - prior to shacking it back to shelter, it never failed to start and run smoothly after the winter season. I once worried about gum/varnish build up, but if it happened, I never felt it. Now, I still religiously add preserve to my lawn mower 'cause I am too damn lazy to purge the tank, but I do run that carb dry.
Maybe the late model bikes - heh, I am not sure, ... '80s, '90s, 00's, and 10's model years (?) have better seals, tanks and fuel quality, not to mention fuel injection compared to '70's and older models? Possibly. I dunno. I always winterized my '76 Yami RD400. If I didn't, I paid later.
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(11-06-2018, 01:34 PM)The ferret_imp Wrote: I rode 64 miles today.Way too early to think about putting bikes up for the winter. I usually think about that Jan 2nd.
And here was I thinking you never stopped riding.
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