Winter Battery Maintenance

[Wagonpeddler_imp]

I've always removed my battery for the winter, and kept on a tender inside. Wondering if keeping it in the bike (and on a tender) in the cold garage for the winter would be OK. Once the bike is "winterized", it stays unused until spring.
Appreciate any comments.

[Mixagon_imp]

I never winterize my bikes, and the batteries stay on the bike all the time connected to a solar trickle charger all year round. That way any nice dry days over winter (and there are many) I can just unplug the charger and have a ride. If I don't go a ride I do start them up every month or so and spin the wheels and apply brakes to keep things free.

[GoldOxide_imp]

Ditto - haven't winterized motorcycles since about 1988.

Lead acid batteries ought to be tended to every two to four weeks for sure. Some leave the tender on all the time. Modern tenderers are easier on the batteries.

If you have LiFePO4 batteries, you won't really need the [lithium-based] tenderer unless there is some parasitic load on your motorcycle (like an active security system, or GPS module, etc.).

[LakeWylieJoe_imp]

I always left mine plugged in to a tender (not trickle charger) over the whole winter. with the battery installed. Got 7 years from my original battery using that method. Also left the tank full of ethanol-free fuel with stabilizer. Always fires right up in the spring.

[PowerDubs_imp]

My new Aprilia has a lithium battery- and it came with it's own booklet. Haha... I haven't read it yet as I hope to get some more rides in before winter.

[Wagonpeddler_imp]

According to consensus...the battery stays in. Thanks.
I've also put a few drops of oil in each cylinder. That OK?

[Mixagon_imp]

According to consensus...the battery stays in. Thanks.
I've also put a few drops of oil in each cylinder. That OK?

I'm not sure what a few drops of oil will do except sit on the piston until the next start up, and then just burn away. I believe a regular start up and 10 mins warm up which puts the oil where it is needed is much more beneficial.

There's lots of different views and reasons for doing or not doing certain things but when something works for you and gives you peace of mind its ok.

I often wonder why people do so many things for a few months storage when there are bikes/cars sitting in dealers etc for much longer periods without fuel stabilizer or tyres off the ground, I used to do all the above and more

[Tev62]

According to consensus...the battery stays in. Thanks.
I've also put a few drops of oil in each cylinder. That OK?

I'm not sure what a few drops of oil will do except sit on the piston until the next start up, and then just burn away. I believe a regular start up and 10 mins warm up which puts the oil where it is needed is much more beneficial.

There's lots of different views and reasons for doing or not doing certain things but when something works for you and gives you peace of mind its ok.

I often wonder why people do so many things for a few months storage when there are bikes/cars sitting in dealers etc for much longer periods without fuel stabilizer or tyres off the ground, I used to do all the above and more

There is the counter argument to running the engine for such a short time. You are more likely to introduce more moisture by way of condensation into the crankcase and into the exhaust as 10 minutes at idle won't be sufficient to bring the engine to full operating temperature. A fully hot system evaporates this moisture from the oil and the rest of the bikes system.

I don't know if our bikes have a crankcase ventilation valve or if it is just a regular pipe to the airbox but if they do this is a prime candidate to get gummed up with short runs too.

[GoldOxide_imp]

I ride in the winter since my last "formal winter storage" back in 1988. That fixed the issue of storage.

[Mixagon_imp]

According to consensus...the battery stays in. Thanks.
I've also put a few drops of oil in each cylinder. That OK?

I'm not sure what a few drops of oil will do except sit on the piston until the next start up, and then just burn away. I believe a regular start up and 10 mins warm up which puts the oil where it is needed is much more beneficial.

There's lots of different views and reasons for doing or not doing certain things but when something works for you and gives you peace of mind its ok.

I often wonder why people do so many things for a few months storage when there are bikes/cars sitting in dealers etc for much longer periods without fuel stabilizer or tyres off the ground, I used to do all the above and more

There is the counter argument to running the engine for such a short time. You are more likely to introduce more moisture by way of condensation into the crankcase and into the exhaust as 10 minutes at idle won't be sufficient to bring the engine to full operating temperature. A fully hot system evaporates this moisture from the oil and the rest of the bikes system.

I don't know if our bikes have a crankcase ventilation valve or if it is just a regular pipe to the airbox but if they do this is a prime candidate to get gummed up with short runs too.

There is the counter argument to running the engine for such a short time. You are more likely to introduce more moisture by way of condensation into the crankcase and into the exhaust as 10 minutes at idle won't be sufficient to bring the engine to full operating temperature. A fully hot system evaporates this moisture from the oil and the rest of the bikes system.

I don't know if our bikes have a crankcase ventilation valve or if it is just a regular pipe to the airbox but if they do this is a prime candidate to get gummed up with short runs too.
I agree about the moisture. Sorry the ten minute warm up was just a ball park figure and not at idle speed but various revs. I usually go through the gears and re - oil the chain and check brakes etc while its running until fully warmed up.
That is only if the weather is so bad I've not been out for weeks of course. I like the dry sunny winter days we get so ride whenever possible