My bike is now in winter storage.

[meowguy_imp]

I have placed my bike into winter storage here in my garage today. It was 24 degrees this morning and that is pretty much my limit. Here is what I did to the bike.

1. At the filling station I placed the proper storage dose of fuel stabilizer in the tank for long term storage and filled the tank. That amounted to 1 oz. per gallon. Drove the bike home from filling station to work the stabilizer in. Took the longest route along the shore...four miles.

2. Drained the oil and replaced the filter.

3. Put in four quarts of Pro Honda 10W30 dino. Ran the motor briefly and checked the level. It was perfect at the high mark.

4. Removed the spark plugs and placed 15cc of the same motor oil in the cylinders. This was a little difficult to do so I poured it in using a plastic tube. A turkey baster would be ideal for this.

5. I let the oil sit in the cylinders for a short time, then holding throttle full open, I cranked the motor to make sure the oil spread inside the cylinders. FYI, did you know that if you hold the throttle fully open and crank the motor, it will not start? Mine wouldn't start anyway because the plugs were out, but I did not want a lot of fuel going into the cylinders.

6. Cleaned up the oil spray mist from the cylinders from the bottom of the tank. Loosely installed the spark plugs, left the wires loose as well. The plugs have very long threads and you will think they are never coming out, but they will. When they do come out, you will see the tiniest little plugs you have sever seen.

7. Cleaned the bike using Pro Honda Cleaner. Polished the header pipes with SemiChrome and 3M pad. Cleaned the rims, etc.

8. Plugged the bike into the Honda Optimate Battery Charger/Maintainer.

9. Put a scissor jack with wooden spacer under the crank case and cranked it up until the front wheel was just off the ground. Be careful when doing this that the center stand feet remain solid on the ground and do not tilt to one side.

10. Covered the bike with a breathable dust cover.

11. Cried real tears.

[rboe]

So, you can ride again in July?

[dBuster_imp]

Our bikes were put away last weekend also! Pretty much the same process although I didn't cover it and it was cleaned the day before. Plus I don't do the oil in the cylinders bit... *thinking*

Also that amount of stabil, I thought it was 1 oz to 2.5 gallons? not 1oz to 1 gallon... But I could be wrong. might have to dump some more in!

I pull the battery out of the bike and bring it in the house for the winter and charge it every other month instead of putting a tender on the battery in the bike. There is something about creating a nice warm spot for rodents to get at to keep warm in the winter... That tender and or battery... maybe that doesn't happen but I am not taking a chance.

Oh and to the smart one from Phoenix, I used to live in Yuma and we rode YEAR ROUND, even in the 120 degree days, so this is tough having to park for winter and if we are lucky here, pull it out in March/April time frame... One year I was riding in February but that is the rare occasion when it warms up fast... I saw your post on that other thread... Ran away from the winters did you?

[meowguy_imp]

Quote:Also that amount of stabil, I thought it was 1 oz to 2.5 gallons? not 1oz to 1 gallon... But I could be wrong. might have to dump some more in!
I did not use STABIL. I used FUEL MED Rx. It is a product of Yamaha Corp. Everyday use is 1 oz. per 3 gallons, long term storage is 1 oz. per gal.

So you just follow the directions you have for your product.

I also am ignoring our brother from AZ.

[CIP57_imp]

Battery tenders are good for short periods of charging. I would not run 1 all winter. The battery should come out of the bike and into a controlled climate for the winter and not on a metal surface.

I run 12 pieces of lawn equipment and several excavators and backhoes. We use to run tenders for the winter months but noticed it shortens the life of the battery. We now get 5-6 seasons where with tenders they were fried in 3 seasons.

[dBuster_imp]

Battery tenders are good for short periods of charging. I would not run 1 all winter. The battery should come out of the bike and into a controlled climate for the winter and not on a metal surface.

I run 12 pieces of lawn equipment and several excavators and backhoes. We use to run tenders for the winter months but noticed it shortens the life of the battery. We now get 5-6 seasons where with tenders they were fried in 3 seasons.

I am wanting to believe that the battery life is extended with bringing the battery into a climate controlled environment and not leaving it exposed to the cold.

Case being a friend had the same scooter as I did and he left his battery in the scooter over the winter and would tender it once a month. I bring my batteries inside and tender every 2 months. His battery only lasted 2 years, I still have the same battery 6 years later and still running strong.

But then again I would love to have a heated garage! ugh the costs of heating...

[CIP57_imp]

Battery tenders are good for short periods of charging. I would not run 1 all winter. The battery should come out of the bike and into a controlled climate for the winter and not on a metal surface.

I run 12 pieces of lawn equipment and several excavators and backhoes. We use to run tenders for the winter months but noticed it shortens the life of the battery. We now get 5-6 seasons where with tenders they were fried in 3 seasons.

I am wanting to believe that the battery life is extended with bringing the battery into a climate controlled environment and not leaving it exposed to the cold.

Case being a friend had the same scooter as I did and he left his battery in the scooter over the winter and would tender it once a month. I bring my batteries inside and tender every 2 months. His battery only lasted 2 years, I still have the same battery 6 years later and still running strong.

But then again I would love to have a heated garage! ugh the costs of heating...

I am wanting to believe that the battery life is extended with bringing the battery into a climate controlled environment and not leaving it exposed to the cold.

Case being a friend had the same scooter as I did and he left his battery in the scooter over the winter and would tender it once a month. I bring my batteries inside and tender every 2 months. His battery only lasted 2 years, I still have the same battery 6 years later and still running strong.

But then again I would love to have a heated garage! ugh the costs of heating... We put all of our batteries on a 2 x 10 and just let them naturally discharge over the winter.

[Jim21680_imp]

From what I understand, a "smart" tender (not a trickle charger) should be suitable to leave connected to a battery all winter, whether inside or not. Isn't that what they're designed to do? (Monitor and maintain the battery?)

[the Ferret]

I have been running 2 oz per gal of Seafoam during winter storage and battery tender jrs all year round on all my bikes..there are 4 motorcycles and 2 scooters on tenders right now and whenever they are not being ridden. That is the extent of my winter storage, and always has been. Unplug to ride, ride, plug in when I get back from ride. My batteries last on average 5 to 6 years.

[ride4now_imp]

Storage? What's that??? I 'store' my boat in Georgia...but not my bikes. Sorry, didn't mean to be a smart---. I pull the battery out of the boat and store it in the basement on a Sears charger designed for that purpose. But all 3 bikes, 2 in Georgia and 1 in Florida are on trickle chargers and like Ferret, unplug to ride, plug in when done. I always use Sta-Bil, marine type in all... 1 oz per 2-3 gallons, whatever it says on the bottle. I'm sorry you guys are in storage, but maybe now I can 'catch up'!