Total Motorcycle Community Forums

I know this is Minnesota and winter can come at any moment but I am just not ready to store my bike. I am still riding it to work on the days it is not raining. I don't have enough room in my garage to store two bikes and all the storeage places want the bikes put away now. Lock them up quick so they don't have to worry about them but I think there are still lots of good riding days left. I just can't do it and this may be a problem later for me but that is the way it is. I am going to have to figure out something soon. I'd ride all winter if it doesn't snow and get below zero.

All I did to store my bike was put two weather-proof covers on them (bigger one on top) covering the tires and taking the battery inside the house and lubed all parts that needed it. My Vulcan lasted and hardly needed any attention when it came to riding it again and no rust. Of course I also made it a habit to start her up once in a while over a bad winter just to make sure.

I don't have a garage and I never put my bikes in any storage that costs money... well I do have a shed but my tools and other junk is in there. Plus when there are warm days in the winter or the roads lack ice or snow I still ride. Tires that can take cold weather is a must, ie: warm up quickly, good in rain, etc.

Still riding mine... in the wet snow and rain. I simply dress for it and enjoy. Gotta watch out for those wet leaves, though.

I'm also having a hard time giving up my bike for the winter. I changed the oil in preparation to put it away but then the weather got a little warm again, haven't put fuel stabilizer in it yet...

I have a question, if I change the oil but then put 2-300 more miles on it before putting it up for storage do I need to change the oil again before I do that. I'll have limited access to it over the winter so...

Thoughts?

Honestly I had let my Vulcan sit outside in the cold for a couple of months and when warmer weather came around I started it up again and it fired up with no problem. The oil can last quite a while, gas is another story but even a month won't hurt without stabil. Also make sure the tank is full before storing to keep out moisture that can rust the tank. Also I think it was mentioned that an oil change should be done when the bike is out of storage, didn't mention anything about changing it before storing.

If you have constant access to the bike in storage you could start it up once in a while for a long winter just to keep things from cropping up. I did this with both my Kawasaki and Suzuki and let the engine run for a few minutes just to circulate the oil (except for that one time I let it sit there for 2 months).

JC Viper wrote:Honestly I had let my Vulcan sit outside in the cold for a couple of months and when warmer weather came around I started it up again and it fired up with no problem. The oil can last quite a while, gas is another story but even a month won't hurt without stabil. Also make sure the tank is full before storing to keep out moisture that can rust the tank. Also I think it was mentioned that an oil change should be done when the bike is out of storage, didn't mention anything about changing it before storing.

If you have constant access to the bike in storage you could start it up once in a while for a long winter just to keep things from cropping up. I did this with both my Kawasaki and Suzuki and let the engine run for a few minutes just to circulate the oil (except for that one time I let it sit there for 2 months).

You guys are like me. I just can’t put her away. I also just changed my oil then said, “Screw it; I’m not ready to give up the ghost yet”. JC did you pull your battery and keep it on a trickle charger over the winter or just charge it up on the bike before taking it out?

havegunjoe wrote:

JC Viper wrote:Honestly I had let my Vulcan sit outside in the cold for a couple of months and when warmer weather came around I started it up again and it fired up with no problem. The oil can last quite a while, gas is another story but even a month won't hurt without stabil. Also make sure the tank is full before storing to keep out moisture that can rust the tank. Also I think it was mentioned that an oil change should be done when the bike is out of storage, didn't mention anything about changing it before storing.

If you have constant access to the bike in storage you could start it up once in a while for a long winter just to keep things from cropping up. I did this with both my Kawasaki and Suzuki and let the engine run for a few minutes just to circulate the oil (except for that one time I let it sit there for 2 months).

You guys are like me. I just can’t put her away. I also just changed my oil then said, “Screw it; I’m not ready to give up the ghost yet”. JC did you pull your battery and keep it on a trickle charger over the winter or just charge it up on the bike before taking it out?

When I had the Vulcan for the last year I owned it I left the battery on the bike. When the weather became rideable (2 months later) I had to add distilled water and put it on a charger that also desulfates batteries if need be. I got lazy this year. The past years I took it inside the house and that was it. I would charge it before riding off and the battery lasted for quite a while. The Suzuki I left out in the cold without doing any prepping aside from double covering it. Started up nicely after a 2 1/2 months. Wouldn't recommend it though. They say keeping it on a trickle charger is best. I wouldn't know because no matter what I did one of the terminals would always break after a year or 2 which meant buying a new battery at $50 a pop. Hey the shop recycles batteries so it's not going to a landfill so I'm still green...

Remember I had one of those cheap lead-acid cruiser batteries that needed to be topped off with water every so often so I'm not sure what kind you have.

bandit600 wrote:I'm also having a hard time giving up my bike for the winter. I changed the oil in preparation to put it away but then the weather got a little warm again, haven't put fuel stabilizer in it yet...

I have a question, if I change the oil but then put 2-300 more miles on it before putting it up for storage do I need to change the oil again before I do that. I'll have limited access to it over the winter so...

Thoughts?

Don't leave the used oil in the engine for the winter. Chances are good, even if you only used it for 300 hundred miles, that you will have some moisture from condensation in the crankcase. That water and any acids could etch bearing surfaces, reducing their life. Best not to take that chance considering how cheap it is to change the oil in a bike.

If you change the oil and filter in the fall and store the bike you do not need to change the oil again when it comes out of winter storage, its good to go.

I only started in July, but i can't give it up! i don't wanna! waah!

seriously, if the roads are clear this winter, long underwear here we come!