All of the sudden, the weather turned "un-rideable" here in Southern Indiana. The past couple of years I was able to ride at least once every couple of weeks throughout the coldest months, but this time with snow and ice the bike has had to sit for a month now. What are my best practices for keeping the bike in good shape in storage? Kept in the garage at a consistent temp. She does have a mostly full tank of gas---should I add fuel stabilizer and run it for a little while to get it into the injectors, or is it more harm than good to bother starting it at this point?
Opinion on '12 Vegas Storage...
Beerski
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All of the sudden, the weather turned "un-rideable" here in Southern Indiana. The past couple of years I was able to ride at least once every couple of weeks throughout the coldest months, but this time with snow and ice the bike has had to sit for a month now. What are my best practices for keeping the bike in good shape in storage? Kept in the garage at a consistent temp. She does have a mostly full tank of gas---should I add fuel stabilizer and run it for a little while to get it into the injectors, or is it more harm than good to bother starting it at this point?
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I'm inclined to do this, but yeah I've heard some say otherwise, so I'm trying to decide. It'll probably sit for another month at this point
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7,756 Posts
Sounds like you have enough fuel in her. Vegas should be find being parked for a couple months. Battery will be fine as long as you don't have a USB charger on-board.
My XC sat for 3 months last winter, I've never put a charger on it in 4 yrs and it still has the OEM battery.
My XC sat for 3 months last winter, I've never put a charger on it in 4 yrs and it still has the OEM battery.
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If your garage has enough heat to prevent condensation you’re fine. A full tank eliminates the air that fills the void, the air is where condensation comes from. But if you’re at say a constant 40-45 degrees or higher you should be fine anyway.
I do treat with Stabil, it can’t hurt. Hopefully next month is warmer, but what if you slip and break a leg? One month becomes two months, maybe 3, on gas that might have been 1 or 2 months old to begin with...I do it to be safe. And kinda like condensation fuel breaks down via exposure to oxygen. The more air it’s exposed to, the faster it deteriorates.
I do treat with Stabil, it can’t hurt. Hopefully next month is warmer, but what if you slip and break a leg? One month becomes two months, maybe 3, on gas that might have been 1 or 2 months old to begin with...I do it to be safe. And kinda like condensation fuel breaks down via exposure to oxygen. The more air it’s exposed to, the faster it deteriorates.
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Will I still need to cold start the bike and let it run for a bit once I add the stabilizer, or will it work well enough just poured in the tank?
I've read some negative things about starting a bike and letting it run without riding it during the winter---condensation build-up
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7,248 Posts
It's mid Feb. You could be riding in a month regularly depending if the weather co-operates. Just leave the fuel in there or top it off to the neck. Putting Sta-Bil in now is useless as it should be added when the tank is low on fuel then topped up, all the while mixing really well. Then go for a few miles ride to get it thru the fuel system. And a maintainer on the battery - NOT a trickle charger.
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Don't know that it did any good except for my piece of mind. When I lived where it was cold I would start it and simply run it for 15 minutes every week. Maybe with no ice suffer around the block once then park it again. Then I would know oil was moving, gas was not laying around getting nasty and battery was working.
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San Antonio isn't cold. Alberta is cold. Stored from Oct thru April. If you can ride every week or two, your winter is like our late fall.
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7,224 Posts
COLD kills batteries. Always keep it on a tender if not riding for more than a few days and your battery will last much longer and be more reliable. I would also throw some Seafoam in the tank but that's just me.
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My current mower (02) sits from Nov-March, never been on a tender and starts every spring. Battery has been replaced twice, in season.
I've only tendered my Vision while working on it.
The only battery of mine that I've replaced during a winter month was due to an alternator failure
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I don't really care what you might think, it's fact that when the cold runs a battery down it shortens the life. I'm in Michigan, gets below zero here. My original battery lasted 7+ years keeping it on a tender. I only replaced it because it started sounding weak. Many batteries around here are dead come spring if not left on a tender.
I also manage a body shop, we have several loaner cars. Leave them in this cold a few weeks without running them and the batteries are dead. Let that happen enough times, the battery is toast.
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7,231 Posts
Isn’t as cold in Ohio but, just like bi sexuals I have had it go both ways. Seems once a battery has started to weaken the cold will kill it off if esp it has any kinda power drain even just a clock. Funny thing it seems like factory installed batts last the longest, over aftermarket anyway.
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15,002 Posts
Where I lived, not where I live now. Not Alberta but it can get cold in Greater Philadelphia area. The year I was relocated to San Antonio we didn't have a single day in February over 32f. But I started my bikes every week and if the roads were clean I moved them around the block to get the transmission and oil moving with the clutch and cables. Just rotated the charger every 3 days to another bike. Never a problem, never winterized.
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