Winterizing question

[tcmalker]

I plan to winterize my bike in a few weeks...but have this question.

I'm going to have to pull out my battery, but can I do it with a full tank? Would gas spill out?

Here's the dilemma. I don't have a garage, so I'm renting a storage unit. There are no outlet obviously so I have to take the battery home. I also know that I have to fill the tank fully with gas and add stabil. I also have to start the bike in order to get the stabil in the system. So how do I get the battery out with a full tank? I hope my question made sense.

 

[oldfast007]

Easy, put a clean jar under the vent hoses, tip the tank up (well supported) remove battery, pour fuel back in when done.

 

[Erci]

Do you plan to leave the bike untouched all Winter?
If you can get to it once every 2 weeks and start it up for 5 minutes, you don't have to pull the battery at all.

 

[viviifz6]

Problem with starting for a sort period of time in the cold is that you build condensation that will accumulate w/i and on parts of the bike that can cause rust, so you have to be careful with short starts

 

[wolfe1down]

I stored mine the first year in a friends insulated, but unheated garage and tried to start it every week. I was good until January, when the battery became too cold to start with. I then had to keep it on a trickle charger.

 

[Erci]

I stored mine the first year in a friends insulated, but unheated garage and tried to start it every week. I was good until January, when the battery became too cold to start with. I then had to keep it on a trickle charger.

Hmm.. my garage is unheated, but I don't think it ever drops to below freezing point in there. Have not had an issue in 3 years *shrug*.

Good point about condensation though. Still, I think it's better to let the engine run once every few weeks than to let it sit for 3 months without turning over.

 

[tcmalker]

Easy, put a clean jar under the vent hoses, tip the tank up (well supported) remove battery, pour fuel back in when done.

Genius! It's hoses (plural) right? I only see two hoses sticking out the bottom, so I can stick a bottle under both?

Problem with starting for a sort period of time in the cold is that you build condensation that will accumulate w/i and on parts of the bike that can cause rust, so you have to be careful with short starts

I heard that too....my bike will be stored in a heated unit, so I don't have to worry about condensation right? But still I'm going to pull the battery and put it on a tender.

 

[wolfe1down]

Hmm.. my garage is unheated, but I don't think it ever drops to below freezing point in there. Have not had an issue in 3 years *shrug*.

Good point about condensation though. Still, I think it's better to let the engine run once every few weeks than to let it sit for 3 months without turning over.

That's the difference between winter temperatures in balmy New Jersey, and Eastern Ontario... We were routinely in the -40 deg Celsius range... even the Polar Bears were wearing toques!

 

[viviifz6]

Genius! It's hoses (plural) right? I only see two hoses sticking out the bottom, so I can stick a bottle under both?



I heard that too....my bike will be stored in a heated unit, so I don't have to worry about condensation right? But still I'm going to pull the battery and put it on a tender.

Since it will be in a heated unit, you wouldn't have to worry about condensation as much, still gonna happen a little, but you would have a lot less worry.

 

[oldfast007]

Genius! It's hoses (plural) right? I only see two hoses sticking out the bottom, so I can stick a bottle under both?

Yup. 3. one is the tank overflow, should be grouped under in a single square wire bracket, you may have to gently pull it back down when lowering the tank back into position. It is what I have done for the past 5 years, very little comes out for me.

My opionion, take the battery out.... I froze my first battery with the "start it once in a while" option.

Others have had no issues, I have.

Oh, and I am sheeding a tear for you, I just put mine to bed on Saturday.

 

[tcmalker]

Genius! It's hoses (plural) right? I only see two hoses sticking out the bottom, so I can stick a bottle under both?

Yup. 3. one is the tank overflow, should be grouped under in a single square wire bracket, you may have to gently pull it back down when lowering the tank back into position. It is what I have done for the past 5 years, very little comes out for me.

My opionion, take the battery out.... I froze my first battery with the "start it once in a while" option.

Others have had no issues, I have.

Oh, and I am sheeding a tear for you, I just put mine to bed on Saturday.

Don't shed any tear yet, I'm planning to ride for at least 2 more weeks! I actually enjoy riding in the cold.

There's 3 hoses? I only see two that goes under the square bracket together. Where is the third one? Can someone post a picture? What are the functions of these other hoses?

 

[Humperdinkel]

I have a better idea , leave the fuel & battery in the bike ship it to Australia & ride all year round :BLAA: :rockon: :rockon:

 

[Shiny_side_up]

I wonder if you could mount up some sort of a solar powered tender to keep it happier?

Weather is still in the low 70s here in northern California so mine will get to stay out and play for a while longer, but I think I'll end up hooking up a tender. I suspect the bike will hibernate shortly before the convertible does. i.e the bike doesn't have heated seats or an "air scarf".

 

[Davey]

I say invest in some warm clothing and keep on riding! :BLAA: Maybe some spiked tyres too if it gets icy where you live

I stored mine last winter. Kept her in a non-heated garage (where we regularly had -10 degC) on a trickle charge, but didn't use fuel stabiliser. I'd start her up every 2 or 3 weeks, but didn't keep the tank topped up :spank: She was fine when the time came to ride again with some fresh fuel, but I don't think it did her any good. Next time I'd do the whole lot.