Preparing the R1200r for winter

[xcell1600]

Hello Everone:

I have had my bike for about 2 months. Getting cold in Chicago and need to think about putting the bike away until the spring.

What do you all suggest?

Thanks,

[websterize]

A Gerbing's jacket liner and heated gloves.

[TAG-Caver]

Here's a decent link for motorcycle storage:

http://www.totalmotorcycle.com/maintena ... torage.htm

It depends on how long you store for what you should go through. Since my non-sacrificial motorcycles don't get ridden when the roads get salted, I prepare for about 3 months or so of inactivity. This involves an oil and filter change when enough snow is forecast that the salt trucks will be out. Bring the bike up to operating temps, and then change oil and filter. Run engine for a minute to distribute the oil. On a monthly basis I'll fire the bikes up and run them for a minute to circulate the fresh oil. In theory running the bike will produce a little condensation, but it gets produced anyway by temp changes and the benefits of pushing the fresh oil with it's anti-corrison additives through the motor is a good thing. I've used this for many years with great results. When the salt is finally rained off the road in the spring I just do a normal pre-inspection and off I go. If I was storing for 6 months or more, I'd take more significant steps like adding fuel stablizer ect.

Kevin

[tmarq]

Another link for winter storage: http://www.bobsbmw.com/service/winterstorage.html

[Mollygrubber]

A Gerbing's jacket liner and heated gloves.

right on Websterize, I hope to ride to work at least once a week this year.

Of course, I may need tire studs, but hey, I need new tires anyway!

[deilenberger]

I can imagine Chicago having a month or so where it's completely unrideable.. but in NJ - last year I only missed one weekly ride. And the year before - no misses. I attribute my battery longevity to regular exercise.

[Mollygrubber]

I attribute my battery longevity to regular exercise.

Indeed. If you follow the dead battery threads, you'll notice a very large percentage start with the phrase "it was on a Battery Tender" or something similar.

I dunno Don, maybe these 'glass mat batteries don't like to be trickle charged?

[AllanCook]

What is this "winter" of which you speak?

[spoonyfork]

I'm glad this topic started up. I'm a new R1200R owner this year. I have stored other motorbikes over the winter (I live in Michigan) with mixed results with respect to the battery. Do any current R1200R owners take their battery out for the winter and put it on a trickle charger and have had a live battery come Spring? If so, which charger do you use? I have no problem springing for a BMW charger if that's what it takes.

[Tak]

I always remove the battery and have been using a Battery Tender brand charger. It remains connected continuously for 4-5 months up in the attic (40-45F temps). Been doing this for the last 12 years with great success. The bike starts right up in the spring. No battery failures so far.

[xcell1600]

I live in Chicago and if this winter is anything like last winter I won't get to ride for a long time.

I did buy the BMW charger that charges via the Cambus. Any idea how the battery will tolerate being charged periodically with this charger?

[tmarq]

Overcharging a battery, as by leaving a trickle charger attached for too long, is bad. If you want to leave a charger on the battery all winter, then you need a smart charger. I use an Accumate LS6/1.2, but any smart charger will do. I still don't like to leave it on unattended for long periods, because I see it as a fire hazard, but it is fine to do so with this charger.

[Tak]

If you use the center stand, you can put wood blocks under the front of the engine so that both tires are off the ground.

BTW, the Battery Tender I use is also a smart type charger.

[papasong]

I have a pigtail hooked up to my battery.
Is there any reason why I can't just leave the battery in my bike and hook up my Battery Tender to the pigtail over the winter?
Thanks,
Jeff

[8b]

Jeff, did you ever get an answer to your last question?

[cwrose]

I'm glad this topic started up. I'm a new R1200R owner this year. I have stored other motorbikes over the winter (I live in Michigan) with mixed results with respect to the battery. Do any current R1200R owners take their battery out for the winter and put it on a trickle charger and have had a live battery come Spring? If so, which charger do you use? I have no problem springing for a BMW charger if that's what it takes.

I disconnect my battery and pull it out of the bike during winter storage of October through April. Once a month I attach a smart charger to it and let it completely charge. The smart charger simply allows me to forget about it for a while and not cause any damage to the battery. This has been working great for me in regards to my motorcycle and in fact, I managed an automotive storage facility and did the same thing at customer's requests. Never had a problem.

[snag]

I'm in the 4th month of my 2nd 6 month winter on the BMW charger. Started up just fine last Saturday, last run was Halloween ... Touch wood!

Doug

[papasong]

Jeff, did you ever get an answer to your last question?

Nope.

[Mollygrubber]

Jeff:

In answer, for better or worse, that's the treatment my wife's bike is getting. Is it the 'approved' method? Probably not. I'm sure I'll get a finger wagging from somebody around here...

Mine gets ridden regularly so I don't worry about it.

Peter