Winter Storage

[Lost Rider]

Since that time is almost upon us, at least in my area, I thought a storage/winter thread would be helpful.
I'm wondering what people around here do when they store their bike for the winter.



What do you do in the winter for your bike when you store it in freezing temps?

What kind of maintenance do you do, and when? before or after winter?

[socalrob]

I was just noticing the weather tonight on the way home.

There was a slight chill in the air.

I'm thinking, as winter is almost upon us, I need to ditch my summer mesh jacket & break out the ventilated leather jacket.

Is that what you mean?

[taosports]

Rub it in Rob

But you know you're right...it is getting just a bit nippy up here in northern California...I may have to find a sweater for the chill.

[Lost Rider]

I was just noticing the weather tonight on the way home.

There was a slight chill in the air.

I'm thinking, as winter is almost upon us, I need to ditch my summer mesh jacket & break out the ventilated leather jacket.

Is that what you mean?

Not exactly, more like do you use a battery tender, any service that you should do before or after you store like change brake fluids, etc.
My bike is going to sit in a big deep freezer (my garage) for a few months, I'm just looking for any info on what I can do to protect her.
Thanks though Rob.

Must be getting cold in socal if you're going to ditch the mesh, at least all the way down to a frigid 55º F.

j/k

I lived in L.A. for a few years, I sure do miss the weather........

[BigC]

Some folks drain the tank etc. while other's use a "stabalizer". I guess my question is how cold does it get in the garage and do you have an AGM/Gel battery? I ride mine year 'round depending on the moisture we get I've not had a problem at all. If you fired your bike up once a week and let it run until it hit OT, I wouldn't worry about "winterizing" it. Kind of nice to spend some time in the garage anyway as I see it. A bike thumping away makes it even more pleasurable

[awagnon]

I'm sure you will get a number of replies. It gets cold in northern Utah, even though you can ride year round in the southern part of the state. I usually:

1. Put Stabil in the tank before filling it the last time. ( a full tank is less likely to rust from condensation )

2. I change the oil if it is anywhere close to needing it. I don't want the acids produced from the combustion sitting in the oil all winter.

3. Wash the bike. Wax if needed.

4. Put the battery on a tender or set a reminder to top it off every couple of weeks.

5. Cover the bike with a bed sheet in the garage just to keep most of the dust off but lets humidity out.

6. Make sure the tires are fully inflated.

7. Some people spray WD40 on parts that might rust. I don't do this because it's so dry here. Also, there are better rust preventatives out there.

8. Apologize to the bike for putting it away and promise to visit it regulary.

[M1ka]

I posted this on the BMW MOA site.

http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/showthread.php?t=12783

[chris]

Rub it in Rob

But you know you're right...it is getting just a bit nippy up here in northern California...I may have to find a sweater for the chill.

Getting a little chillier over here in the UK too. Nice hot grips on today. I might buy some hanguards to get me through till April.

How many folks ride right through the winter? I always have but am wondering how Beemers cope with road salt? Luckily I have my own garage next to my office and a hose plumbed into the hot water supply so if it's salty the bike usually gets a warm bath when I arrive in the morning.

[Croc]

Chris

I think I read somewhere that warm water is not the best thing to put on salt as it makes the salt react quicker. I am sure someone will chime in with the facts on this.

I spray Waxoil over all the fixings, forks etc. The bike looks like sh"t but who cares. When I scrub it all off in spring bike looks good again. Having said that, I try not ride too much when the salt is wet and certainly wont go out in snow or frost.

Croc

[ebiker]

Since that time is almost upon us, at least in my area, I thought a storage/winter thread would be helpful. I'm wondering what people around here do when they store their bike for the winter. What do you do in the winter for your bike when you store it in freezing temps? What kind of maintenance do you do, and when? before or after winter?

Just ship to me--I'll take care of it this winter. I may put a few thousand miles on it while I ride it, but hey, it'll be well maintained in sunny warm Tucson.

[boxermania]

Nice post M1ka and a very thorough article, but I missed items # 77, 93 and 121, the question is: Will it damage my bike?

Just picking on you, the list was so long and detailed that I doze off.....

[Airman]

I was just noticing the weather tonight on the way home.

There was a slight chill in the air.

I'm thinking, as winter is almost upon us, I need to ditch my summer mesh jacket & break out the ventilated leather jacket.

Is that what you mean?

Leather? No, not leather. What he's talking about is getting the wiring harness rigged up the sleeves of your jacket for your Gerbing's heated gloves. Making sure the Goretex lining in your riding gear has been washed and rejuv'd. Making sure you have Gene's FogTech on your helmet visor. That sort of thing. Ventilated? You can't wear ventilated gear in the winter, the rain will get in !!

[wncbmw]

My winter ritual is to take off the speedster screen and put on the sport shield and put on the handguards!

[chris]

Chris

I think I read somewhere that warm water is not the best thing to put on salt as it makes the salt react quicker. I am sure someone will chime in with the facts on this.

I spray Waxoil over all the fixings, forks etc. The bike looks like sh"t but who cares. When I scrub it all off in spring bike looks good again. Having said that, I try not ride too much when the salt is wet and certainly wont go out in snow or frost.

Croc

If I run the pipe for a minute it's very hot! Just blast the whole bike while it's still wet from the ride in and dry it off with the blow gun. Some of the lads at work swear by ACF50 so I'm going to give it a try. Again, crap sticks to it but it just washes off and their bikes look like new underneath. It's used by the Navy to prevent corrosion on their planes. Can't think of a worse environment for metal than living at sea so it must be good stuff.
You can plaster it everywhere inc the paint.

[iowabeakster]

Chi town,

I made the same post last year, and got the same smart A$$ coments. Lesson number one for the colder climate folks, don't ask about winterizing.

Me I try do all Possible maintenace, so that it is ready that first warm day,and all the next year, (except the odd oil or tire change) after the rain has washed off the snow, sand, salt.


1. CLEAN EVERYTHING THOUROUGHLY, it is one time a year I do it.
2. TB sych, valve adjustment. change, oil(+filter), tranny, final drive, clutch, brake fluids do .
3. Check/replace (brake pads, air filter,etc.) regular service parts.
4. Complete any mods or aftermarket add-ons or recommended preventative things found on this board**
5. Fill tank add stabil.
6. Fill TIRES and make sure they are not in contact with ground
7. grease side,center stands, brake and clutch levers
8. Plug in battery tender JR. (i have gel battery)
9. may cover with very loose fitting old bed sheet to reduce dust (i don't like the idea of tight fitting covers, for condensation reasons)
10. hope groundhog does not see shadow.

**this year i am planning on doing these fun projects

1. grease pins in rear brake caliper
2. inspect/modify throttle side heated grip wire
3. top off spring preload adjuster
4. clean/ rust-proof rear hub.

it's my time to play mechanic because i have a large time span in case i really screw things up. i enjoy learning the ins and outs of my bike and have fun playing.

[frbank6]

In middle TN there's no need to store in the winter...just keep riding! The first year I had my bike I rode it to work(90 miles round trip) every day except for 15 days. I don't do that now only because I travel in my job and have a company car. A good reason to move south!

[Lost Rider]

Thanks for the info guys.
I see the obvious solution is to move to a warmer climate.

Ok, next new guy question.
Can I use a battery tender like this one, or do I need a special one for my gel battery?
While I love buying BMW accessories, if something like this will do just fine for 1/4 the price, well.........

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NEW-12-V ... dZViewItem

[BigC]

The shippings cheaper with this guy but his feedback isn't quite as good:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/New-Batt ... 5330QQrdZ1

And that would probably work fine. I would say that GEL/AGM/SLA batteries do not bleed off their charge nearly as fast conventional batteries do. Not trying to talk you out of a battery tender, just letting you know that it won't be charging nearly as often as if you had a one of those water filled bricks...

[iowabeakster]

yep that's the one.

i recommend buying a BMW accessory plug (few bucks). so you just stick it in the accessory plug hole. since the charger is "smart" you just leave it plugged in all winter, it will cycle itself off when the battery is fully charged.

[chris]

My winter ritual is to take off the speedster screen and put on the sport shield and put on the handguards!

Does that sport shield make a big difference and does it use the speedster mounts? My ride to work in winter can be chilly, sub zero, so I was planning handguards but never thought about a bigger screen. Last winter cold hands on my XR in the snow were so painful and that was part of the reason for wanting the beemer. I have a little arthritis setting in and coudn't handle that amount of cold any more. The hot grips are great, even thinking about a hot vest right now as well, I reckon I could plug it into the battery tender flying lead if I use an inline fuse as my bike didn't come with the accessory plug.
Hijack over..sorry.