Having to store bike-any suggestions

[tmds3]

Hi, my name is David Smith and I am a new MOOT member(# 706) and love the site. I am going to have to store my bike for up to a year. I am having knee surgery and won't be able to ride . I have a buddy that can ride the bike every now and then for me, but won't be with any frequency. So my question is other than a fuel additive(sta-bil) and a battery tender, what ideas do you have for putting the bike up?

                             Thanks For Any Help,
                              David Smith #706

[Jester]

use SEAFOAM!!     it's a great fuel stabilizer and moisture remover and cleaner and and and     it's just great!

[Charles S Otwell]

Wash it, wax it, store it inside if possible, lube all the rubber grommets and hoses, vacuum lines and such with appropriate products. Extreme temperature changes are hard on the vinyl seat covers, and the stitching will last longer if you put something on the seams to keep them from dry rotting, mink oil rubbed in with a tooth brush works, there may be better products available, this is just what I like. Flush the coolant and replace. This would be a good time to change all the fluids if possible, Some may disagree but I would top off the gas tank, helps keep condensation from forming and causing rust in the empty part of the tank. Maybe someone could recommend a good tire treatment to prevent the outer surface from drying out. My 2 cents worth ..

[rjb/AKA Bob Barram]

David, sorry to hear you will be out of the saddle for that long. Welcome to the club, got your notice from Greg today that you joined.
What year is your bike?
I would definitly get some seafoam in it and run a can through it to get the carbs good and clean before it gets put away. With the Texas weather, unless you keep your bike in the house and a/c'd like Terry, like Charles says your rubber stuff will start to go bad. Get a cover also to keep the dust that flies around from West Texas off it, the cheapo cover from Walmart works good. It is good your friend will give a whirl for you occasionally. You could trailer it to MOOTMag and we will all give it a good run on the twisties for you!LOL.
Make sure you have good radiator fluid also that is recommended to protect the insides.
Another idea is to get some good blocks and jack the bike back down on them to keep the wheels just off the ground. Keep it steady though.
Thought I saw a link on storing the bike on this site somewhere, anyone remember where it is?

[tmds3]

Okay one other Question, I figured out how to get my bike pick for my avatar,but how do you get it under your post? I like the way Charles bike is under his post. Like all the ideas so far,lots to digest and think about.

[rjb/AKA Bob Barram]

Well speak up Charles, your the know it all here!!!!LOL!!

[tmds3]

Forgot to mention rjb bike is a 2003

[Greg Cothern]

If you can about every 7-10 days fire it up and let it run till the cooling fan comes on.  This will keep the fluids circulating some and will also keep the dreaded clogging of the idle jets away!

SEAFOAM SEAFOAM SEAFOAM!!!!

[rjb/AKA Bob Barram]

Dave, '03 is good, all the stuff is newer so should not go down hill fast.
(Charles, that means get old fast-'quickly')

[tmds3]

Looked on Ebay for over 6 months before I found one that I wanted, had ridden a buddies 97 about 6 years earlier and fell in love with the bike, unfortunately when he wanted to sell it I didn't have the cash so had to wait

[Charles S Otwell]

Okay one other Question, I figured out how to get my bike pick for my avatar,but how do you get it under your post? I like the way Charles bike is under his post.

I down loaded the picture I wanted to Photo Bucket, reduced the size to 320x240. Then under the pic I copied the IMG code, and then pasted it in my profile section under my signature. PM me if this is clear as mud .

[Jumbobret]

This will sound strange but, put antifreeze on tires.  This will keep them from dry rotting, it really works. Told ya it would sound strange! oh get them (tires) off the ground so they don't flat spot. Centerstand and a block of wood.

[lragan]

I have wondered about "pickling" a MC like one would an airplane (reciprocating) engine -- drain all the fluids, put in desiccant plugs and oil dipstick, wrap the whole thing up in a cover of some sort, and run a small heat source, like a 15W bulb, to keep it dry.

[Jester]

don't forget a battery tender,  especially when you run the bike ever 7-10 days,  when the bike is idled it doesn't like to charge the battery very well and it can end up dead.   jmho

[tmds3]

This will sound strange but, put antifreeze on tires.  This will keep them from dry rotting, it really works. Told ya it would sound strange! oh get them (tires) off the ground so they don't flat spot. Centerstand and a block of wood.

Had heard about this,but have a dog and worry about him licking it and getting sick,if not watched well enough.

I down loaded the picture I wanted to Photo Bucket, reduced the size to 320x240. Then under the pic I copied the IMG code, and then pasted it in my profile section under my signature. PM me if this is clear as mud .

Took me a few tries but finally got it
Thanks