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
use SEAFOAM!! :lol: it's a great fuel stabilizer and moisture remover and cleaner and and and it's just great!
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 8)..
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?
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.
Well speak up Charles, your the know it all here!!!!LOL!!
Forgot to mention rjb bike is a 2003
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!!!!
Dave, '03 is good, all the stuff is newer so should not go down hill fast.
(Charles, that means get old fast-'quickly')
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
QuoteOkay 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 :D.
This will sound strange but, put antifreeze on tires. :shock: This will keep them from dry rotting, it really works. Told ya it would sound strange! :lol: oh get them (tires) off the ground so they don't flat spot. Centerstand and a block of wood.
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.
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
Quote from: Jumbobret on January 20, 2009, 04:16:50 PM
This will sound strange but, put antifreeze on tires. :shock: This will keep them from dry rotting, it really works. Told ya it would sound strange! :lol: 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.
Quote from: Charles S Otwell on January 20, 2009, 12:42:14 AM
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 :D.
Took me a few tries but finally got it
Thanks
Nice pic, much better than avatar 8).
Put a cover on M/C
Quote from: tmds3 on January 20, 2009, 07:26:56 PM
Quote from: Jumbobret on January 20, 2009, 04:16:50 PM
This will sound strange but, put antifreeze on tires. :shock: This will keep them from dry rotting, it really works. Told ya it would sound strange! :lol: 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.
A cover won't stop a determined dog. My sister had one that would eat through the wood fence to get out.
I know it is not an officially approved activity, but today, I retrieved the owner's manual on my '96 from its stored position under the seat, and actually read it.
On page 99 is a "storage guide". They recommend:
1) Change the engine oil and filter
2) Make sure the cooling system is filled with a 50-50 mix of ethylene glycol and water.
3) Fill the fuel tank, and (duh!) replace the cap. (I am allowed a little paraphrasing here, OK)
4) Check that fuel valve is OFF
5) Drain the carburetors
If storage will last more than one month, carburetor draining is very important, to assure proper performance after storage.
(Editor's note: I don't think this would work on my bike. The fuel valve leaks a bit in the "off" position. I think I would remove and drain the tank, and leave it open so condensate would not accumulate inside it. Then draining the carbs would work.
6) Remove the spark plug wires, and tie them away from the engine and spark plugs (so you don't get zapped in the following steps, I presume)
Remove the spark plugs from the engine and store them
Pour a tablespoon of clean engine oil into each cylinder through the spark plug holes
Crank the engine several times to distribute the oil.
Reinstall the plugs and wires.
7) Remove the battery and put it where it won't freeze. Keep it charged with a trickle charger, or charge it once a month.
-8) Wash and dry the bike. Wax all painted surfaces. Coat chrome with rust inhibiting oil.
9) Lubricate the chain.
10) Inflate tires to recommended pressure. Then block the bike up so the tires are off the ground.
11) Cover the bike and store in an unheated area, "free of dampness" with a minimum of daily temperature fluctuation. Not in direct sunlight.
(As I mentioned before, I place a small light -- 15 watts -- under the cover to make sure the temperature under the tent is higher than surrounding ambient air, thus preventing condensate from forming on the bike.)
--Whew -- maybe I need a scanner!!
just drive the bike to my house and when your knee is better come get it!!
Pull the battery and now and then hook it up to a trickle charger. Don't let it sit around and go dead for any length of time, that's very bad for it.
Or just pull the battery and figure on replacing it when you're able to ride again. If you can afford it, that would be a lot less trouble and one less thing to worry about.