How do I prep my bike for winter?

[Gsxxx600]

Hey everyone,
its good to see some familiar names here!

Ill be putting the bike in storage soon enough, and thats when the modding begins!
Anyways, what do you recommend I do to winterize it?
Should I leave the gas in the tank, or add a fuel stabilizer?
Both tires off the ground to prevent dry rot/flat spot?
etc.etc.

Thanks,
J

[md86]

Ok , here's a list of stuff that I do if I actually winterize my bike (which I didn't last year ) .
Find a good place to store it .
Change oil .
Full tank with stabil . Let it run for a minute or 2 to get it into the carbs as well .
Wash bike to get any road salt off of there . That'll make stuff rust pretty quick .
WD40 some metal parts to help prevent rust .
Oil in cylinders .
Plastic bags over exaust and air filters (or airbox snorkel) . Keeps critters from nesting in there and moisture out .
Pull battery .
I'm probably missing something , and this is in no particular order . But it SHOULD be done in a specific order . You don't wanna put oil in the cylinders and wash the bike before heating it up for the oil change , for instance .

[Gsxxx600]

Hey 86,

what type of fuel stabil. do u recommend...and how much of it in a full tank

also, just a drop of oil in each cylinder? I might as wel change the plugs while im at it too.

Thanks dude

[fulcrum]

Fulcrums guide to winterizing bikes:

Step 1 - Move to somewhere with a warmer climate

Step 2 - Ignore all further steps

Step 3 - You shouldn't be reading these anymore... the guide is over.

Step 4 - Will you stop reading this dammit!!! (Some people just won't listen)

Step 5 - I'm running out of pointless steps to add

Step 6 - Yep... that's it... all out.

I hope this helps.

[Gsxxx600]

wait im confused...what do i after step 2?

[The CyberPoet]

How about this complete list:

LINK: CyberPoet's "How to Store or Winterize your bike..."
Contains full instructions from anything from a couple weeks to several years, depending on time frame.

Oh, and feedback on anything I might have missed last year when I put it together is good too

Cheers
=-= The CyberPoet

[fulcrum]

Wow CyberPoet. That's even better than my guide. Well done.

[Gsxxx600]

xlnt...

[md86]

Hey 86,

what type of fuel stabil. do u recommend...and how much of it in a full tank

also, just a drop of oil in each cylinder? I might as wel change the plugs while im at it too.

Thanks dude

Well , Stabil say "Stabil" on it , I've never used anything else ! And a good way to do the oil thing I've found is to take a straw (regular old starw , thought bendy straw should work too !) , dip it in some oil , put your finger over the end , put end in cylinder , take finger off of end . Remember doing this with your milk in school ? That seems like just enough oil , and a very un-messy way of getting it in there . And change the plugs in the springtime after you un-winter the bike .

[WildKat]

yup, poets list is great!! God I hate thinking about doing this..I need to move!!!

but I like fulcrums list better

[Gsxxx600]

dip it in some oil , put your finger over the end , put end in cylinder , take finger off of end . Remember doing this with your milk in school ?

I still do that to my milk...lol

[md86]

After you put the oil in , don't forget to put the bike in top gear and spin the rear tire a few times to get the oil all over the cylinders .

[WildKat]

it is better to take the plugs out during the winter, or leave them in ?

[The CyberPoet]

it is better to take the plugs out during the winter, or leave them in ?

Leave them in, but not tightened down all the way. The last thing you want is some four to eight legged creature walking down into your engine for a nice hybernation period...

=-= The CyberPoet

[WildKat]

Gotcha thanks poet!!