winterizing

[wonderings]

well, I am a noob  to winterizing. When living with my parents, I had a heated garage, and started it regularly. Well I am living on my own and dont have a heated garage. What steps should I be doing to properly winterize and protect my 02 Honda CB919?

thanks

[FirstVtwin]

*fill gas tank and add appropriate amount of stabil...allow engine to run a few min. to get to the carb/injectors
 
*air up your tires to the max on the sidewalls (prevent flat spotting)
 
*remove spark plugs and place a table spoon of marvel mystery oil or simple motor oil into each cylinder. Place a clean rag over the open plug holes and blip the starter a sec. or so to spread the oil inside the cylinders. Replace spark plugs.
 
*remove you battery and bring it inside and hook to a good trickle charger
 
*grease cables/pivot points and lube chain
 
*you may want to put the bike up on a lift if available or move around every couple of weeks to further avoid flat spots.
 
Cover bike if possible (especially if outside)

[Stargzrgrl]

This is the website I look at for winter storage and maintenance tips: http://www.clarity.net/~adam/winter-storage-content.html

[1KPerDay]

Clean oil in, battery tender on, full tank of stabilized fuel, run some through the system, DON'T start it unless you're going to run it at speed for 30 minutes or so to evaporate the contaminants in the oil.
 
Or go for a 30-45-minute ride once or twice a month. Unless you live in Canada that should be possible, IMO.
 
I go stir-crazy if I can't ride at least that often.

[wonderings]

thanks for all the suggestions. And yes I do live in Canada, and do go stir crazy when I cannot ride.

[kerplode]

*remove spark plugs and place a table spoon of marvel mystery oil or simple motor oil into each cylinder. Place a clean rag over the open plug holes and blip the starter a sec. or so to spread the oil inside the cylinders. Replace spark plugs.

Modern high-voltage ignition systems can be destroyed by running them open-loop, so when you get to the "blip the starter" part, either disconnect the coils or put the plugs back on the wires and ground them to the frame.

[Tarka]

And yes I do live in Canada, and do go stir crazy when I cannot ride.

 
Forgive my ignorance,but does it really get so bad that you actually cannot ride ???
 
Or is it a case that you don`t want to subject your bike to the ravages of Winter ??
 
That`s partly why I own so many....I have some purely for leisure and perfect weather which are polished to perfection,and some which are still looked after,but which I`m not paranoid about using on our god-awful salty and crud caked roads.
 
 
P.S. I know it`s been mentioned above,but you`ll do more harm than good by starting ypour bike up and not riding it.

[wonderings]

it deffinetely does get to bad to ride. There have been times I could not get anywhere in my car, let alone a motorcycle. The roads are like hockey rinks. If were possible to get by year round, I would not own a car. Last year I was able to have my bike out a few time sin January, and that was lucky.

[CBRXXBLACKBIRD]

I have been riding for 25yrs and all I do is start it everyonce and a while during winter. Never had a problem with any of my bikes not even a dead battery.

[Tarka]

it deffinetely does get to bad to ride. There have been times I could not get anywhere in my car, let alone a motorcycle. The roads are like hockey rinks. If were possible to get by year round, I would not own a car. Last year I was able to have my bike out a few time sin January, and that was lucky.

 
Wow...I can`t ever remember a time worse than when we had about a foot of snow for a day here.
 
Our roads are terrible for about three months though,because my local council uses rock salt grit on the roads and when the conditions are damp,then dry out,every vehicle is covered in a grey salty layer.
I`ve known bike parts to corrode overnight...hence my 'winter bikes'.
In some more rural areas they use a mix of rock salt and sugar beet which is terrible to try and wash off,as well as being very slippy in the wet.

[basco]

This is what I do. But it is with the intention that I am going to ride at least a couple days a month during the winter.

1. Change oil
2. Put bike on center stand
3. Put mat under front tire
4. Fill with gas
5. Stabilizer in gas tank
6. Trickle charger
7. Run bike once a month around 20 min if not riding it.
8. Disinfectant in bags
9. Other maintenance if necessary (optional)

I really don't care about filling tires with air, maybe it just me but flat spotting occurs if riding tires over inflated. Riding bicycles taught me to deflate tires for storage but they have tubes.

[tenbears]

I have been riding for 25yrs and all I do is start it everyonce and a while during winter. Never had a problem with any of my bikes not even a dead battery.

That's what I do... I run them HOT so the fan comes on, just to get things circulating nicely.

Oh... and use an optimate on trickle to keep the battary in tip-top.

[1KPerDay]

it deffinetely does get to bad to ride. There have been times I could not get anywhere in my car, let alone a motorcycle. The roads are like hockey rinks. If were possible to get by year round, I would not own a car.

Here's a pal of mine from Alaska... he runs studs in the winter. Note the temp. No, that's not Celsius.
 

[CBRXXBLACKBIRD]

Dual sport now that would be fun.

[birdrunner]

thanks for all the suggestions. And yes I do live in Canada, and do go stir crazy when I cannot ride.

Depending on where you live,  I'd also make sure the antifreeze in the bike is up to it.   Mine's rated to -40.

[birdrunner]

I have been riding for 25yrs and all I do is start it everyonce and a while during winter. Never had a problem with any of my bikes not even a dead battery.

Yes,  but you have the mighty XX.    I left mine in an unheated garage, no stabilizer, not trickle feed,  nothing but fresh oil.  Didn't touch it Nov to April.  Temps went as low as -30 C  (about 20 below F) .     Put the key in, tried it twice and it started.    I was impressed,  but I'd not recommend it.  Usually I remove the battery, and add fuel stabilizer.

[Tarka]

Note the temp. No, that's not Celsius.

 
You speakee foreign lingo now.........
so what is it in Celcius then ????

[1KPerDay]

You speakee foreign lingo now.........
so what is it in Celcius then ????

Negative bazillion or something.

[Against The Wind]

Forgive my ignorance,but does it really get so bad that you actually cannot ride ???

I live here:
 
Riding is not recommended at this time.

[Baz]

Hmmmm, lets see, we had a windchill factor of -42 degrees celcius yesterday. (-40 C & -40 F are identicle by the way). You can (I am not exagerating here) skate on the roads in Edmonton right now. Even driving my 4x4, is a challenge, and people here are used to driving on ice & snow.
 
Any exposed flesh will freeze in 30 seconds at that temp. People loose fingers and toes here all the time due to frostbite (frozen flesh) Still feel like riding? People have actually died here when their cars broke down & they try walking for help. I would give the toughest man or woman about two blocks before they went screaming into a warm building.
 
I had my Seattle boss visit here a few years back when the windchill factor hit -67 (It was his 1st time in really cold weather) He descibed the effect of that sort of cold, as having your testicles assend to your neck. It also leaves you litterally breathless. He never comes to visit in the winter anymore!
 
 
Temperature Conversion Chart

Fahrenheit -40 -38.2 -36.4 -34.6 -32.8 -31 -29.2 -27.4 -25.6 -23.8 -22 -20.2 -18.4 -16.6 -14.8 -13 -11.2 -9.4 -7.6 -5.8 -4 -2.2 -0.4 1.4 3.2 5 6.8 8.6 10.4 12.2 14 15.8 17.6 19.4 21.2 23 24.8 26.6 28.4 30.2 32 33.8 35.6 37.4 39.2 41 42.8 44.6 46.4 48.2 50 51.8 53.6 55.4 57.2 59 60.8 62.6 64.4 66.2 68 69.8 71.6 73.4 75.2 77 78.8 80.6 82.4 84.2 86 87.8 89.6 91.4 93.2 95 96.8 98.6 100.4 102.2 104 105.8 107.6 109.4 111.2 113 114.8 116.6 118.4 120.2 122 123.8 125.6 127.4 129.2 131 132.8 134.6 136.4 138.2 140 141.8 143.6 145.4 147.2 149 150.8 152.6 154.4 156.2 158 159.8 161.6 163.4 165.2 167 168.8 170.6 172.4 174.2 176 177.8 179.6 181.4 183.2 185 186.8 188.6 190.4 192.2 194 195.8 197.6 199.4 201.2 203 204.8 206.6 208.4 210.2 212

Celsius -40 -39 -38 -37 -36 -35 -34 -33 -32 -31 -30 -29 -28 -27 -26 -25 -24 -23 -22 -21 -20 -19 -18 -17 -16 -15 -14 -13 -12 -11 -10 -9 -8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100

[Tarka]

Seems you get it JUST A BIT WORSE than us .....
 
 
That`s proper Ural weather,that is

[rodm850g]

Guys,
Man, sure am glad I am in N.C. the temp was in 60s yesterdayand not supposed to get cold til Sunday...then only to about 40...prolly go for a ride then too.....
                        Rodm850g

[Snowbird]

well, I am a noob to winterizing. When living with my parents, I had a heated garage, and started it regularly. Well I am living on my own and dont have a heated garage. What steps should I be doing to properly winterize and protect my 02 Honda CB919?

thanks

Fill out your bio so we know where you are... do you have winter or "winter?"

[wonderings]

I am in Canada, sw of Toronto.

[CBRXXBLACKBIRD]

Yes, but you have the mighty XX. I left mine in an unheated garage, no stabilizer, not trickle feed, nothing but fresh oil. Didn't touch it Nov to April. Temps went as low as -30 C (about 20 below F) . Put the key in, tried it twice and it started. I was impressed, but I'd not recommend it. Usually I remove the battery, and add fuel stabilizer.

I guess I keep getting lucky, but the worse I have seen from friends bikes is a dead battery.

[Snowbird]

I am in Canada, sw of Toronto.

Don't you get days where you could get out to ride? If so, that the best winterization plan.

Good luck.

[VAbikeguy]

I had health issues in Nov04 when putting my Bandit 600 away so I just stuck it in the shed.  It wasn't until Jun05 when I had the strength to pull it out of the shed and try to fire it up.  Everything was fine, but the main fuse happened to go and the battery needed a charge.  Of course, those were easy fixes and I was on the road in no time.

[Road Call]

Im sorry, but winterize it?????....You live in VA right??............lol RIDE IT thats the best way to winterize it. Noe I know some here dont live in a warm climate like some others do. But here in MD this past week the temp has been in the 70`s!!!! not this weekend its gonna be cooler about high 40`s  to low 50`s is projected.
 
 
In the wind even if it cold!

[Sewer Rat]

Hmmm....60 in NC, 70 in MD.  When do you guys get ride your snowmobiles!?  Wait, maybe there are places where people don't own snowmobiles?  Whoa, guess I couldn't live there!
 
Back on subject, when I was a tech at a marina, the engine portion of winterizing the boats was warming the engine up and then spraying fogging oil into the carb with the engine running until the it died.  The oil coats everything inside and prevents problems like stuck rings and valves.  We then changed the oil and pulled the battery out so the customer could keep it inside.  Probably did a hundred boats each year and never had a problem.  Well, except for one that didn't get drain plugs pulled out of the block. Yeah, I mighta known the guy who did that.

[def38]

When winterizing, you might want to consider changing the brake fluid as well. Wet DOT4 can cause problems during long layups.
 
For bikes with separate transmission and shaft drive (like my BMW) I would also change the gear oils.
 
Also, plenty of silicone spray on parts that can corrode.......silicone spray keeps moisture away from metal.
 
Good wax job on the paint and cover the bike well. Don't forget to plug the airbox. Critters have been known to build nests in the air intake snorkels on motorcycles.

[bpg]

as was mentioned, the very best winterization procedure is actually to not winterize, but ride the bike (even twicea month is great!)..  

If roads don't allow, simply starting the bike every 2-3 weeks and keeping the engine revved to about 1/3 throttle for 10 minutes will almost guarantee that the battery stays charged, spark plugs stay clean, engine internals remain well lubed - without the need for fogging oils, removing spark plugs, etc...

With my first bike I made the mistake of just idling the motor every once in a while - really low RPM's will eventually discharge the battery and can foul plugs, hence 1/3 throttle for a decent amount of time to get the engine warmed up to operating temps and a surplus of juice flowing from the alternator...  

[RickC1957]

I have been riding for 25yrs and all I do is start it everyonce and a while during winter. Never had a problem with any of my bikes not even a dead battery.

  works for me too, but I do put both bikes on tenders

[andmoon]

  works for me too, but I do put both bikes on tenders

me 3...starting for short periods is actually not good but I do it to at least hear/feel/smell the darn thing.

[bpg]

me 3...starting for short periods is actually not good but I do it to at least hear/feel/smell the darn thing.

meh... keeping it revved up and running for 10 or more minutes is normal wear...  no real harm..

Now, starting it up for only a minute or so every few weeks and just letting it idle??  THAT's where rapid wear (and/or annoying plug-fouling and battery discharge) occurs...

[andmoon]

I want to take back my "me 3"

Tenders are for ninnies
(winter sleeper bikes go to the shed...the shed have no lectrics)

[PirateT7]

as was mentioned, the very best winterization procedure is actually to not winterize, but ride the bike (even twicea month is great!)..  

what's the least frequently that you guys would recommend warming it up - ~every 2 weeks as mentioned, or more frequently?  (mine'll be in an unheated garage, likely never to get below the freezing point of water.)

[nater]

what's the least frequently that you guys would recommend warming it up - ~every 2 weeks as mentioned, or more frequently?  (mine'll be in an unheated garage, likely never to get below the freezing point of water.)

If you don't have snow on the ground and it is above 35, than ride it.  If you don't want to ride it, than put Sta-bil in the tank (then run it a bit), disconnect the + battery terminal, and don't worry about it.

Just warming it up for 5-10 min at a time can cause condensation to form which is not a good thing.

[PirateT7]

fair enough. We often have weeks where we sit in the 33-37 (daytime) range - it should be warm enough to ride but if it's been wet then there can be lingering ice hence my question.  I expect to be able to ride at least once every week or so, but figured I'd ask just in case I'm not.

[paddy_crow]

My insurance rates are based on no riding December through February. I start it once or twice per month over that period.

[Zerosum]

All I do is 1) Run/Ride each one at least bi-weekly, 2) Put Stabil or SeaFoam in the tank, and 3) put it on the center stand and rotate the front wheel bi-weekly.

As others have said, MD is forgiving.  Even in Dec/Jan/Feb I can get out and ride a few days a month.

[Parit]

Winterization refers to the process of preparing something for an upcoming winter.It is most commonly used in respect to aquatic play features,fountains and the like,which must be drained and sealed up so that water inside does not freeze,causing breakage of the pipes in the fountain or the like.