Long term bike storage questions.

[marc11]

Let's say you needed to lay up your bikes for 18 months give or take.  Aside from a battery tender, full fluid change, what else would you do?  Raise the wheels off the ground?  Oil in the cylinders?  Would you be worried about the seals and such so much that it is better to sell the bike and buy again when you return?

Thoughts, comments?

[J-Mac]

I'd have to bail on whatever was keeping me from riding for 18 months!

Park it on some rubber mats, add Stabil, remove the battery and put on a tender, cover it and They should be fine.

[county]

Dealers just let them sit on the showroom floor for that long...

[marc11]

Yep that thought crossed my mind. Maybe I am over thinking it.

[Mastros2]

How about leaving it at a trusted friend's house?  S/he'll ride it a few times (ok, a bunch of times!), store it and place the battery tender on it.  

[Mrs. DantesDame]

I'll trade you storing my VW for your bike. I'll be sure the bike is taken care of; I just need the space that the bug's taking up  

[marc11]

I'll trade you storing my VW for your bike. I'll be sure the bike is taken care of; I just need the space that the bug's taking up  

Issue is I have THREE bikes that need storage and use.  Storing your VW is no issue, I have 7 acres, pick the one you want to park it on!

[Mrs. DantesDame]

Issue is I have THREE bikes that need storage and use.  Storing your VW is no issue, I have 7 acres, pick the one you want to park it on!

I can put three bikes in the space of one VW  

Problem is, I don't want the car to sit outside    If you can get around that, we might have a deal  

[marc11]

I can put three bikes in the space of one VW  

Problem is, I don't want the car to sit outside    If you can get around that, we might have a deal  

Honestly, I have a two car garage and would be selling one of the cars before I leave.  Leaving one here, we should talk.  My transfer is not 100%, it is on my shoulders to decide, but if I do decide to take it I leave in March and my family meets me in early July, returning back home at the end of March in 2012, so about 20 months total.

[Mastros2]

I think we have ourselves a deal worked out!!!  

[chornbe]

I'd have to bail on whatever was keeping me from riding for 18 months!

Or sell them and buy what you want when you return to riding.

Very few of us have any bikes that are so ridiculously special and rare that they can't be replaced - at least functionally if not identically.

[marc11]

Or sell them and buy what you want when you return to riding.

Very few of us have any bikes that are so ridiculously special and rare that they can't be replaced - at least functionally if not identically.

I have considered that, first I have what I want right now for the most part.  And my sons KLX110 and my KLX250 are both not only set up how we want them, but are worth a fraction of what we would have to pay to buy new ones when we returned.  Just not worth it, when to be honest 18 to 20 months of storage isn't really that big of a deal.

It would kill my son to see his 110 gone, and my 250 is his future bike, he knows it, I know it, it isn't going anywhere.

[Mrs. DantesDame]

I think we have ourselves a deal worked out!!!  

 

[tomek]

Stabil won`t do much for modern,reformulated fuels.

Drain carbs,you`ll thank me later.

[chornbe]

I have considered that, first I have what I want right now for the most part.  And my sons KLX110 and my KLX250 are both not only set up how we want them, but are worth a fraction of what we would have to pay to buy new ones when we returned.  Just not worth it, when to be honest 18 to 20 months of storage isn't really that big of a deal.

It would kill my son to see his 110 gone, and my 250 is his future bike, he knows it, I know it, it isn't going anywhere.

Understood.  

Sounds like Colleen's deal is the way to go then. I've seen her garage; there's great space in a corner to put three bikes and still free up lots of space if she doesn't have the VW there.

Could work out.  

[marc11]

Yep could work out.  Just waiting for some final details about the transfer to know for sure if I am staying or going.

[chornbe]

If it doesn't, and you can't find lodging for all three, I can one definitely, maybe two. The wife actually expects to use half the garage for the car.  

But I have a utility garage built on the back and I can squeeze a bike or two in there. They'll be covered and largely ignored, and I can batt-tender them off and on.  

[marc11]

Thanks!    Actually I am not so worried about the KLX110, plastic tank and no electrics.  That one I can drain, change the oil, spray down with WD40 and cover the exhaust and intake openings and forget about it.  I still have his KDX50 from when he was 3 years old and after storing it for 2 years it fired right up this summer for my daughter to try out.

It is more the bigger bikes I would like to have used while we are gone....oh and yeah, my wife has the same notion about her car in the garage, thus why my tire changer is in the basement...then she complains that the basement isn't finished!

[chornbe]

Chicks!