Safest way to de-mothball my motorcycle?

[Tritium]

Okay, I'll admit it: I haven't ridden my bike in over a year and a half.
Riding started to scare me, so I bought a car and haven't used the bike much since.

Spontaneously, on my way to work today I really wished I was riding. I guess it's time to get back on the horse.

About 18 months ago I put my R1200GS on its centerstand in the garage and left it there. I didn't put fuel stabilizer in the tank. Prior to the mothballing I had the oil and brake fluid changed.

I took the battery out about six months ago (it was completely discharged) and have been periodically hitting it with the battery tender to hopefully keep it charged. I believe the battery isn't damaged from its total discharge experience.

Tomorrow I'll put the battery back in, inflate the tires to the correct pressure, and was hoping to ride to work.

The thing that concerns me most is gasoline. How much damage could I do by running the old gas? Should I siphon it out and put new stuff in the tank?
Is there any reasonable way to get oil back to the parts that it's likely drained away from before I crank the engine over?

Anything else I should look out for, besides my rusty riding skills?

[veefer800canuck]

I would drain out all the old gas, put in some Techron fuel cleaner, and fill with fresh fuel.

Fire it up and go from there. It is injected, right? No carbies?

[Tritium]

Yup, it's fuel injected. I guess I'll go buy a gasoline siphon tomorrow morning.

[kyzrex]

Pull the plugs and spray a LITTLE lubricant into the cyls, then crank the engine before reinstalling the plugs.  May want to put some fuel inj cleaner into the gas tank with the new gas.  Don't expect it to start right up, as the fuel inj system may be gummed up a bit.  After sitting for that long, the oil should be changed.  If I had not ridden for that long, I doubt I would want to get out into commuter traffic either.  May want to do some other riding first......low traffic area, even just take it a parking lot and get used to turning it again.  YOU have been sitting for a year and a half as well.  Ask yourself what type of tuneup will YOU need after that long.

[HipGnosis]

Look in the mufflers, air box and every nook and crany for mice, etc.
Look the whole bike over rather closely.  Check the air pressure in the tires.
+ 1 on a little lubricant in the cylinders and turning the engine over w/o the plugs.
You are definately going to need fresh gas.
I wouldn't change the oil until after it ran a bit.
When you start it, don't give it much gas for a min or 2 - let the oil fully circulate and warm up.  Then run it at a fast idle for a cpl mins to really warm things up and re-charge the batt.
If it doesn't start - don't run the starter for more than 3-4 seconds at a time.  It's hard on the battery and the starter.  After 4-5 trys (waiting 5 seconds between trys), recharge the battery.  If it doesn't start, I'd get fresh spark plugs and then a new fuel filter.
Confirm the operation of everything before you leave the garage, esp the brakes.  You don't say what yr the bike is - you might want to change the brake fluid, but that's not a DIY item if you have ABS.

[ridingfar]

Pull the plugs and spray a LITTLE lubricant into the cyls, then crank the engine before reinstalling the plugs.  May want to put some fuel inj cleaner into the gas tank with the new gas.  Don't expect it to start right up, as the fuel inj system may be gummed up a bit.  After sitting for that long, the oil should be changed.  If I had not ridden for that long, I doubt I would want to get out into commuter traffic either.  May want to do some other riding first......low traffic area, even just take it a parking lot and get used to turning it again.  YOU have been sitting for a year and a half as well.  Ask yourself what type of tuneup will YOU need after that long.

+1 - Take a little while to re-bond with your bike and make sure you're both operating correctly before engaging in comuting combat.

[county]

If that old gas will fire the engine and nothing is clogged then I wouldn't worry about it...maybe pour in a little Seafoam....

[Mrs. DantesDame]

Clearly you need to "clean out the system" - I recommend riding over here and visiting for a little bit  

[Leanintree]

Clearly you need to "clean out the system" - I recommend riding over here and visiting for a little bit  

Uh... did you just offer to clean his pipes? I'm shocked....  

LT

[Mrs. DantesDame]

Uh... did you just offer to clean his pipes? I'm shocked....  

Look, just 'cuz I'm a sucker for bald heads does *not* mean that I'm easy  

[coho]

I do enjoy an easy lob but I'm not touchin' that one.

[photomd]

I hate to say I agree with County, but I'd do.   or  ...not really sure which.  

I'd charge the battery, put a fan in front of both cylinders and start it. Let it come up to temp and if it's running OK, go for a ride. You can lube the cylinders, but that's usually done to keep corrosion off the cylinder walls during storage.

Your gas may be bad, but it might not be. If the fuel is bad, fresh fuel will take  several minutes of cranking to reach the cylinders. If the fuel is bad, you'll need to empty the tank, pull your injectors and empty the entire system: that includes pulling the tank and draining the pump and filter. Don't pull an injector and turn on the pump. The pump is cooled by the fuel going through it. If you overheat the pump, they're expensive...just ask Kraz.

Good luck and let us know how the first ride goes.  

[atadaskew]

If that old gas will fire the engine and nothing is clogged then I wouldn't worry about it...maybe pour in a little Seafoam....

This

[bikerfish1100]

the gas in there is crap (it starts to break down within just a few weeks of sitting). dump it, add fresh. Techron is good, but not crucial. change the oil after riding it (good, but not critical, especially if it was new when you parked the bike). don't bother lubing the cylinders, they're fine. air the tires. look for intrusion by animals. you can't fully charge a battery by running at idle, and oilheads don't like extended idling anyway; start it and go. change brake fluids (absorbs water just by being out of its sealed container).

[Tritium]

I bought a siphon and got as much of the old gas out of the tank as I could. It smelled more like paint thinner than gaosline. Nasty.
I put the battery back in, connected it, and wanted to crank it a bit before starting it.
I hit the starter button and the engine caught and started in about 1 second - I guess my bike wants to go for a ride.
I poured in 3 gallons of new gasoline, inflated the tires to the right pressure, made sure the brakes still worked, and off I went.

My tabs were 2 weeks short of a year expired, I just paid a full year's registration for a couple weeks of riding.  

The only part of my skills that felt rusty are low speed maneuvers. I'm going to have to find a parking lot to get some practice in. Everything else was exactly as I remembered. Lane positioning and traffic avoidance were still instinctive, fortunately.
It felt great to be back on the road.

I don't think I'm ready to ride all the way across the country yet though.  

[ConPilot1]

Bottle of Seafoam or Stabil is cheap. Next time USE it.

Not to be a smartass but that's like Bike Storage 101.

Sorry, somebody had to say it.  

[Mrs. DantesDame]

I don't think I'm ready to ride all the way across the country yet though.  

Hopefully by the time you're ready, I won't be here  

[Mrs. DantesDame]

Bottle of Seafoam or Stabil is cheap. Next time USE it.

Not to be a smartass but that's like Bike Storage 101.

Sorry, somebody had to say it.  

Unless you didn't really plan on storing your bike. This strikes me more like the "oh, I'll take it out next week, no need to prep it" situation  

[county]

I have seen 2 year old gas fire up and run in a bike....so what if it is not producing optimum power.

[Tritium]

Putting sta-bil in the tank would have meant that I had firm intentions of not riding. I couldn't bring myself to take the action until the gas was already very old, and I didn't see the point then.

[bikerfish1100]

Stabil won't do much for 1 year old gas. its good for about 3-4 months, at least according to the manufacturer.

county- if you want to run varnish thru your carbs/fuel injectors and on into the motor, go for it. But its plain irresponsible to suggest that someone else be that stupid.

[photomd]

Putting sta-bil in the tank would have meant that I had firm intentions of not riding. I couldn't bring myself to take the action until the gas was already very old, and I didn't see the point then.

It's cool that you're up and running. Now go on a ride, take some pictures and post up.  

[county]

Stabil won't do much for 1 year old gas. its good for about 3-4 months, at least according to the manufacturer.

county- if you want to run varnish thru your carbs/fuel injectors and on into the motor, go for it. But its plain irresponsible to suggest that someone else be that stupid.

Dude, I said what I would do.....WTF, are you the responsibility monitor for this site or the whole internet?

And as for that "stupid" comment, well, you are dangerously close to being reported.

[Cheddarhead]

And as for that "stupid" comment, well, you are dangerously close to being reported.

Sounds like "somebody" shoul dmodify County's moniker...perhaps "County Mountie"?  

Personally, I think "Barney Fife" might be the best fit, given his wisdom and maturity....

[black hills]

If the bike will start the gas will be fine, run it out and fill up with fresh. Like County said throw in a half can of sea-foam. varnish collects on surfaces, it's either gummed up or it isn't. if it is it won't run if it isn't it won't matter

[county]

If the bike will start the gas will be fine, run it out and fill up with fresh. Like County said throw in a half can of sea-foam. varnish collects on surfaces, it's either gummed up or it isn't. if it is it won't run if it isn't it won't matter

This advice has already been labeled irresponsible.

[Dan K]

Try some k100 fuel additive.  It is actually touted as being able to help 'fix' bad gas to some extent, and keeps the ethanol from separating / puts it back in suspension if already separated.

Looks like good stuff.  I already stored my track bike with seafoam, but plan to use the k100 for my plastic tank triumph.

Good luck, definitely run some type of fuel system cleaner at high doses through the system for a couple tank fulls.  You should be good to go.

- Dan

[Mrs. DantesDame]

Um... guys? The OP has already taken the bike out for a ride. You're blathering for no reason at this point  

[Dan K]

Um... guys? The OP has already taken the bike out for a ride. You're blathering for no reason at this point  

Posted before I read that far.

SHould still treat the fuel for a few tankfuls just to clean out any gunk that is present, but not stoppnig the bike from starting.

[JonS]

I bought a siphon and got as much of the old gas out of the tank as I could. It smelled more like paint thinner than gaosline. Nasty.
I put the battery back in, connected it, and wanted to crank it a bit before starting it.
I hit the starter button and the engine caught and started in about 1 second - I guess my bike wants to go for a ride.
I poured in 3 gallons of new gasoline, inflated the tires to the right pressure, made sure the brakes still worked, and off I went.

My tabs were 2 weeks short of a year expired, I just paid a full year's registration for a couple weeks of riding.  

The only part of my skills that felt rusty are low speed maneuvers. I'm going to have to find a parking lot to get some practice in. Everything else was exactly as I remembered. Lane positioning and traffic avoidance were still instinctive, fortunately.
It felt great to be back on the road.

I don't think I'm ready to ride all the way across the country yet though.  

  Often people are over cautious about this sort of thing. It isn't like that motor is very fragile.

[JonS]

Dude, I said what I would do.....WTF, are you the responsibility monitor for this site or the whole internet?

And as for that "stupid" comment, well, you are dangerously close to being reported.

I have found that there are a lot of people who act like old ladies when it comes to things like this. (Not that there is anything wrong with that.)

[bikerfish1100]

And as for that "stupid" comment, well, you are dangerously close to being reported.

Ruh-rohh.

[Andrew]

On County side on this one, if the bike started and ran whats the big deal.

I have a car that sat for 7 years with gas in the tank, and it ran well with a fresh battery and some carb cleaner in the float bowls to get her started.

I mean what the hell, it's not like you are going to kill the thing by running old gas in it, if it starts run the tank empty then refill and do again and again and again until the next time.

[cbsnbiker]

I've found that gas stores long term better in my fuel-injected bikes than in my carbureted bikes.

Just FWIW.

[county]

This is just as good as an oil thread....

[Baz]

This is just as good as an oil thread....

What oil is best?

[sleazy rider]

What oil is best?

Fresh!