Safest way to de-mothball my motorcycle?

[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!