Do I HAVE to winterize?

[x750rider]

I live in Virginia where the winters can get harsh but at the same time you might have a 45-55 degree day thats good enough to get a little saddle time in. So my question is this:I keep my 2004 1200c covered in a shed w/no heat but is there any reason(sane) that I just coundn't start my bike at least once a week and bring it to operating temp. for say 5 mins? Wouldn't this keep the engine lubed well enough & the batt. charged? I have a Mitzubishi 3000gt that I basically have done the same thing to for several years w/no problem. Anybody got any feedback on this? I sure would like to keep her ready to roll just in case I get that itch. :tour

[GregD]

I would suggest that you put the battery on a tender, stabilizer in the gas tank and when the occasional day arrives take it out for a run.

Just starting it for 5 minutes or so once a week is probably not the way to go because the engine doesn't get hot enough to evaporated the condensation that can accumulate. It can even add to the problem of condensation.

The engine needs to get to operating temperature to dispell the condensation and just letting it idle won't do the trick.

This is JMHO. I'm sure the pros here can give you the skinny on what is truly proper.

Ride Safe.

Greg....

[xena]

My bike is in a non-heated garage and for years I've done it the way you're talking about and have never had any problems other than the spark plugs get a little dirty. No biggy I just clean them up and put them back in. Don't see any reason why I can't do the same with the sporty as I've done with my previous bikes.
I did take a chilly ride around the block today (30F temps) since there's no snow on the ground. I usually put a little of that fuel fresh stuff in the tank too.

[Broncodog]

:welcome To the forum x750rider! Back in the ole NY days, did same thing but just ran it longer and the occasional ride didn't hurt either :tour

[toothygrin]

I've been thinkin the same. here in the Northwest it rarely snows- so I have been doing some short (wet) rides on the weekends. Enjoy

[willprevale]

Yeah, years ago, way back when, we stored our bikes the same way but times are changing. The problem is that today's gas formulas will begin to gum things up in about three weeks. I'd be sure to keep the tank full and add some kind of stabilizer. Running it once or twice a week isn't a bad idea in any case. Just be sure to bring it up to operating temp if you can't ride it.

[collinsb]

I live in Virginia where the winters can get harsh but at the same time you might have a 45-55 degree day thats good enough to get a little saddle time in. So my question is this:I keep my 2004 1200c covered in a shed w/no heat but is there any reason(sane) that I just coundn't start my bike at least once a week and bring it to operating temp. for say 5 mins? :tour

X750rider,
I have a differing opinion!
If your bike is kept in any non heated shelter (especially a metal shed) that flutuates in temperature from below freezing to above freezing you will run the risk of your bike sweating. It is best not to "drape" cover it, but if you must, only use a couple old bed sheets, to keep the dust off and air in. Definitely, do not use a rain cover. The metal must breath to stay dry.
I'm of the opinion that starting cold bikes and running them for short periods to "keep them oiled" is a grave mistake. If your going to take a 1/2 hour or more ride, that's a different story. A short run cold engine can become full of moisture. Running it for 15 min., or just operating temps is not IMHO enough to dry it out sufficiently!

Billy Norust

[MisterB]

My Harley dealer told me that unless the engine is running at a constant speed of at least 3,000 rpm's, that the battery is actually being drained. In other words, even if you start your bike every few weeks, you're actually chipping away at your battery every single time you do it. You'll need to put a battery tender on it, if you plan on actually being able to start and ride the bike when the feeling hits.

[Moved On]

I have to agree with Greg and Billy on the two issues they each raised.

My dealer recommend not to start the bike up unless I plan on running it for an hour or so. As soon as you start the bike water vapor is going to get sucked into the crank case and mix with the oil. Unless you get it hot enough to vaporize (dealer said that would take about an hour) the water will condense and accumulate in the bearings. He said that it wouldn't cause any immediate problems but could easily make a difference whether you get beyond 100K miles or not.

The cover isn't a good idea in the cold because the little bit of moisture in the air will come in and condense on the bike everytime you open the door to the shed. With the cover on the bike it will be less able to evaporate back off. My dealer actually recommended that anyone keeping their bike in a cold garage spray down all the exposed metal surfaces with WD40 or Mazola cooking spray to prevent water vapror from condensing on the surfaces.

Gary

[Broncodog]

"My dealer actually recommended that anyone keeping their bike in a cold garage spray down all the exposed metal surfaces with WD40 or Mazola cooking spray to prevent water vapror from condensing on the surfaces."


Have you ever tried that!? Sounds good in theory, but boy could that get messy.

[Moved On]

Yep, I sprayed the bike with WD40 last year. It is kinda messy. If you do this you'll probably want to put something under it for the drips. My barn has a wood floor, so it all got soaked up, but the floor is darker in that circle now. It kinda matches the other areas where the previous owner had their leaky car for years :rolleyes:

If I had one of those nice modern ceeeement floors, I'd worry more about that I guess.

As far as mess on the bike goes, it washed off real easy with a little S-100 in the spring.

I used to go out to the barn every once in a while to smoke a cigar and as I sat there I could see the water condense on the bike with the overhead door open. It always made me happy to know that the oil layer was there to keep it away from the surface.

Gary

[Broncodog]

Never would have thought of it, but then again thinking hurts my head :D

[x750rider]

Thanks for all the input guys--(and gals). Guess I'll get her ready for storage this weekend. I have noticed at times a little condensation on her when the cover(an expensive HARLEY cover I might add)has been on her so I'll probably go for the spray to minimize the problem,--gotta protect all that chrome ya know.One other question-I dont have any electricity in the shed and its too far for an extension cord so how tough is just removing the batt? By the way ,thanks for the welcome --- I'm not exactly new to the xlforum-I had about 30 posts on the OLD forum. Anyway its good to be back.

[Moved On]

You don't even really have to remove the battery. Just pull the negative wire off of it. When it gets cold the chemical reactions in the battery wil slow way down and at the most you will need to run an extension cord to trickle charge in the fall. I just pulled the negative wire last year, and when I reconnected it this spring it started right up, no charging needed.

Gary

[x750rider]

Thanks Gary-that sounds like the plan. It looks like tomorrows weather should be good enough to put a few more miles on her--Sunday brings a chance of snow & temps in the 30's from then on. I'm sure gonna miss her. :cry1

[01Sporty]

"My dealer actually recommended that anyone keeping their bike in a cold garage spray down all the exposed metal surfaces with WD40 or Mazola cooking spray to prevent water vapror from condensing on the surfaces."
I had to put my scooter away 3 weeks ago to make room for my winter beater and will be putting the StaBil in tomorrow.
I've been going back and forth on the "spray it with WD-40" talk. I have it under a 180 thread count sheet, I'm certain the sheet "breathes". If the bike is at the same temperature as the air in the garage, how can water vapor form on it? Both will go up or down in temperature slowly, even if we suddenly get a 60 degree day. I'm not talking about taking it out for a ride, then covering it, that's different.

I'm not dis-agreeing with any advice, just trying to understand.

TIA,

[Moved On]

Hey Dave,

If your garage stays closed you might not have a problem, I don't know for sure about that. If you have an overhead door that you open frequently that's where you will definately have an issue. Last year all I had on the barn was an overhead door (this fall I added a normal door too :) ). I'd go out to the barn to put around for a while and when the door was open you could watch the condensation form on the bike. I can't really remember if it was different during the morning vs. the evening. In either case there would be quite a bit of a temperature difference. Barn warms up during the day and doesn't cool down as fast as the outside air in the evening. Opposite happens over night and in the morning.

Gary

[01Sporty]

Hiya Gary,

Ahh, Good point, opening the garage door and letting the colder (outside) air in, might cause condensation. I'll have to think on that one a bit.

Happy Holidays,