now the roads are coated in salt the bike is in hibernation properly till march. bike had a deep clean and wax with battery plugged into oxford oximiser every couple of weeks. is it worth running the bike occasionally once a month up to temp and a run up and down the drive could get up the dizzy heights of 8mph with a good start. will this do more harm than good?
Starting your bike up ever few weeks will do more harm than good. Talking to many people and unless your going out for a run or going to get the bike up to temp (all of it not just engine temp) it's no good. My bike is left clean, full tank of fuel under the Honda Cover it came with. IE not going to sweat. And connected to a Optimate. Had no issues with it being left for 4-5 months.
Running your bike frequently to a reasonable temperature on the drive will do it more harm than good.It needs to be ridden.Inside your crank cases and fuel tank when it is very cold you will see droplets of condensation.This creates rust.If it is mixed with cold or warm oil it will produce a whitish cream over time.That whitish cream will go everywhere the oil goes.If it is left alone it will evaporate on its own.The tank will evaporate those droplets when it gets warmer too.That's why we fill our tanks up before putting them to bed and drop the oil when the warmer weather comes.If on the other hand it is in storage at room temperature then it will be fine.You wouldn't have this problem at all.The past 3 years mine has been in my shop for this very reason.This year it has got to go in the garage so I won't be starting it til march or 10+ degrees.Cold sheds and cold garages create condensation.
The above is very true, just leave it and do not keep starting it. I have done the same as most, up on its Abba stand with front lift arm (both wheel off the ground and all the suspension uncompressed), tank filled with fuel, seafoam fuel stabilizer added to the fuel and ran through the system, washed and polished, optimate plugged in and running and the Honda indoor cover over it. The roads are just awful for bikes and full of salt, put to bed until March.
Have to agree with the above!! I never start mine until I am going to ride it. 11 more days folks then the light evenings start!!!!
Yep, worst thing U can do is start the fecker and let it idle. A good clean, full tank of Gas and leave be till next March/April. If poss get the wheels off the deck but if U can't then just wheel it about every 3-4 weeks so it's not left standing on the same patch of the tyre.
interesting topic.. guess it depends on how cold your shed / garage gets. I've started and left idling my bikes for years through the winter, starting them every weekend and letting them run up to temperature. Never had any issues.. have seen some light pitting on rear brake discs before though in my garage, was in there tonight and before I put my heater on, I could see my breath! -1 in Aberdeen tonight.
When the weather is warmer turn the engine over with the kill switch on .This will pump oil in most places inside the engine before you go to start it for the first time in months.
Also a great tip for when you've done an oil change or the bikes been stood for any amount of time to get the cams lubed up nicely before firing ..
I used to too mate. I was bored over a xmas.I wanted to try out my new borescope the wife bought me,so I had a look in my old gsxr600 tank and engine just to see what this new toy was like.I was gobsmacked with the amount of water in the top of the tank and some in the engine too.It is surprising where this condensation gets into.I have mates that still start theirs,its their bike they please themselves.
Anybody got a recommendation as to what temperature would be best to store the bike in ? Lower limit ie 10 degrees , 6 , 5 etc ?
I would say at least 15c Steve then you can leave a couple of piña colada's out for her to enjoy also You just need enough heat to prevent moisture in the air.
If you have an unheated garage then i guess this point is a mute one, its either store it there or don't store it and ride it ?
Ok i am going to ask even though i may get stick for doing so..... In March then, do i simply slip the kill switch to kill the engine and then put the key in the ignition and turn it ready to press the starter ? Will this do something ..... then i guess you turn it off and flip the switch back to '' on '' and start the bike as normal ?
With the kill switch off it will still turn the engine over Hudson just won't fire. But yes as you said
