I'll be moving from a frigid climate of 8-month winters to a temperate climate of never winters. My bike will be free to roam the streets on almost any day of the year. I couldn't be happier.

Now the only thing holding me back is the winter at Point A. I’m moving to Point B by U-Haul and have rented one of their trailers to tow the bike on (unless someone here can convince me putting the bike in the box is the better way to go). Getting the means to move is easy enough. It’s loading the bike that will be the challenge … or more precisely, getting it started. It gets to -40C here (which conveniently enough is also -40F). My bike is stored in an unheated garage.

Anyone successfully start their Wee at frigid temperatures without causing any damage or excessive wear? If so, how? I could point several forced air heaters for a few hours at the engine block, oil pan … anywhere else? Any other considerations?

Now I might get lucky and have my moving day fall on a balmy -5C .. even +1C. But my moving date falls right in the middle of this area’s coldest part of winter.

Words of caution also welcome!

Is it too wide to fit in a doorway of your residence? Just park it inside the day prior to your move.

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Why do you need to start it?? Just push it up the ramp onto the trailer.

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Rich Desmond
'07 DL650, '01 DR-Z400S, '99 SV650 (race bike), '80 GS1000S, '85 RZ350, '08 Ducati 848

-40C !?!?!?! Holy crap where are you? On the dark side of the moon ?

Don't they make heaters specifically for this purpose that sit under the sump of a car? What if you put some form of heating under the bike and then put a bike cover over the bike to trap all the rising heat?

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Owning a Vee is the very definition of a love-hate relationship..

I agree, just bring it inside. It should fit through the door. I bring my Bonnie inside from time to time so I can clean the spoke wheels while sitting on the carpet and watching TV in the background. Oh, and welcome to civilization. Went for a nice ride today, you're gonna love it.

Mike

I'm confused. Why can't you push it onto the trailer?

Not recommended but I once put my dead DR 650 into a pickup by pushing the starter with it in gear. The clutch switch had failed and had been bypassed. Hopefully you can find some help to put your strom in the trailer.

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13 DL650, 03 DR650, 95 DR350

I imagine that is the first thought of anyone reading this thread. I'm wondering too.

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2007 DL650
"Who the hell wants to hear actors talk?" -- Harry M. Warner, Warner Brothers, 1927

Get some help to push that sucker. The drag from cold oil in the clutch and tranny will only add to the power draw on the battery.

Where is point "B" ???

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05 / 650 in blue
88 / KDX 200 in green
81/82 DT 175 Yamahussies
79/SP 370 Suzuki-bad bike-no keep
78/ GT 750 water pumper
75/Suzuki 125 RV

Agreed, push it up. Or warm the whole bike gently with nothing that'll set it on fire.

I lived in Wyoming when we had a few days of -50°F (-46°C) at night and up to -25°F (-32°C) in the sunny afternoons. Wood sure was easy to split at minus-too-much. We weren't sure how cold it really got, 'cuz mercury in the thermometers freezes at -38°C, but a neighbor with a spirit thermometer recorded the -50. By the way, -40°C = -40°F.

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Rooster today
Feather duster tomorrow