[nobie381]

My Wee is my first motorcycle and my wife also just got an S40. I am starting to thinking about winter storage. I don't have a garage so I will be putting both bikes in my back room which is in side (which is better than paying 360 a month to someone else.)

After reading storage threads I would like to make sure I got it all down and get some advice.

- Take out batteries and put them on a tender.
- Put a gas agent in and fill up tanks. (Top off at home so there is no air)
- Complete an oil change
- Clean bike/wax
- Move to storage area

Now, for a few questions... Over the storage period should I need to lube chain? I don't have a center stand so what ways have you put the bike up to keep the tires off the ground (If no do-it-yourself option I will roll the bikes from time to time). If I can't move the bike will it hurt the bike/tire(s) or do I just have to make sure I take it easy the first time out until the tire re-shapes? Is there any winter maintenance I should think about doing while the bike is chilling indoors?(Only have 3600 miles so I can't think of any)

 

[WeeMcD]

If you are storing the bikes inside, in a heated area then i wouldn't worry too much about the tires. Just make sure they don't sit with flat tires.

If you're storing outdoors, then:

• I would store the batteries on a tender indoors and never on cement
• Purchase a good cover (EmpireCovers.com is one of my valued blog sponsors) for the bikes
• In the past, I have also covered the air intake and exhaust holes with aluminum foil to keep rodents out. I've heard that they don't like to chew aluminum.
• It may behoove you to use blocks or other means to get the tires up off the ground. If you have a skid plate, then this would be fairly easy to do.

 

[Yak]

How long are you storing them for? I park mine outside, in the carport, full tank of fuel (never bother with stabiliser for short term storage of a few months on a fuel injected bike), plug in the battery tender, throw a cover over it and walk away. Three months later, I fire it up and ride away. No need to get the tires off the ground or rotate them - just make sure they are aired up properly.

 

[jeems]

Or...

you could just not winterize it and ride it every few weeks on those rare nice winter days. I'll ride mine as long as there isn't a shite ton of salt on the roads and no major worries about ice. I usually won't even put on the tender unless it has sat for more than a month or longer.

 

[chicago]

Don't see any reason to remove the batteries. Smart charger sure.

Not familiar with winters in Virginia. Won't there be some mild days maybe during each month when you might want to go for a spin. If so I wouldn't bother with any storage preparation. Keep mice out of the airbox though.

 

[garandman]

Strt putting stabilizer in the tank every time you fill later in the season. That way it will be through the system, not just in thr tank.

 

[tmcgee]

In the winter, mine has the same parking spot as the summer -- outside with a cover. I do put stabilizer in the tank, but no other changes. I also ride it if the streets are reasonable.

 

[Cambion]

I'd get a pair of battery tenders (You can get the Battery Tender Jr. for like $20) for your and your wife's bikes and, assuming you have a garage, just leave the batteries in the bikes. You might put some Stabil in them but I wouldn't bother doing anything else. There will definitely be some days where we can get out there and ride, especially if you get yourself some heated gloves and a warm jacket.

 

[Gorby]

We live in the same are and I say get some good gear and ride it over winter. Hippo Hands and a windproof balaclava and my jacket and pants have insulated liners and I'm good into the 30s for extended rides and I've been out in the 20s on short local get outs. I do have a garage and keep it on a battery tender since it can be a couple weeks between rides. I also put a Powerlet into the fairing and got an adapter for the tender and it's nice and simple to plug right into it coming and going.

 

[BabaAus]

Freezing isn't an issue?

I'm glad nobie381 started this thread. I took my previous bike off the road for the winter and squirreled it away in a storage shed but I'm not really wanting to do that with my Wee because it's so much fun to ride and I honestly don't think I can make it all the way through to next April without riding it. I don't have a garage either and store my covered Wee, now, on a concrete sidewalk.
Am thinking of renting one of those U-Stor-It places as long as there's power that I can hook up my battery tender to.

Freezing ambient temperature isn't an issue whether it's indoors or out?

 

[jeems]

The bike can probably handle the freezing better than the rider. The first winter I had my strom I got an unheated storage unit. Second winter was just under a cover. Now it is in my unheated detached garage. It is perfectly happy as long as I let it out of the stall every so often during the winter. :fineprint:

Some crazies also ride their bike in the snow!

 

[WeeMcD]

As I see it, the main issue is not the temps (as long as they aren't too extreme) with a battery tender hooked up. The real issue is the little bastards that see your exhaust and air filter areas as cozy places to escape the winter and birth their devil spawn. Cover the holes, cover your bike, stabilize the fuel and keep the battery up. Don't leave it where a plow might bury it if snow does hit this winter.

 

[gryphon51]

Some crazies also ride their bike in the snow!

yep..... snow is no problem...