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General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> Winter maintenance
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Message started by fossilnut on 01/13/07 at 07:10:28

Title: Winter maintenance
Post by fossilnut on 01/13/07 at 07:10:28

I have been riding for only 6 months and have really enjoyed my savage. A real strong cold front is on it's way. Is there anything I need to do being it is stored outside?

Title: Re: Winter maintenance
Post by allan on 01/13/07 at 09:35:50

get it covered up, if its not your daily ride pull the battery off & put it somewhere warm, if you have a mate with shed /garage get it in there, ;)

others here will tell you things aswell ::)

allan.

Title: Re: Winter maintenance
Post by georgekathe on 01/13/07 at 11:08:25

I fill up the tank, using gas from can to top off & then put gas stabilizer (not too much in tank). I don't take battery out because I have maintenance free, rigged up some "pigtails" (for want of better word) & hook my battery tender up to it.

however, before I had a bike with a maintenance free battery used to take it out in bring in to the warm (not sure if you really have to do it but can't see it hurt). (obviously) store battery upright.

I charge my battery up every so often - if it is not maintenance free don't forget to take the little covers off the cells & ensure battery is topped up to correct level with distilled (not tap) water.

I have a Battery Tender (cost about $50 which I know is cost of good battery but it a) just trickle charges battery and b)switches off when battery is fully charged so no chance of frying battery) & pays for itself a zillion times over if you ever flatten the battery in some way.

I've always read about "blocking the bike" up so tires are not touching ground but I've never done it & my tires have never "gone oval on me!"

I've also read about changing oil before putting bike away for winter but again never done it even when living in "the frozen North!" (MI)

I would also ensure tires are at a good pressure (not overinflated) but maybe I'm just anal.

agree with getting bike under cover (ie in shed/garage) but did not say this myself as always had a garage.

Title: Re: Winter maintenance
Post by fossilnut on 01/13/07 at 12:18:14

thanks guys appreciate it!

Title: Re: Winter maintenance
Post by thumperclone on 01/14/07 at 08:55:47

i live down the street from george,my bike stays in the garage except on those nice sunny days when theres no ice on the roads i take her out..if bad weather settles in for more than ten days i go out and fire her up long enough to get the oil up to temp...

Title: Re: Winter maintenance
Post by georgekathe on 01/14/07 at 19:06:30

did ride bike couple of times in last month or so (once past Lon's house but truck was not there), however, after 10 years in frozen north (MI) with no riding from mid Nov-mid April & riding year round (bike was only transport) until 35 in a damp & therefore lot colder than temp indicated - England (ask mickthelimey for how cold it can feel even @ 40-5) having a car has made me soft (some might say)so even though where Lon/I live in a mild climate by & large (coldest wettest winter this year in 10 years I lived in this town) I put my bikes away for the winter.

basically I could ride most of time here but choose not too - it is so great riding rest of year laying bike up a couple of months makes no difference to me. can't run bike in garage because of fumes - wife messes around with art projects in there, but would likely do same as Lon if I could.

forgot about squirting bit of oil in (spark) plug hole but agree with other entry - good idea if laying it up for winter.