I hadn't done anything about winter storage until this morning.  Last rode the bike around Oct. 15th.  This morning, put petcock on prime, and it started right up.  Fueled it with 100LL aviation gasoline, which is made to be stable for long term storage (some airplanes have gone over a year between flights with no problem with this fuel).  Then, I rode it for about 3 miles, filled it to the brim again, and put it in the garage.  I realize that this is leaded fuel, but figure that one tank full a year won't hurt it any.

How often, and for how long does it need to be ridden to keep the battery charged over the winter?  Is once every 4 or so weeks for about 5 miles enough?  Here in central Ohio, we typically will have a day or two during each winter month when it will be warm enough (35 + degrees) that I could stand to ride it that far.

Paladin -

Thanks a bunch.  Mine is an '06 S40, and I'm fairly sure it still has the OEM battery.  So, whatever that was is probably the type of battery I have.  Bike only has 3200 miles.

I was surprised this morning that, having not run for over two months, it cranked the engine over normally.  Maybe just little slow, but not by much if slow at all.  And it took me a three or four attempts, as I put it on prime, and then took it off of prime after cranking a few revolutions.

Oct 15? Jerry... I feel terrible for you.......  

I picked up a trickle charger from Harbor Fright for $9.00.  It has a pig-tail attachment that you put on your battery terminals, then dangle it outside the bike.  When you want to charge the battery, just plug it in.

The other option is an AGM battery like the Big Crank.

BTW, are you planning to ride up to Loudonville for the Thunder in Paradise bike show in June?

Would recommend a wash and wax.

or spray any exposed metal with a rust preventative.

And a short trip once a month and you won't need either the stabil or battery tender

If my bike was doomed to sit ouside thru an Oklahoma winter I would comsider building a little, high on one side,( to shuck the snow * ice off itself) framework from PVC pipe & cover it with a tarp, maybe 2 or 3 thicknesses & stick a droplight or 2 in there I could turn on to try to keep it from freezing solid. I kow its not alive & maybe it wouldnt make a difference, I would be asking it right here. Gets darned cold in Ok. City. I lived uo that way one winter. Yep, ONE winter, I am a quick learner.