[mwb]

I live in New Orleans and our winters here aren't very long. So I don't think I am going to store the bike. But when it gets cold it is a damp cold and not the kind of weather you want to ride in. So, my riding will be off and on, and only on weekends. So, I have some questions;

1) Instead of storing the bike I plan on riding it once a week to keep it rolling. What is the minimum amount of time I should ride it to offset storing it properly? An hour? A couple hours? Will riding it once a week be fine?

2) Since it is only going to get run once a week what type of gas and oil issues should I be aware of? Steps to aviod problems?

3) What is the longest period of time I can leave it alone without trouble? Is two weeks fine?

4) What should I do about the battery?

5) Should I put it up on stands during the week?

Oh yeah, other pertinent info. The bike is an '03 620 so it has fuel injection. The winter temps here are usually in the 40's and 50's. We don't really get below that but will usually get one hard freeze each season, mid 20's, but only at night, never for more than a day or two. I store the bike in my shed, which is basically 4 walls and a roof, so it'll be subjected to whatever the temperature is outside.

Buddy of mine says bring it in the house and store it for the winter. But I'd hate to go through that trouble when a good part of our winter is only 55 degrees and pretty sunny.

I know this post is fairly long, and some of these issues may be covered elsewhere, but I'd appreciate any info.

Thanks, MWB

 

[Guest]

I suggest:

1.Gettting a rear stand to lay off the springs.
2.Fuel stabilizer
3.Covering the bike up from dust and other elements.
4.Remove battery and trickle charge.
5.Look at the bike from time to time to keep the love flowing.
;D

 

[CRASH!]

Hell, sometimes in summer I go a week or two without riding (between sh!tty weather and travel)!

Comments on P_R's suggestions:

1. A rear stand does NOT unload the rear spring. It will get your tire up which isn't a bad thing.
2. Fuel stabilizer? Again, a week or two isn't long. The question really is how long it'll take you to empty the tank and that depends on how far you ride when you DO get out. If you can refill once a month, I might not bother with the stabilizer.
3. a cover is good, but you want one that breathes. A plastic sheet can condense inside which is bad for the bike.
4. I'd put a battery tender on, but probably not remove the battery for the use described. Again, that's how I manage in summer. If I'm not sure of riding within three days, I always plug in.
5. How can you HELP gazing at the bike regularly?

On mwb's original questions:

1. You need to ride the bike at full operating temp for 10 minutes or so to boil off the crap. I think you have a temp gauge, so you don't have to guess.
2. If you ride every week or two, I'd think you're ok sticking with the usual oil change program. Gas; as noted above.
3. Two weeks on a battery tender is fine. If you don't take care of the battery though, yer gonna have trouble.
4. see above
5. If you have stands, sure. Past two winters I put mine up on the center stand and hand-rotated the front every week.

I consider your winter to be almost "normal use."

 

[mwb]

Yeah, we are pretty lucky our winter isn't very bad. But, even though we don't get the temps some of you guys get the cold we get is the wet painful kind. Hell, 50 degrees here can feel like 30 below!!!

So, I think what I'll be doing is keeping her covered. I have a breathable cover. Tending to the battery. And running her at least 20 minutes a week. Sounds like that will get me through.

One last question about the gas tank. Since it is unlikely I will go through a tank during the break is it preferable to fill up the tank and add stabilizer? Or could I just keep about 1/4 a tank in and add a little each week as I run it down? Advantage to keeping the tank topped up?

Thanks for the help guys....MWB

 

[Guest]

Is it bad to leave a tender on a battery for an extended time..say a month?

 

[ScottRNelson]

Battery tenders are designed to stop charging when the battery is "full", so you should be able to leave one on for 6 months with no problems.

I put on a battery tender if I go more than two weeks without riding a motorcycle. I think I've used it about three times in the past two years. A 15-minute ride is enough to keep the battery up and other things in good shape, as long as you take it out for an hour or more every month or so.

My original battery survived for more than six years.

 

[Duc_N_Har]

Some battery tenders do not have the automatic shut off, when the battery is fully charged, look for one that does!

 

[CRASH!]

Ya, but "Battery Tender" is a brand name of battery charger often sold at bike shops. I'm pretty sure all "Battery Tender" brand chargers do have the automatic regulation.

 

[Guest]

all this talk about gazing upon the bike has made me mushy.

I just went out and hugged my Duc much to the amusement of my cat and SWMBO'd. How often should I gaze upon it or hug it?

Atlanta winters can be somewhat warm so I hope to hug it weekly.

 

[Guest]

keep the gas tank full... the temp changes, with low fuel level you will get condesation in the tank(water).

 

[Guest]

you should be fine riding once a week....if not in a garage keeping the tank full is prolly good enough....remember the monster needs to be ridden
one minute for every cc ea. week. So that means you must ride 10.3 hours per week-end. ;D

 

[mwb]

I've always heard to top off the tank but never knew why. Condensation...makes sense now.

It's hard for me to figure out how much it'll get riden because the weather in New Orleans is so unpredictable. For instance Saturday was about 80 degrees and sunny. Yesterday about 75. But last night it rained all night and today we won't get out of the 50's. But tomorrow will be 65 and we'll be back in the 70's for Thanksgiving. A swing of 30 degrees back and forth over a two day period is very common here......and I don't even want to talk about the rain.

But, I'll take it. It sure beats the weather some of you get.