Proper winter storage

[Monkeyboy]

Originally Posted by brobeo

Yee Haa. A nice break in the weather has delayed my winter storage plans.

Sunday was a beautiful day in Va. In addition to all the advice you're getting about storage, welcome to the forum and you happen to be right at the gateway to some of the most beautiful riding on the east coast. Blue Ridge Parkway, Rte 211, George Washington Nat'l Park, Harper's Ferry, and Gettysburg just to name a few.

[Motorman7]

Do clean bike and fogging oil in each cylinder. Tire pressures are important as well as fuel STABIL. I have a Harley bubble and this eliminates the moisture problems here in Ohio.

[sglide50]

After reading the informative threads, I am surprised there is not more on the dreaded issue of condensation which continues to eat away at my bike. As we settle into the winter months here in Virginia, I am fighting a losing battle against condensation with my 'Cycle Shell'. for those not aware, cycle shell is a fully enclosed cover system for your bike. its like a tent over your bike. after the the great blizzard of 09 when humidity levels were very high. i opened up the cover to check on my bike which has already been winterized, over inflated tires, stabil gas, leather taken off and in the house, blah blah, easy stuff. but i was horrified to see a light mist of condensation all over the bike. my solution, based on what hikers and mountain climbers do was to to put a light polyurethane cover on the bike first and then cover it within the cycle shell. theory being, the condensation would fall on the inner cover. wrong, when i checked after a rain, same problem, like someone had misted my bike with a water sprayer. so as i sit here watching my brand new street glide rust away, i am desparate to find a solution. i realize i have to create some heat or air to get rid of the condensation. i was especially keen on reading about the 'golden rod'. otherwise friends have said just put a 40watt bulb under the cover. as primitive as that sounds these days, may just be the best and only solution for those without a garage. Help!

[unclepsycho]

The light bulb idea is what comes to mind. My uncle used that in his camper to keep the musty smell from happening.. and it worked. I think that is what the 'Goldenrod" product is supposed to do, provide just enough heat to keep the moisture away.
Air flow is important too, the water evaporates faster with air flow. but running a fan all summer is not practicle, so using the light bulb, and then a small vent at the bottom of thecover as well as another small vent at the top allows the cool air to come in below, and warm moist air to leave via the upper vent. ''Convection'', is the term to describe that system, I think...

And since I dont live in Oregon anymore, I dont worry about it as much. I leave my bikes out in the carport, and just clean and ride them even in the rain, etc.... I dont ride much in 30*to 40* or colder....

[sgtcowboyusmc]

Boy I am the wrong guy to ask that as I live in a place where I ride 365 or as close to it as I can. I will miss a Day here and there but not to many. Humidity is never over 20% except the 2 or three days a yr it rains here. When I lived in New Mexico it would snow and I wouls ride my bike. I would usually wait until the roads were clear but not always. Here is how I stored my bike there.

[hardtimeharley]

Sglide; Your problem may be condensation due to the temp. changes of the air inside your shell (if it's airtight). Maybe some water absorbing dessicant in there would help. I think there's a product called Damp Rid? I'd also try putting a piece of plastic on the garage floor, and some old carpet on top of that, then your shell. I only cover my bikes with old bed sheets, but still get condensation, esp. on cold rainy days. Let us know if you resolve this, and what it took.

[kempomark]

I love my battery tender. Actually I have two...They are the best thing for Winter storage in good ol Colorado. I do start the bike at least once a week. I don't do it to charge the battery. I do it to keep seals lubricated, fuel lines flexible, etc etc.

I am constantly tuning and preparing for the riding season all Winter long so I don't spend much time storing for Winter. Every nut and bolt is in a state of transition during the off-season. The bike is kept in its own 10x10x10 shed so I don't cover it. As a matter of pride of ownership, I keep it squeaky clean anyway. I am a bit different in that I do a fluid change just before the next riding season. Right now the bike is in like 30 pieces. Riding season will start in about 4 months. Hope I have enough time!

[tommyglide]

Hey Cowboy, that must be a New Mexican Superglide, eh?

[sgtcowboyusmc]

Originally Posted by tommyglide

Hey Cowboy, that must be a New Mexican Superglide, eh?

That was $500.00 and ran like a top. 920cc Virago. Good bike all the way up until I blew it up Then it would have cost more than it was worth to fix