Winter Storage

[street bob]

Thats the truth. As far as riding in sub zero temps.... In my opinion, thats asking for trouble. The body can't take that kind of cold and won't react in time in an emergency situation. People aren't used to seeing a scoot out there in frigid temps. If you do try to ride, you'll have on so much gear that its not possible to be comfortable..... No, frigid riding is just plain dumb. In my opinion.

[evoKENevo]

Last I heard they've come out with something called "Sno-Mobiles" for THAT kind of crap...

[street bob]

True....

[1haugster1340]

Originally Posted by bikerbilly

Ok I live in Maine and it is time to think about storing the bike, have a 08 883C, just past the 1000 service, so is it necessary to change all fluids before the winter, i am storing in my garage, insulated but not heated, will run a charger all winter and start it.

any info is appreciated.

In my opinion you do not start the bike. You will do more harm than good by starting it. Fouling the plugs to name one. I would remove the battery and put it in the house or garage in a warm place. If you have a garage put it there and hook up the battery tender. If you leave the battery in the bike and it would get really cold out and the battery tender stopped working or the power went out, the battery could freeze and break, leaking the acid over and through your Sporty. Just my 2 cents.

[JCourneyaP]

Its not a problem if you dress for it! No different than being on a snowmobile. Hell besides there are more snowmobile deaths than biker deaths in the winter up here. We don't have to worry about trees and fences. Yeah and get this....Cars actually notice you! If they look at you and think "what is that crazy sob doing" that means they saw you....

As far as Black Ice- Coast over or stay away from it. Just helps you tune your skills a bit more.

The only problem I have when its real cold is getting the bike to run good.

[evoKENevo]

No different than being on a snow-mobile ?
Might wanna take another look at those machines !

More snow-mobile deaths than biker deaths in the winters up there?
Might wanna take a head count of how many bikers vs snow-mobilers out there at that time of year !
And,uhhh...how many snow-mobiler deaths do you encounter in the summer ?

Bike does'nt want to run good in the winter?
Maybe it's trying to tell you something!

[03fxst]

I ride when it's a degree above freezing on both ends of the season but once a heavy snow drops and the salt hit's the road it's storage time. I fill the tank at the nearest station ad stabil there and ride the two miles home to get it through the carb. Close of the petcock and run the bowl dry. Change the oil, drop some fresh oil in through the spark plug holes, take the battery out and put it in another room on a tender to avoid temptation. Then I put the bike on a lift and decide what to take apart to make damn sure I don't get the fever and head out in February...

03FXST

[street bob]

03...... I do about the same. I'll ride till the salt hits the street. Then its detail the bike, sta-bil in the full tank, oil and filter changes, put up in the front of the garage with a full cover and plugged into the tender... DONE FOR THE WINTER!
I've done all that last weekend and wouldn't you know it that 3 days this week it was near 70 degrees with wall to wall sunshine.

[JCourneyaP]

Well Ken what can I say. Store it for 4 to 6 months out of the year if its too cold for you.

"No different than being on a snow-mobile ?
Might wanna take another look at those machines !"

I was talking about dressing for the cold. People ask how I can ride in the cold. I say its no different then being on a sled if you dress for it.


You ever look at the side of the road when its below zero??? Seems the colder it gets the more cars you see crapped out. My bike dosent run its best but it has not crapped out do to the cold.

[Wrightturn]

I like winter. All ten days of it. If a day starts with a jacket or coat but you have to take it off by noon that`s winter. When I lived in Northern Va it got too cold to ride . I moved. I now ride all year.

Fly south. It works