Winter Questions

**scion0** · 09-25-2007, 11:38 AM

Quote:

"Winter Suggestion: If in the winter, you find yourself not riding your bike as often as you would like, keep your battery and engine in good running order by starting up your bike once every two weeks in the wintertime. Long periods of time sitting in the garage can make a battery weak and possibly gunk up the carbs. Just start up your bike once every two weeks and let it run for about 15 minutes or until the cooling fan comes on."

Now I know many of you do not have to worry about this topic but I will ask the question of those who have and who do...

Since my bike is in an attached (somewhat) insulated garage, shouldn't I be able to just start it up (maybe add some stabilizer, etc.) a couple of times a week throughout the winter?

Granted there may be one or two days that are "ridable" in between the Illinois blizzards and such...

Any opinions would be nice.

**trip** · 09-25-2007, 12:27 PM

Well, I can only give you my opinion...but realize that I live in Texas. What do I know about winters?....LOL.

I have never "winterized" my bike. I just start it up during the winter every two weeks and let ir run until the fan comes on. Then, the rest of the time, I keep the battery on a battery tender.

But, being from IL, you may need to do more.

dank · 09-25-2007, 12:48 PM

I live in Michigan, so I get a solid dose of winter each year. I add Stabil to the gas, change the oil, and put a battery tender on. I store it in an unheated, attached garage. I'll ride a bit up through December if the snow holds off, then won't head out again until rain washes the salt off the highway. The bike waits through the intervening two months just fine, much more patiently than I do.

unwind2 · 09-25-2007, 01:38 PM

Same as Trip....I live in TN ....we though actually get out and ride the bikes for about 15-20 mins. every 2-3 weeks.....never used the battery charger/tender or stabilizer.

Todd · 09-25-2007, 01:43 PM

Same here in NC......usually a day or three in Jan/Feb that I will ride. March has several days and I ride through December. Under 45 degrees or so gets a little tough with no sunshine but I try.

dank · 09-25-2007, 01:48 PM

[quote
Under 45 degrees or so gets a little tough with no sunshine but I try. [/quote]

We call that summer in Michigan!!!

09-25-2007, 01:48 PM

I do the same as trip. We get can get a harsh winter in northern utah. A lot of what you can do to winterize it depends on if you are are going to ride it every couple weeks or weather you are going to put it in storage for 6 months.

Todd · 09-25-2007, 01:53 PM

Quote:

[quote:ijamzs5h]
Under 45 degrees or so gets a little tough with no sunshine but I try.

We call that summer in Michigan!!!

[/quote:ijamzs5h]

That's why I live down here!!!! BRRRRRRRRRR!!!! I can get hot and walk into the A/C and be cool in a second.......but when you get cold...you can stand by a fire for hours and still be cold!!

unwind2 · 09-25-2007, 09:28 PM

Todd

You're riding season sounds pretty much like ours...almost year around just have a few months there that you need to really wrap up and only take short jaunts.

blowndodge · 09-25-2007, 11:07 PM

Putting a bike away for winter? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH. What's that? California revenge!!!!!

**Idaho** · 09-26-2007, 06:59 AM

That's okay BD. You might be able to ride all winter but you still live in California; not a good trade off. :0

I put premium fuel in the tank, usually run mid grade, and a shot of StaBil. I try to ride it when I can in the winter but I live up the side of a mountain and the roads to and from my house are covered with patches of ice and snow. That said, as long as the roads are dry and the temp is somewhere north of 17 degrees I will get the bike out for a spin.

blowndodge · 09-26-2007, 09:18 AM

Quote:

That's okay BD. You might be able to ride all winter but you still live in California; not a good trade off. :0

I know. 10 minutes from the beach. One hour from snow skiing. 3 hours from the river. Dancing and night life everywhere. very boring actually if all you do is fish......

socwkbiker · 09-26-2007, 10:31 AM

Hey BD

Todd · 09-26-2007, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Hey BD

<marquee>YEAH..WHAT HE SAID!!! IT JUST ISN"T FAIR...</marquee>

But then again....we dont have it too bad in NC.. for me 3 hrs to the beach....1.5 to snow ski....pretty nice weather.....a flight across country for nightlife

**scion0** · 09-26-2007, 10:57 AM

That's okay BD. You might be able to ride all winter but you still live in California; not a good trade off. :0

Ditto... EARTHQUAKE!!! haha (I know, TORNADO)

09-25-2007, 12:27 PM	#2
trip VBA Founder Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Lindale, Texas Posts: 6,846	Winter Questions Well, I can only give you my opinion...but realize that I live in Texas. What do I know about winters?....LOL. I have never "winterized" my bike. I just start it up during the winter every two weeks and let ir run until the fan comes on. Then, the rest of the time, I keep the battery on a battery tender. But, being from IL, you may need to do more. __________________ Robert "Trip" Hilliard VBA/KawaNOW - Founder/Past President VBA # 00001 Trip's Website Custer 09, 18 / Maggie Valley 11 / Eureka Springs 09, 17 / Antlers 09, 10, 11, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18 Texas Hill Country / Deals Gap / Colorado / Wyoming / Montana / Utah / More trips for Trip
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09-25-2007, 12:48 PM	#3
dank Sr. Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,595	Winter Questions I live in Michigan, so I get a solid dose of winter each year. I add Stabil to the gas, change the oil, and put a battery tender on. I store it in an unheated, attached garage. I'll ride a bit up through December if the snow holds off, then won't head out again until rain washes the salt off the highway. The bike waits through the intervening two months just fine, much more patiently than I do. __________________ Dan K Member #100 2009 ST1300: Performance exceeding even Victory riders' boasts.
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09-25-2007, 01:38 PM	#4
unwind2 Sr. Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Dyersburg TN Posts: 2,858	Winter Questions Same as Trip....I live in TN ....we though actually get out and ride the bikes for about 15-20 mins. every 2-3 weeks.....never used the battery charger/tender or stabilizer. __________________ Nancy '05 Nomad Blue/Silver Kawanow Member #23 Hubbie-Ken '10 Metalic Black Goldwing
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09-25-2007, 01:43 PM	#5
Todd Top Contributor Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 5,915	Winter Questions Same here in NC......usually a day or three in Jan/Feb that I will ride. March has several days and I ride through December. Under 45 degrees or so gets a little tough with no sunshine but I try. __________________ Todd Frazier VBA #0003 VBA National Leader-USA Operations/Garage Moderator - RETIRED 2006 Black Nomad since she was born Greensboro, NC Login or Register to Remove Ads
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09-25-2007, 01:48 PM	#6
dank Sr. Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,595	Winter Questions [quote Under 45 degrees or so gets a little tough with no sunshine but I try. [/quote] We call that summer in Michigan!!! __________________ Dan K Member #100 2009 ST1300: Performance exceeding even Victory riders' boasts.
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09-25-2007, 01:48 PM	#7
Guest Posts: n/a	Winter Questions I do the same as trip. We get can get a harsh winter in northern utah. A lot of what you can do to winterize it depends on if you are are going to ride it every couple weeks or weather you are going to put it in storage for 6 months.
	0

09-25-2007, 09:28 PM	#9
unwind2 Sr. Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Dyersburg TN Posts: 2,858	Winter Questions Todd You're riding season sounds pretty much like ours...almost year around just have a few months there that you need to really wrap up and only take short jaunts. __________________ Nancy '05 Nomad Blue/Silver Kawanow Member #23 Hubbie-Ken '10 Metalic Black Goldwing
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09-25-2007, 11:07 PM	#10
blowndodge Sr. Contributor Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Washington City, Utah Posts: 16,474	Winter Questions Putting a bike away for winter? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH. What's that? California revenge!!!!! __________________ I love my Victory Cross Country Tour 106. Smells like Victory! Ultra's are Limited There are two types of Harley riders. Those that trailer them and those that push them. The most Interesting Man in the World "Find the things in life you don't do well and don't do those things" Member # 0005
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09-26-2007, 06:59 AM	#11
Idaho Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Pocatello, Idaho Posts: 5,241	Winter Questions That's okay BD. You might be able to ride all winter but you still live in California; not a good trade off. :0 I put premium fuel in the tank, usually run mid grade, and a shot of StaBil. I try to ride it when I can in the winter but I live up the side of a mountain and the roads to and from my house are covered with patches of ice and snow. That said, as long as the roads are dry and the temp is somewhere north of 17 degrees I will get the bike out for a spin. __________________ Idaho (aka Curmudgeon) Blue Knights Idaho III VBA #110 VROC #24864 IBA #49753 2007 Nomad 86,000 miles Bud Smalley Pocatello, Idaho Idaho Jack Adapter
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09-26-2007, 10:31 AM	#13
socwkbiker Top Contributor Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Jefferson City, MO Posts: 6,272	Winter Questions Hey BD __________________ Jeff Platz VBA #0002 VBA VP-Global B.A.C.A. Hoss 2005 "StrongBear" Black/Silver Todd and BD
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09-26-2007, 10:57 AM	#15
scion0 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Peoria, Illinois Posts: 1,507	Winter Questions That's okay BD. You might be able to ride all winter but you still live in California; not a good trade off. :0 Ditto... EARTHQUAKE!!! haha (I know, TORNADO) __________________ ___________________ Mike "Scion0" VBA#: 0097 Former VBA North Central Asst Regional Leader St Jude Rides Peoria to Memphis Rider Retired MSgt, USAF (1979 -99) "Don't sweat the small stuff, and it's all small stuff!" Current ride: 2012 H-D Ultra FLHTCU (Black) Past ride: 2007 Black Nomad
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