10 Tips to Winterize your bike

Posted: Sun Nov 20, 2016 4:51 pm

Here's a link to Bike Bandit's 10 tips to winterize your bike (for those where "Winter" means not riding for 5 to 6 months):

http://www.bikebandit.com/blog/post/ten-steps-to-winterize-your-motorcycle?roi=echo3-40056246653-38841097-92553b1ecab7c84782b69ed5d2db875d&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=BBNews&utm_source=Thu_112016_BBNews&utm_content=ten_steps_winterize

Twinstar Joined: Jul 14, 2003 Posts: 229 Location: Montana

Okay, so I'm curious about the whole flat spot on the tires thing. Is there any real long-term consequence to this? I've noticed it on a couple of cars that I drove after they were sitting for a long time, but the flat spot quickly worked it's way out. I've never noticed it on a bike, though I'm sure it can happen. Can this really cause long-term effects?

Posted: Sun Nov 20, 2016 7:17 pm

I became an ACF 50 convert 2 yrs ago - typically i'm a bit of a snake oil accuser for stuff like this but i'm truly sold on it, I run my KTM through the winter - salt roads, exposed alloy and crap chrome plating on spoked wheels etc..

wash the bike down, if yir storing - using a salt remover in the final wash - then spray this stuff liberally ( make note to scrub discs before road use) - remove the pads and put it to bed ( i've seen pads delaminate after winter storage after being exposed to road salt)
Otherwise treat with ACF 50 before winter salt - and maybe a 2nd treatment early spring if your still using the bike

I do not enjoy cleaning / polishing - so its pledge for the paint / back to black silicon spray for just about everything else and ACF 50 - - this is the closest i've found to the lazy mans bike prep Embarassed

CB1100F Joined: Feb 17, 2009 Posts: 2105 Location: Oz

CBX-tras wrote:

(for those where "Winter" means not riding for 5 to 6 months)

That must be awful.

CB1100F Joined: Jun 18, 2006 Posts: 2525 Location: UK

DonR wrote:

CBX-tras wrote:

(for those where "Winter" means not riding for 5 to 6 months)

That must be awful.

It is Don, put my bikes away at the beginning of October may be able to ride them again late in March(weather permitting) and where i live in the south east of the UK we nearly always have the mildest weather

Keith

Posted: Mon Nov 21, 2016 12:00 am

Was close to 70 degrees F on Friday, went for an alternator test ride of about 100 miles, was an almost perfect day for a roll. Then, woke up to snow on the ground Saturday, bummer.
Got below freezing last night, blew out all the outside water lines today so they don't burst.

Could be worse I guess...............

Posted: Mon Nov 21, 2016 9:09 am

I enjoy riding in the winter, forsure its a whole different game ref: safety - but once you adapt to the road conditions there's something really magic about it
not speaking about a grimy wet condition, but when you have a sharp winter sun and a dry frost - the hairs up yir nose are frozen and yir eye lash's stick together Laughing

- just something perversely nice about it - part to do with living up near the Cairngorms - its worth it just for the winter scenery
- you need the right clothing so every other part of you is warm

Posted: Mon Nov 21, 2016 1:19 pm

There was one winter during my youth that I didn't have a car and the only way for me to get around was a borrowed DT-1. I just bundled-up and went.

I swore I'd never do that again, Michigan winters can be pretty rough with the cold, snow, ice, slush and traffic too that doesn't expect to see a bike out on those kind of days. Out in the country or back woods might be another story. But, I'm too old for that shit now.

Posted: Mon Nov 21, 2016 6:03 pm

aye, when the snow is on the ground - dust down the XR go find a field and enjoy

Hawk Joined: Jan 10, 2012 Posts: 439 Location: Chicago

Yep...Someday I'll move to a warmer climate and won't have to deal with winterizing bikes....

There's only one good thing about winter with snow.....SLEDS...FAST ONES!!!!!... Twisted Evil

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