Something I've been pondering over lately as I'm one who doesn't use my Blade as much as I should do due to work and family hence an 09 HRC with 3.5K on the clock...shocking I know!! As it's inactive, mostly through the winter as I guess most Blades on here are but, for those who do lay their Blades up over winter, what do you do with the fuel in the tank? What's recommended, fill it up to the top, drain it all out or just leave it as is? Does petrol go off these days or emulsify as I think it did do years ago. What do you do with yours?
Doesn't go off like it used to. Fill er up to the brim. Leave it all winter on a charger. Fire it up in the spring, if it runs all right, rag the arse off it!!!
Manufactures (Shell) state the shelf life of unleaded is over a year! I've had bikes parked up with fuel for over three years! I have added stabilisers in the past but tbh Ive not had problems with out it, Id fill up and wait for the sun! Saying that some of mine are full and some not, I'm not fussed... where do you keep your bike?
yeah no probs half a tank,quarter of a tank whatever last 3 winters mines been laid up wi whatever been left in dont worry.
Cheers lads, the Blade is well cosy in the garage with a full tank of fuel and it survives even without a charger. I reckon it will be well out on the road within a year, having its arse ragged off. I was just curious as I've never laid a bike up for long periods like this one has been.
I rarely start mine unless Im going to ride it, I may fire it up after a couple of months for a mo just to throw some oil round but only for 60 secs or so at most, condensation and all that...
After seeing the state of the tank on my Blackbird with it being laid up without fuel in it (rusted to fcuk) I can vouch that you would be better off topping up. It really ain't worth it.
I warm mine up all the way, wait until it's cooled down and then stick a thick plaggy bag over the end of the exhaust and tape it up tight to stop the cold, damp air getting in there (no idea if it's necessary but someone once advised me to do it and I figured why not ) then the bike goes up on its front and rear paddock stands, I take the battery out and bring it indoors, then chain the bike to its ground anchor and finally stick a breathable cover thingy over it. Never really pay much attention to how much petrol's in it and don't use any stabiliser.
I thought it would be funny of someone stuck their bike in a big vaccum bag to keep moisture/air out ... then I found this Motorcycle Vac Bag Dry Vacuum Storage System Bike Cover Jumbo 3.6m x 2.4m | eBay
that looks handy too but I assume you remove the battery with then being sealed up tight with all that fuel?
there is suggestions to start the bike once a month and let warm up until the fan comes on. I don't normally and the bike has been cleaned and stored with a full tank since the End of Sept.. I was thinking fo starting it up this week just to hear her purr. but never had a issue with the bike or kit car with fuel that has been in the tank for 6 months laid up
I never start them, only if I'm gonna ride it, same as if I wash it, I ride it... Reason, each time you start the bike and stop it condensation forms in the crank case etc, the more often you start and stop it the more condensation forms, also gasses are left in the combustion chambers that are also corrosive. You can wind it over if you wish to pump some oil round but that's it for me.. Get this, pulled my old enduro bike out of storage a couple of days ago, changed the oil, new plug, quick clean of carb and away she went! Nice...8 years parked up! Tbh the winter is short in the scheme of things so why worry? And if you want to start it then why not, me if I had done what I do that's change the oil in the heart of the winter I don't wish to contaminate my nice fresh oil so I just leave it....until spring...
I had read in superbike mag it was something to do with the oil not getting put round the engine properly unless its under load.so they said when you warm up your bike you still need to take it easy for the first few miles and this is also why starting it every few weeks does more harm than good.
Well the pump runs and thats that, as soon as the engine fires oil is sent round, they pump so much oil even on wind over and cam cover off you get drowned...I know...lol... not sure what they would mean by that other than the oil is not at working temp and internals have not got to optimal working specs etc..
