Can't believe what I'm reading that some of you don't ride in winter I've had some fantastic rides in winter you lot are missing out If I do go out I just make sure you I give the blade a good clean
Yup I had a rideout on Christmas Day a couple of years back . We were eating at mums in the afternoon so I had a couple of hours to kill in the morning . I have a heated jacket and gloves and was really toasty . Can't beat it
Going out in a minute. Suns out, it's Sunday. Why not? Pretty sure we still have a few weeks of autum yet?
Just got back from a couple of hours round the local twisties great fun, fresh air and sunshine As soon as the leaves have all gone you can really get a shift on with the better sight lines available. The only thing I avoid is the salt.
mines full of fuel and i don,t bother starting it at all as to warm it properly you need to ride it and load the engine up a bit. mine will sit there 3 months or so then on the first time i,ll spin it over with kill switch off for 10seconds to pump a bit of oil pressure up then start her straight after. if you use an optimate DON,T leave it permanently on. just a 3-4 days at a time once every 3-4 weeks. i,ve wrecked 2 batterys in different bikes by leaving it permanently switched on.
Ive never owned or used an optimate in 10 yrs of biking and if im honest i dont see that ever changing. We do get sum really sunny albeit chilly days throughout winter where u can take the bike out for a spin, even if u do a 10 - 20 mile ride out this is much better than letting the bike idle on the drive for 5, 10, 20 minutes, as A) its a waste of fuel, B) ur neighbours will think how annoying n daft is that C) The roads r dead, no fair weather straight line heroes or even cops about so u ca ger a nice lick of pace. And wot better feeling than pulling into a. Nice pub for a drink n bite to eat infront of a roaring fire before riding home again I do ride all year, unless its black ice or snow on the roads n im not a fan of the rain anymore, but if you strip off the fairings and give the bike a real good deep clean after EVERY ride n you will def keep the furring n rusting at bay
What others have said, bike off the floor, neck the tank, battery indoors if the garage isn't heated, and leave well alone till spring, spin engine up with kill switch on to get the oil round before you fire it up. I also drain the fuel and put fresh in before I start the engine, the old fuel should be fine but I always put it in my other half's car, if it has degraded, it won't be much and not noticeable when added to fresh fuel in a car tankful.
Well I'm just back in from the post office after sending tax disc away for refund on remaining months! We get very few and far between dry days up here through the winter and combine that with the constant onslaught of gritter trips dumping each day the temps get anywhere close to 0! I was out on the bike last week for my last dry sunny spell and the bikes coolant temp that normally sites arounds 82 degrees in mid-high teen ambient temps was runnin at 64 degrees on the way home (sun still out but going down fast) where I proceeded to loose feeling in hands and other extremities and it took ages to gain normal body temps when I got back home! The bike will be in the garage but not strictly put into hibernation for another month or so as I tend to strip the fairing and wheels off n give her a good old clean, scottoil covering and at the same time fit any new additions that I have bought for her. I also tend to use this time to do my servicing so all new fluids in the machine, fuel tank brimmed I also remove the battery where I charge this n every couple of months put it on for a topup. I don't bother with the starting the bike through winter to let it heat up n switch off as I find it just draws more condensation as its very hard to get it up to proper running temps without riding it! As for the fuel degrading that more effects the American market the UK and pretty sure most of Europe refines the fuel more than the US and degradation although it does happen to UK fuel it does so at a lot slower rate than that of the lower octane fuels.
On the storage and paddock stand front I found this quality bit of kit Motorbike Stand Zentral Paddock Stand Motorradständer GSXR CBR YZF R1 R6 - YouTube Though from what I could make out from their web site it ain't cheap
Bought one of those off Demon Tweeks. Bout £120+ VAT including adapter! There's a good video on the link below! That's cheap in my book, duno about yours? Warrior Spider Stand - Demon Tweeks
Cheaper than an ABBA stand with the front lift package....was thinking of getting an ABBA stand but this looks better as you can move the bike around, does it have a brake? Seems like a good height to work on your bike or wash it, hate bending down due to back problems. Need to order a stand soon to put my bike to bed
I've just sorned the blade as tax was due, will use the triumph over winter for any nice days, usually leave on optimate for a couple of weeks at a time, although last winter left it on for a few months, battery was fine. Will change oil in spring.
Meh hibernation!! rode mine during the snow and grit!.......... ...... but this year I've bagged an old CB so will probs run it during the really bad spells. 1 question though, should the suspension be loaded during storage? ie abba or paddock?
R1 is sorned till April Blade is off road for some initial repairs post Spain / France problems. Quite enjoy a winter ride on dry leaf free roads - high pressure days = cold, dry and bright. Have been snowed on New Years Day at the Cat and Fiddle pub one afternoon!
Kudos on the winter wonderland riding experience but I keep the four wheeled box for those times it comes with heaters and a radio it can also lug a lot more gear about when required!
The only thing I'd add is the use of ACF. If planning store the bike it will help combat any moisture in the air, if riding through winter it's the nuts in battling against corrosion. Just hose the bike down to get the salt off after every ride, that's if you don’t have time to properly clean it.
