Do I start the bike during the winter lay up?

Hi my query is whether to start the bike on a regular basis over the winter period?

My 11 reg. blade is located in my attached garage but I have heard so many conflicting thoughts as to whether starting over the bike on a regular basis (e.g. every fortnight/month) damages the bike and e.g. causes rotting of exhaust etc.

I've also been told to take the battery out - others have said use your Optimate in situ and others have even said that the Optimate is a domestic electricity thief.

I'd be p'd off if I left the bike then found it wouldn't start when the warmer weather arrives.

Any thoughts out there or am I and you lot going to be more confused than ever.

Thanks in anticipation

Ian

 

don't bother with start ups...... well for engine warming exercises it does it more harm than good...... my optimates stay on both bikes all winter and I don't ever have any worries.....

 

if you do a search of the forum you'll find all the answers you need, personally (after advice from people on this site) I never start it up and remove the battery which is all snug and warm under the bed

 

Optimates are designed for on bike trickle charging......so cant see the point of removing battery unless bike is outside exposed to elements ?? plus manual doesn't say remove battery.......

 

Thanks for that one - especially the advice on the first start

 

I've just put mine in garage, on optimate covered with thick blankets and leaving it alone till I ride it...

 

You're more likely to get Vermin nesting and causing damage if you cover in Blankets etc.

Leave my bikes fully exposed in the Garage.

Never start a bike (or any engine tbh) unless you intend to ride it and get up to full operating temps including the gearbox etc (which thus precludes leaving it ticking over stationary for 20 mins)

 

Agree with all the above, do not start. I do all that others do but i also put 120ml of fuel stabilizer into the tank before it goes in for winter, i run the bike enough to get the stabilizer into the fuel system then switch off. It just keeps the petrol from going off and also cleans the '' bits and bobs '', i use something called Sea Foam. Its then on the Abba stand with the front arm lift to get all the wheels off the ground and the suspension totally uncompressed, the Honda CB1000R (very fancy red/black) cover goes over it and it tucked up.

Just out of interest ref the first start.... so just to ensure i understand, on the first day of spring... put the key in the ignition, switch to on, pop the kill switch to '' kill '' and what ? Press the starter button ? Nothing will happen i guess, am i understanding this right.

 

Interesting this one!!! So first time I start it after a long lay off-

1, key in ignition and turn on

2, make sure the kill switch is off

3, press starter button a couple of times?

 

Never had an issue in ten years ... I only cover them during bad frost (5deg or less) ... I worry about them getting cold

 

Some Bikes electronics will not let the Starter Motor operate if the kill switch is activated so that trick won't work.

You could always lift the tank and pop the quickfit connector for the fuel, it would spin over then without firing.

 

Mate bikes don't generate heat like a human body can, so you are better not covering them in blankets etc, something thin and breathable to let air circulate is better plus keeps dust off.

 

They are thin and breathable sheets ... To mainly keep dust off

 

Mine is sat on its Honda carpet on 2 paddock stands optimate on with Honda bike cover on I go in when its really cold and light the log burner for it but I feel sorry for it in a cold garage it would be in the house if the misses didn't mind but she says that's going to far women

 

Parked up fort winter, ont 1jac with both wheels off the floor & covered with Repsol Robs HRC cover
Full tank tank of gas , optimate plugged in 24/7 & new heater wired to thermostat. Currently set to 10 degrees







It'll see Daylight in March or April

Let the piss taking Commence , and yeah I know the floor is shite !

 

No mickey taking here..... apart from my cover being the genuine Honda CB1000R cover which of course covers my 2010 CB1000R ABS, my garage looks exactly the same ! I have a small tube heater on a timer which is then put under the exhaust headers so the gentle heat just filters up under the cover !!! Oh and i also fill my tank with fuel but only after putting in my sea foam .... if i could get it into the house for winter i would

 

For the last few years my blade has spent about 4 months parked up untouched every winter. I brim it with fuel, take out the battery give it a charge with a conventional charger and bring it indoors (had some issues with optimates permanently on in the past), put it on the abba stand and a thin cover over it. The blades can be cranked over with kill switch off so on first start i,ll crank it for 4-5 seconds to lube it a bit then flick switch and fire it up, never had issues yet. Years ago i used to start and run once a month but if your not going to load up the motor by riding it your just creating unwanted moisture inside.

 

My Ducati (like all my previous bikes) is on stands, in a heated garage, the battery is on an optimate 24/7, fuel tank filled to the top under a light weight but breathable dust cover. It will stay like that till March/April when the sun decides to pop its head back up. The fuel will then be drained and put into the other half's car. Fresh fuel added and fire it up, but not until I am going for a ride to get it up to operating temperature. There is no option to turn the engine over with the kill switch off on a Panigale so its hit it, warm it and run it.

Roll on Spring.

 

I feel like a bike abuser now.

No blanket, no heater, sometimes on the paddock stands but usually not, no fuel stabiliser added, on an optimate if I remember to plug it in, no garage floor paint. But I do ride it to work. And then don't wash it for weeks.

Should I just hand myself in?