Winter hibernation

Time has come to admit defeat and put the bike away for the winter, it'll be kept in an unheated dry brick garage, kept on the abba stand with the front wheel on a track stand and kept under a fleece lined motorcycle cover, would uncovering it starting it and letting it run for 5mins once a week be enough to keep things in good shape or should I buy and use an optimate, what other measures should I take ?

Thanks in advance

 

Dunno about 5 minutes .......... you need to run it longer than that to clear the internal condinsation that could contaminate the oil

 

Optimate it.Fill it up to the brim no condenstion in tank.I gt85 everything to keep it looking like new then I wipe it off in spring.Then put it to bed.I even sorn'd mine till the weather gets better so the temptation to go out on it can't be done.
And I change the oil before going out on it.

 

Let's be avin less of this " Hibernation" Talk ! Its only mid October with a bit of wind on the way .We had a great run only two days ago in nice sunshine .Milk it to the very end dudes

 

Bloody right Giv ... I intend to get out till the salt is down

 

Definitely an optimate. I wouldn't start it for the sake of it can do more harm than good, condensation etc..I just give mine a good clean and lube/wd40 most things then cover it up and optimate it. Never had a problem come spring!!

 

bought myself a supermoto to get me through the winter, as I didn't want to trash the blade....anyway i'm now more confused than ever

I have left the tank with very little fuel in it as i'm told petrol goes stale over time, yet sideways says to fill it up ?
Oil I never knew that oil deteriorated and contained contaminants harmful to the engine ?
Blade 180 says no start ups yet sps says weekly start ups ?

MORE CONFUSED THAN EVER NOW !! HELP

Any particular model of optimate ?

 

Im confused about this too, one rider told me to run the tank down as petrol goes stale but another told me to fill it to the brim so that condensation doesn't get into the tank....which method is best?

I was out earlier this week and it was COLD! had snot running down withing 5 minutes of being in the open, not a pretty site...was glad both my trousers and jacket are lined otherwise id be an icicle by the time i came back from my 50 mile ride

About time i admitted defeat and put my bike away until next spring

 

petrol starts to go bad when condensation or other contaminants
take hold.fill the tank as said before and it will happily sit for six months or more.
starting it weekly does more harm than good as the oil doesnt circulate the engine
properly so its better to plug the battery in or take it indoors when its real cold
as a good chill can kill even new batteries. also zip tie the clutch lever in

 

Please can you explain why you do this?

Thanks for the rest about petrol mate, will fill the tank up...but i was using the excuse to empty the tank to go out riding....my wife believed me but couldnt understand how the tank never emptied, lol.

 

I dont stop play till the gritters comeout, i wouldnt start the bike every week unless your gonna give it a run out,optimate is better if poss or just leave it and be ready to charge battery when your ready.

Dont think fuel would deteriate in a few months you can still get the very odd day out over winter,just wrap up warm and ride to the conditions i remember goin on a rideout last year with 6ft of snow at the side of the road

 

stop the clutch binding and being a bit snatchy for the first week out of hibernation

 

Less fuel in tank creates a condensation in the top half.When you come to use it the condensation through cold storing turns to water which contaminates the fuel you have in it.
Next one, running a bike for 5 minutes it is still on choke or still has a rich mixture.When you turn it off that mixture lays ontop of the piston rings and will eventually find its way past your rings into the oil at the bottom.Your oil changes viscosity and works better when at optimum temperature.
Run the bike for at least 20 mins.it charges the battery, got the engine hot and got rid of the water in the exhaust.

 

yeah I always do a service at the start of the year

 

Just man up and ride it and stop all this pussying around, your meant to be a hard biker for fecks sake

 

change fluids, especially oil prior to hibernation........they degrade over time, i.e. dont do there job as well and all the shit precipitates out to the bottom. then you fire it up and send all the crap flying round the motor

 

Bit early for that. Sure we'll have the odd winter sun. Either way, even it's put to bed easy enough to start the engine & take off.
I will fill petrol tank to the brim, good clean, place on rear stand & front wheel on carpet (very cold garage concrete floor in winter not so good for tyre), scottoil everything (except brake discs) to protect & use a CTEK battery optimizer.

 

Hibernation ! I just can't do it. Will not ride if salt is down and it's wet, but if it's dry then I am out salt or not.

Good textiles, gloves and thermals change the riding experience for winter riding IMO, had some great rides in the winter, just have to take it slightly easier and remember there is not so much grip.