ecn-pa:lebold (10/20/82)
For those of us in the COLD north it's getting to be storage time again. Here is a few things I do to winterize my cycle ('80 GS1000G). First, on the back porch out of the weather, where the temperature stays between 30-50 degrees. Drain oil and remove filter, filling the case to the brim with 10-30 (to kept acids and humidity from being nasty). Gas stabilizer in the tank (filled to the brim). A good cleaning and waxing, amor-all on all the exposed rubber and seat. Tires off the ground and pressure dropped to 10-15 pounds (keeps them round for next year). I leave the battery in the cycle but disconnected, small charge about once a month. I crank the engine over once a week with a squirt of oil in the spark plug holes, since I don't have a kicker I spin the rear wheel in fifth. Fairing, saddle bags and other removeable plastic/fiber glass I keep where it is warm (they crack EASY at 30 degrees). Did this last year, when I rolled it out in spring, with correct oil, it started just like I had shut it off 5 minutes earlier! The only good thing about winter here is that you can spend some time planning next year's trips (ALASKA!!) Tim Lange Purdue University West Lafayette, IN inuxc/ucbvax/harpo|pur-ee!ecn-pa.lebold
hsc (10/21/82)
Shucks. I just put the sidecar on and keep riding. The rig already has better traction that a car with "all weather" tires, but I've got a snow chain for the rear wheel that I'm dying to try out on the really tough hills. Harvey S. Cohen BTL-LZ1C314 (201)576-6059 houxn!hsc
kos (10/22/82)
#R:ecn-pa:-57000:uiucdcs:8800001:000:1386 uiucdcs!kos Oct 21 17:10:00 1982 Alaska.. what a ride! Here in Champaign-Urbana (not all that far from Purdue) I'm still riding my bike. Today was a balmy 30 degress at dawn's early light. I must say that the recent bout of cold weather has strengthened my right leg pretty much! I'll hold out as long as the weather conditions do (i.e. until the roads ice or snow up), but then I'll be packing my bike up, too. All the aforementioned suggestions are very good, and I can't think of any to augment them. I will add a couple of points, though - the gas stabilizer is VERY important, as is taking the battery out and occasionally charging it. There are two schools of thought about oiling the cylinders, though, depending on whether or not you're going to run the engine while it's stored. If you are, oiling the cylinders is a good idea, but not a necessity; if you're not you'll never get away with not doing it. I would just as soon not worry about starting the engine every once in a while, particularly since the bike and I will be 150 miles apart, so I'm just going to oil 'er up and recheck whenever possible. Notice that if you've oiled the cylinders, it may be a little hard starting it again. If this happens, pull the plugs and wipe them off, then try again. Also expect a voluminous blue cloud from the exhaust when it fires. There's nothing like not having to scrape your windows in the morning.