- Thread starter Beeezer
- Start date
mangocrazy
Italian V-twin nutjob
- Messages
- 1,165
- Location
- Sheffield, UK
I've got two - an Aprilia Falco SL1000 and a Ducati 888 SP3.
I winterize my bikes, well some of them, but then I'm a lucky git in that respect and who wants to drop something precious on slippy damp tarmac?
The enduro's both stay in active use though, theyre easy to bend straight when it happens and designed for slippy surfaces. I love taking my old sp370 out in snow.
That aside, I clean them well, spray them with light oil, and park them up on stands. What I also do is put some stabil into the fuel and run the engine for a few minutes to make sure the treated fuel is in the bowls and jets too, and I leave the battery clipped onto a optimate battery conditioner. Then every couple of months I start and warm them up like some ritual. Its also the time I tend to do those jobs that have been niggling me that I dont want to do with the sun out, that means I get them done without pressure to complete and risk rushing and not doing them how I want.
Come spring/summer its just a matter of making sure tyre pressures are right, and treating it gentle for the first tank of fuel because the octane will have gone off slightly (and so will my roadcraft skills on that particular bike a bit too!).
You might think this is overkill in places, but what does a battery monitor and a mains spur to run it from above and a ground anchor in your parking spot cost? less than a new battery. And what would it cost to undo any problems caused by doing it wrong...
The enduro's both stay in active use though, theyre easy to bend straight when it happens and designed for slippy surfaces. I love taking my old sp370 out in snow.
That aside, I clean them well, spray them with light oil, and park them up on stands. What I also do is put some stabil into the fuel and run the engine for a few minutes to make sure the treated fuel is in the bowls and jets too, and I leave the battery clipped onto a optimate battery conditioner. Then every couple of months I start and warm them up like some ritual. Its also the time I tend to do those jobs that have been niggling me that I dont want to do with the sun out, that means I get them done without pressure to complete and risk rushing and not doing them how I want.
Come spring/summer its just a matter of making sure tyre pressures are right, and treating it gentle for the first tank of fuel because the octane will have gone off slightly (and so will my roadcraft skills on that particular bike a bit too!).
You might think this is overkill in places, but what does a battery monitor and a mains spur to run it from above and a ground anchor in your parking spot cost? less than a new battery. And what would it cost to undo any problems caused by doing it wrong...
GW8IZR
Gone.
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- 2,323
- Location
- Anglesey
Another product worth considering is GT85 400ml can.
Its a PTFE based spray. Halfords and Aldi sometimes sale it for £2. Keep it off the brakes.
keep it off the plastic as well, the propellant makes some plastics go brittle and fail.
(I assume its the propellant as ptfe wont do harm like this )
Yellow peril
Member
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- 37
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- South West
What plastics are you referring to ? I have been using it for many years without any problems, after it was recommended to me by local BMW dealer.
Cobbler
Codger bodger
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- 7,973
- Location
- Gloucestershire UK
WD affects some clear plastics, clouds the surface. I oiled my impact "rattle" gun with it & soon after something caused the rubber seal in the trigger mechanism to rot. Don't know whether it was the WD 40 or not, but I'm wary of what I use it on now
GW8IZR
Gone.
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- 2,323
- Location
- Anglesey
Its not usually the stuff itself but the propelant used in the aerosol cans.
I don't buy wd40 in aerosol cans, its cheaper by the gallon with the free pump dispenser but I always have aerosols of 'maintenance/cure all/fix everything/magic' whatever is cheap at the factors. I'm always careful with plastics.
Gareth J
Member
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- 3,641
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- North Cornwall
I'm of the school of thought that says that periodic starting and (luke)warmups do more harm than good.
If worried about things seizing the engine and wheels can be turned over by hand.
Aside from all the excellent suggestions already, covering them up in a decent blanket can help stop condensation.
If worried about things seizing the engine and wheels can be turned over by hand.
Aside from all the excellent suggestions already, covering them up in a decent blanket can help stop condensation.
