Winterize vs Idling

Tucker2.0 · 10-30-12, 12:04

hey Guys

I was having a discussion about winterizing a bike with an older rider today. And he stated something interesting. Since he rides as much as possible even in the winter, He says he just walks out to the garage every 3-5 days and cranks it up. Lets it idle for a while and thats it.

Is this a viable alternative to completely winterizing your ride? Ive never heard of doing that before.

bizzyballa31 · 10-30-12, 12:22

Tbone675 · 10-30-12, 12:27

imo no. the hot/cold cycles will just cause internal moisture/condensation. there really isnt that much to winterize. add fuel treatment and remove the battery...

Tucker2.0 · 10-30-12, 12:54

Let me give some details. Still goes through the same summer maintenance routine, cleaning and lubing, checking seals ect ect ect....

But instead of winterizing he goes out and and cranks it up, and lets it run for half an hour or more, and puts a little oil around the suspension seals and works the suspension while he's at it.

Granted he has an older parallel twin from the 70's. Not too much different from my cm200t. And there is alot more to winterizing those than the daytona.

When he said he did that, he just baffled me.

eldridge216 · 10-30-12, 16:55

you live in NC man winter isnt long enough or cold enough here to "winterize" your bike. put the battery on a tender, lift the bike up on some pitbull stands and she will be ready to go on those freak days we get in the middle of winter that are super nice and deserve a good ride

DecepticonDon · 10-30-12, 18:37

What would be the downside to his technique? His bike stays ready to ride.

Winterizing, from what I understand is to prepare the bike for 3-5 months of storage. Never winterized as there's not much of a winter in Southeast GA.

Also, not many people would have the dedication to spend that much time maintaining their bike in the off season.

Nastybutler · 10-30-12, 18:49

Sounds like more work than winterizing it. I just put it up on stands, change my oil, put the fuel stabilizer in the full tank and disconnect the negative cable on the battery (LiFe battery doesn't really need constant tending). Done. Don't have to mess with it until I get it ready for Spring.

Geof3 · 10-30-12, 20:05

I live in CO so we have real winters. But even so, I can ride every now and then. I put mine on a tender and treat the fuel and that's it. I will move it around to avoid flat spotting the tires. I'll be doing big stuff too around January or so. Suspension stuff, 520 conversion etc. never had a problem with this method.

I don't think it is a good idea ever to let any engine sit and idle for a long period of time. In fact some car manufacturers recommend against it specifically.

Tucker2.0 · 10-30-12, 21:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by eldridge216

you live in NC man winter isnt long enough or cold enough here to "winterize" your bike. put the battery on a tender, lift the bike up on some pitbull stands and she will be ready to go on those freak days we get in the middle of winter that are super nice and deserve a good ride

I know right? it was in the 70's last week and now its in the 40's! and back to 60's over the weekend.

Im not going to let my daytona sit thats for sure, but the cm200t will sit a good bit more, still working on that.

Smoke · 10-30-12, 23:01

Did a similar routine with my Ducati when I couldn't ride it yet, worked fine but it didn't prevent loss of charge from the battery, should've disconneted it.

Makes perfect sense when there are riding days in winter.

10-30-12, 12:04	#1
Tucker2.0 Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Hickory, NC Posts: 504	Winterize vs Idling hey Guys I was having a discussion about winterizing a bike with an older rider today. And he stated something interesting. Since he rides as much as possible even in the winter, He says he just walks out to the garage every 3-5 days and cranks it up. Lets it idle for a while and thats it. Is this a viable alternative to completely winterizing your ride? Ive never heard of doing that before. __________________ 2007 SV650S -RIP suziQ 2010 Daytona 675SE -I miss my SV, but damn that daytona! 1980 Honda cm200t (running work in progress)
Status: Offline

10-30-12, 12:22	#2
bizzyballa31 Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Reading Posts: 45
Status: Offline

10-30-12, 12:27	#3
Tbone675 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Brunswick, NY Posts: 875	imo no. the hot/cold cycles will just cause internal moisture/condensation. there really isnt that much to winterize. add fuel treatment and remove the battery... __________________ 2009 KTM 690R 2010 Triumph Daytona 675 SE
Status: Offline

10-30-12, 12:54	#4
Tucker2.0 Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Hickory, NC Posts: 504	Let me give some details. Still goes through the same summer maintenance routine, cleaning and lubing, checking seals ect ect ect.... But instead of winterizing he goes out and and cranks it up, and lets it run for half an hour or more, and puts a little oil around the suspension seals and works the suspension while he's at it. Granted he has an older parallel twin from the 70's. Not too much different from my cm200t. And there is alot more to winterizing those than the daytona. When he said he did that, he just baffled me. __________________ 2007 SV650S -RIP suziQ 2010 Daytona 675SE -I miss my SV, but damn that daytona! 1980 Honda cm200t (running work in progress)
Status: Offline

10-30-12, 16:55	#5
eldridge216 Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: greensboro nc Posts: 219	you live in NC man winter isnt long enough or cold enough here to "winterize" your bike. put the battery on a tender, lift the bike up on some pitbull stands and she will be ready to go on those freak days we get in the middle of winter that are super nice and deserve a good ride __________________ my avatar describes how i feel when im on my daytona pin to win
Status: Offline

10-30-12, 18:49	#7
Nastybutler Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Tundra Town Posts: 1,162	Sounds like more work than winterizing it. I just put it up on stands, change my oil, put the fuel stabilizer in the full tank and disconnect the negative cable on the battery (LiFe battery doesn't really need constant tending). Done. Don't have to mess with it until I get it ready for Spring. __________________ 2012 Street Triple - Phantom Black (Trinity) Trinity's Mod Thread
Status: Online

10-30-12, 20:05	#8
Geof3 Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Colorado Springs Posts: 353	I live in CO so we have real winters. But even so, I can ride every now and then. I put mine on a tender and treat the fuel and that's it. I will move it around to avoid flat spotting the tires. I'll be doing big stuff too around January or so. Suspension stuff, 520 conversion etc. never had a problem with this method. I don't think it is a good idea ever to let any engine sit and idle for a long period of time. In fact some car manufacturers recommend against it specifically.
Status: Offline

10-30-12, 23:01	#10
Smoke Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: France Posts: 3,316	Did a similar routine with my Ducati when I couldn't ride it yet, worked fine but it didn't prevent loss of charge from the battery, should've disconneted it. Makes perfect sense when there are riding days in winter. __________________ The slower you move, the more dangerous your bike is... I'll let you work out the conclusion from there If you find wearing proper gear's too hot, you're just not fast enough ! Dual Desert Eagle EBB ? MER IL ET FOU ! Viendez nolifer avec nous sur le salon #Airsoft sur IRC ! Et jouer avec Ploubalairsoft entre le 22 et le 35
Status: Offline

Remove Advertisements Sponsored Links
Triumph675.net Advertisement

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode