Bike winterizations?

[diyRdie]

Up here in the great frozen north the topic of bike talk around the shop and water cooler is bike winterizations. Some people lift they're bike off the ground, drain the fuel tank and carb. Some add fuel stabilizer while some think just filling the tank to the rim is enough. Some put a charger on the battery or bring the battery inside. Some pay for climate controlled storage. I personally, do nothing other than adjust my carb to run in cold weather as I will ride all year long just not daily like in the other 3 seasons. So I ask you, what do you do if anything to winterize your bike and why?

[Joaquinos]

I don't do anything and I don't advocate this. It will bite you in the behind in the spring. Usually in minor ways, luckily.

[JerryHawk250]

Same here. I ride pretty much year round. In the winter I have a habit of at least cranking it up and let it run for a few minutes once a week if it too cold and wet to ride. Cold doesn't bother me too much but the wet and cold does. I've had to drive home with sleet falling once. Man the stings like hell. lol

[duck9191]

If your still riding it then you don't have to do anything. If it's going to set for the season then throw some kind of ethanol treatment into a full tank, run the carb dry if you think it's better and put the battery on a tender or it will be junk by spring. Keeping the tank full exposes less of the metal to air/moisture and should rust less. Draining the carb is personal preference, either way you will end up with some fuel left so its not perfect. People get them off the tires to prevent flat spots and to take the load off the springs. Not necessary but for sure has some benefits. I may ride once or twice this winter because im forced to keep insurance on them by the insurance company, but salt covered roads and ice are not much fun to deal with.

[Megadan]

How I store a bike. Fill tank woth stabil added. Change the oil within a week or so of parking it to ensure there is no sediment that can settle. Drain the carb bowl. Plug in battery maintainer.

[diyRdie]

I have never heard of changing the oil so sediment won't settle . Why have I never thought of that?

[Sochin]

I give it a good heat cycle with Seamfoam in the tank and let the carb run dry, then change oil and make sure it is clean and chain lubed. Pretty much it........