[Escape Route]

Alright, here is my list of things to do to prepare the bike for the winter. Feel free to add to it if you have any other tips, or I missed something.

1. Storage
If you have a garage this is pretty easy. If not, try to find somewhere that is heated, and won't draw the eye of thieves. Also try to invest in a cover that is breathable.

2. Cleaning
Make sure to clean your ike before you store it. You will thank yourself when you take your bike out for the first time in the spring and it is clean instead of covered in dirt.

3. Top up, stabliize
Fill up your tank to full before putting your bike away for the winter. This prevents oxidization in the gas tank. Add fuel stabilizer to the tank, which will prevent the fuel from deteriorating and turning into gunk.

4. Lube and other protection
Lube your chain (if you have one) before storage. This prevents dirt, dust, and air humidity from collecting. Spray some WD-40 on the exhaust ports to keep moisture away. Wax can be used on the metal parts to repel water as well.

5. Cheap new oil and fluids
Old oil is bad, so put in new oil before storing your bike. Buy the cheap stuff though since you won't be actually using it.

6. Tires
Ideally you would want to suspend your bike so the tires aren't on the ground. There are stands that do this. If you can't suspend the bike, make sure the tires are at the proper air pressure at least.

7. Battery
Unload the battery before you store your bike. If your storage area is cold you should bring the battery somewhere warmer to store it. The best way to tend for your power pack and make sure it is in great shape in the spring is leaving it connected to special trickle charger.

8. Lock it, and visit from time to time
Lock things up to make sure no one steals anything. be sure to visit every once in a while to make sure everything is good.

 

[markg]

prep for winter

Make sure tires are in good shape, servicing up to date.

Liners in jackets.

Get my trusty LL Bean Polypro thermals in an easily accessible place.

Morning coffee ready.

Sorry to rub it in, I can't help it. There are plenty of downsides to living in SoCal, but a major upside is year round riding/surfing.

 

[penner]

fuel stabil
battery tender
on the stands

good to go!

keep it clean! touch it once in a while.

 

[9T33]

Anyone have yet to buy a stand for their Nine T? Would be interested to see what people get

 

[Escape Route]

Yea, I guess for some people this list should explain riding for the winter instead of storing for the winter. Does anyone actually ride through the winter? Being from Canada, that's not really an option from me.

 

[cherry street]

Yea, I guess for some people this list should explain riding for the winter instead of storing for the winter. Does anyone actually ride through the winter? Being from Canada, that's not really an option from me.

its just not worth it, your tires turn to hockey pucks. Even on a dry day good luck finding traction

 

[penner]

Anyone here remove their wheels and bring the wheel and tire inside to prevent it from freezing?

 

[street]

Anyone have yet to buy a stand for their Nine T? Would be interested to see what people get

Pit Bull with the BMW pin.

 

[Chumba]

Yea, I guess for some people this list should explain riding for the winter instead of storing for the winter. Does anyone actually ride through the winter? Being from Canada, that's not really an option from me.

No problem riding through the winter here in The Land Down Under Having said that, there are certain regions however that can offer some challenging conditions! In example: The Snowy Mountains Region of both New South Wales and Victoria, as well as areas around Mount Hotham and Mount Beauty (Victoria) can produce lots of snow, with road closures common throughout the cooler months None of this applies to My local region, with the most treachery likely to be a heavy frost, perhaps yielding a touch of black ice! But if You were to wait until after 08.00, You'll miss the ice Perhaps Mr Huntsman can give a Tassie report, I don't have any local knowledge down there, but hope to gain some

 

[1561]

Tassie, yeah, well, uh .... seems we had our summer last week! Temperatures reached lofty heights from 23 - 28 degrees C, then Antarctica decided to throw us a coldie, snow on Mt. Wellington (Hobart) and cool & gusty winds since.

But we're are tuff lot (not as tuff as those Nunavutians I guess ) and half an hour of snowflakes every other week or so wont make us mothball our bikes.

Winter here only means don't bother about taking that mesh jacket along. In fact, don't even bother buying one in the first place! Ever! Our days are often very WET, and in winter WET AND COLD. The air is almost always crisp (which I love) and one only breaks out in sweat when a) evading pursuit cars, or b) stopping to take in the scenery in some low-lying valley, stifling moist heat which hasn't been fanned away by our chilly Roaring Fourties.

It really can get hot here (even though some wouldn't believe it), 2 years ago HOG held their annual ride/muster in Launceston, Tassie was overrun by Harleys from all over Oz. We met up with them every day during our CircumTas, the ones from W.A. / Northern QLD / NT thought they'd escaped their oppressive heat in the North - no such luck! hehe

It's a rider's paradise here

really

really really


.... however, I chose this to see me through Tassie's seasons: some call it the 'Rolls Royce' of bike jackets/pants, naturally I'd have to agree. Pricey, but supporting local manufacturing to receive better quality & standard & service than from BMW garments made in Indonesia ... tsk tsk tsk ... satisfies my feelgood-needs in more ways than one. Heavy Duty. Heavy Leather. Thick Leather. I deserve it.
Tiger Angel: Guardian Suit - TA606

 

[1561]

Winter in Tassie

... looks pretty, but so do glaciers ...

 

[Chumba]

Tassie, yeah, well, uh .... seems we had our summer last week! Temperatures reached lofty heights from 23 - 28 degrees C, then Antarctica decided to throw us a coldie, snow on Mt. Wellington (Hobart) and cool & gusty winds since.

But we're are tuff lot (not as tuff as those Nunavutians I guess ) and half an hour of snowflakes every other week or so wont make us mothball our bikes.

Winter here only means don't bother about taking that mesh jacket along. In fact, don't even bother buying one in the first place! Ever! Our days are often very WET, and in winter WET AND COLD. The air is almost always crisp (which I love) and one only breaks out in sweat when a) evading pursuit cars, or b) stopping to take in the scenery in some low-lying valley, stifling moist heat which hasn't been fanned away by our chilly Roaring Fourties.

It really can get hot here (even though some wouldn't believe it), 2 years ago HOG held their annual ride/muster in Launceston, Tassie was overrun by Harleys from all over Oz. We met up with them every day during our CircumTas, the ones from W.A. / Northern QLD / NT thought they'd escaped their oppressive heat in the North - no such luck! hehe

It's a rider's paradise here

really

really really


.... however, I chose this to see me through Tassie's seasons: some call it the 'Rolls Royce' of bike jackets/pants, naturally I'd have to agree. Pricey, but supporting local manufacturing to receive better quality & standard & service than from BMW garments made in Indonesia ... tsk tsk tsk ... satisfies my feelgood-needs in more ways than one. Heavy Duty. Heavy Leather. Thick Leather. I deserve it.
Tiger Angel: Guardian Suit - TA606

Nice sum up Chris! And a tidy looking suit aswell! It amuses Me that many people think that Toowoomba is cold, albeit 600mts above sea level But We seldom have Tassie type weather. Maybe Melbourne weather from time to time. Today was 39c!! And currently 31c as at 20.00hrs. But this a rare occasion. On the riding suit subject, I'm currently wearing a BMW Atlantis 4 suit. I'm really very impressed with the quality and water resistance of it, however I have got warmer gear that I have salted away in the cupboard for the really chilly weather! But for an all round package, (sometimes good quality thermals required) the Atlantis 4 is grouse!

 

[rkevwill]

its just not worth it, your tires turn to hockey pucks. Even on a dry day good luck finding traction

Think electric blankets on the tires before riding. (thinking back to the old broke days in SCCA many many years ago)