Let's don't forget our once a month battery charge and startup?

[81gs7501166]

Worked half summer getting my carbs Right!
Don't want to have to do it again this summer!
My bike has sat now Bout 5 weeks.
I vowed to startup once a month till riding season starts.
Yesterday was the day.
2a charge half a day. Then I started and ran 10 min.
Just a reminder to all who Forget?

 

[Steve]

A better reminder would be to treat the gas with stabilizer, fully charge your AGM battery, change the oil, then FORGET IT until you are ready to go for a ride.

Starting a bike and not getting it up to FULL operating temperature is the largest killer, especially of exhaust systems. All you are going to do is collect condensation, which will promote rust and corrosion from the inside. The condensation will build in the crankcase, where it will mix with the oil. If the oil is not fresh, acids can form, which will attack bearing surfaces. Certainly you have seen rusted out exhaust systems? Guess how they got that way.

The best policy is to not start the bike unless you are going for a ride. A ride of 20-30 minutes should be sufficient. If you are worried about your battery, go ahead and top it off every month or so, but an AGM battery in decent condition should not need anything over the winter.

.

 

[chuck hahn]

I drain the carb bowls and remove the vacuum and main fuel lines off the petcock. Battery on the Battery Tender JR and walk away.

 

[Nessism]

Suzuki details how to store the bike inside the Owners Manual for each bike. Basscliff's website has the manuals for most GS's if anyone needs one.

BTW, as Steve states, Stabil works great. I use the marine version which is blue/green and never a problem after that. Previously my GS would plug up the pilot jets in just a few months storage but I've never had that issue since adopting the Stabil approach. It helps prevent gas tank rust too.

 

[NavyDad]

A better reminder would be to treat the gas with stabilizer, fully charge your AGM battery, change the oil, then FORGET IT until you are ready to go for a ride.

Starting a bike and not getting it up to FULL operating temperature is the largest killer, especially of exhaust systems. All you are going to do is collect condensation, which will promote rust and corrosion from the inside. The condensation will build in the crankcase, where it will mix with the oil. If the oil is not fresh, acids can form, which will attack bearing surfaces. Certainly you have seen rusted out exhaust systems? Guess how they got that way.

The best policy is to not start the bike unless you are going for a ride. A ride of 20-30 minutes should be sufficient. If you are worried about your battery, go ahead and top it off every month or so, but an AGM battery in decent condition should not need anything over the winter.

.

+1 :encouragement:

 

[hannibal]

I drain the carb bowls and remove the vacuum and main fuel lines off the petcock. Battery on the Battery Tender JR and walk away.

Why remove the lines from the petcock?

 

[chuck hahn]

Because its an old habit I guess from when I used to leave fuel in the tank. But if you do leave fuel in the tank and should the petcock fail, freeze and crack a diaphragm, or any other malfunction occur it wont fill you engine with gas. And if it drips youll probably find it from the sudden appearance of a gas smell in your garage. I have even heard of guys pinching off lines with hemostats but Im not that fond of pinching up lines.

 

[Sandy]

If it's only for the winter months I just add stabilizer to a full tank of premium fuel and run it until nice and hot, preferably a short ride if possible to make sure it's fully up to temperature and carbs are full of stabilized fuel and pull the battery out for maintenance. An oil change at this time would be good as well depending on it's age. I've stored them over the winter wet like this for decades with no trouble at all and in the spring I just go out turn it to prime while I put the battery in, choke it and start it. If it's going be a longer term storage then having the carbs dry is probably a good idea and if it's a really long term then drain the tank as well but make sure it's vented as you will get some condensation inside. Probably the worst thing you can do as mentioned is to occasionally run it. Probably no harm for short term storage if it's stored wet or dry though, just personal preference.

 

[GSXR7ED]

I'm really learning alot from this thread. Thanks you guys!


Ed

 

[dweller]

I rode 125 miles today! Still trying to get warm! Shortest day of the year. I try to ride all my bikes at least once every couple weeks here in the Oregon Coast...

 

[Admiral Beez]

Why remove the lines from the petcock?

I assumed it was to run the engine until it starved of gas, thus getting all fuel out of carbs. On my GS I don't drain the carbs, but instead add fuel stabilizer and run it on idle to mix up the fuel, then cover the bike in dust (not moisture barrier/trap) cover and forget it.

I keep my battery in the bike, with harness attached. On top of this I install my battery charger/tender. I don't leave it plugged in though, since the harness is also attached, and even with the charger's auto shut-off I don't want to stress the wiring. So I run it for a couple of hours every two weeks or so until the charger says "done". My plan is to leave the charger SAE connection on the battery permanently so I can use it for USB phone charging, etc.

 

[tom203]

When it appears that my riding season is about over, I stabilize the tank's fuel and aim for two cold starts with 1/2 hour rides. The reason for two cold starts is to ensure that stabilized fuel finds its way into enricher circuit passages on second start.
I charge the AGM battery every other month.

 

[fbody_mike]

Riding Season? Storage?
I'm spoiled, but I did ride in the rain today.

 

[Boriqua]

Went down to 65f a few days this week ... whew been tough riding!!

Today will be 70+ .. maybe I can get out there without freezing my nads off.

 

[Rob S.]

an AGM battery in decent condition should not need anything over the winter.

Unless you own a Harley with "theft deterrent" system that flashes a red light on the speedo every few seconds.

The dealership says it's the fact that the system is constantly searching for the fob that causes the battery to drain.

In any case, my battery goes dead if I don't start it for a few moments every 20 days or less.

 

[Boriqua]

Yup .. just got in from some battery charging ... 73F but since there is no filter between the sun and your skin here it felt warmer. 25 miles later .. yea .. winter maintenance done!

 

[850 Combat]

I leave mine for extended periods sometimes. I prefer to use the method in the manual (drain the float bowls). I like to have a full tank of non ethanol fuel, which in Oregon is easy. There are two stations with non ethanol premium within two miles. I drain the float bowls. On one of the bikes, oil cooler plumbing makes this a bit of a PITA. I'm still planning on switching over to button head allen screws to make that easier. I only think of it when I'm draining the float bowls. I've had good success with pulling the vacuum line and plugging it, then running the bike until it won't run even with the enrichener. I'll be firing up the '81 1000G for a pre-dawn ride to Donut Derilicts tomorrow morning. I hope there will be some interesting stuff there.

 

[Admiral Beez]

Riding Season? Storage?
I'm spoiled, but I did ride in the rain today.

IDK why any of my American neighbours live above the snow line.

 

[Guest]

A better reminder would be to treat the gas with stabilizer, fully charge your AGM battery, change the oil, then FORGET IT until you are ready to go for a ride.

Starting a bike and not getting it up to FULL operating temperature is the largest killer, especially of exhaust systems.

+1. I would never start my bike to just let it idle a few minutes while cold. I do remove the battery from the bike and hit it once a month with the tender as I have 5 batteries in total to look after and I do them all for an hour or so each at the beginning of each month just as a precaution.

IDK why any of my American neighbours live above the snow line.

It makes for great skiing.


Mark