Storing Bikes in cold weather

[Joesmoe]

A dissenting voice here. Maybe it's just me, but I find Sta-bil doesn't do a thing, so I don't wasted the money any more.

Gasoline is organic, much like a loaf of bread or package of meat. Left in a refrigerator long enough, both will develop mold and go bad.

Gasoline further is a complex mixture of hydrocarbons, some more volatile than others. Over time, the volatile components will evaporate (there are no truly sealed systems) and increasingly what is left begins to gum up anything small - such as injectors. The ONLY answer I have found for gasoline engines that sit (my snowblower, weed whacker, older little-used motorcycle, lawn mower) is to completely drain them and run them dry.

 

[Laverada]

All good information...It appears there is more than one "right way" to do this

 

[BillyIndiana]

Ditto, Full tank of gas. I use Seafoam, but use a fuel stabilizer. You are correct in running the engine to get it in the carbs or injectors I use a battery tender. The other thing is if you cover them use a breathable cover.

 

[Laverada]

Would there be a point where I should be concerned about the temperature affecting the paint? Everything is clean but want to make sure there is nothing else I need to do

 

[Laverada]

A dissenting voice here. Maybe it's just me, but I find Sta-bil doesn't do a thing, so I don't wasted the money any more.

Gasoline is organic, much like a loaf of bread or package of meat. Left in a refrigerator long enough, both will develop mold and go bad.

Gasoline further is a complex mixture of hydrocarbons, some more volatile than others. Over time, the volatile components will evaporate (there are no truly sealed systems) and increasingly what is left begins to gum up anything small - such as injectors. The ONLY answer I have found for gasoline engines that sit (my snowblower, weed whacker, older little-used motorcycle, lawn mower) is to completely drain them and run them dry.

What was your experience with Sta-Bil? I've only heard good things about it so far...

 

[Joesmoe]

There is the joke about the man who approaches a park in Peoria on a nice summer day, and sees a boy jumping up and down on the sidewalk.

"Why are you jumping ?" asks the man.

"Why sir, to keep the elephants away." the boy replies.

"But there are no elephants around here!" exclaims the man.

"See, it works !" shouts the boy.

And so, the supporters of Sta-bil claim.

In the aforementioned devices -- snow blower, lawn mower, weed whacker, and little used motorcycle -- I used to keep them full of fuel with Sta-bil and on battery tenders as applicable. Over the years, every single one of them had to be serviced to clear out the fuel passages before they would run again, at some point. I finally ran into a man who services thousands of small machines, for the county, the department of transportation, and a bunch of commercial firms. He said, "If you don't want to see me coming back here every year, drain your tanks and run them dry, and throw away the Sta-bil." That was about ten years ago, and thanks to that added step at the end of the season, I've not had since then a problem with any of my machines re-starting the season following storage. This is particularly important in my case, where my wife has volunteered to mow the lawn, as long as she can start the lawn mower.

YRMV

 

[rocketjohn]

Well, fortunately for me, I will get a decent ride at least once or twice a month even in winter, so bikes aren't actually "stored"

 

[Idaho Red Rocket 3]

ME too Rocket John. Laverda I would think you too could get a ride in twice a month living in Seattle.

 

[D04011]

I did ride year round when I went to college in Seattle many years ago. I mostly did it so I could say I did. Of course, I was young and not too bright at the time. I'm older now but still not too bright...

As to cold and the paint, my bikes sit in an unheated garage and shed for 4-5 months and the temperatures have gotten down to -25 degrees Fahrenheit with no apparent damage.

 

[Joesmoe]

You're plenty smart @D04011 Just look at the coral of motorcycles . . .