Putting it away over winter.

[Stu_C]

If you don't ride your GS all year round, how do you store your beast?
I need suggestion how to store mine cause I don't want to ride it on wet 'n salty roads. The only problem is that I don't have a garage and the bike sits out the back of our house under a Oxford bike cover. The cover is a bit small leaving most of the underside open and the front wheel. I was thinking of buying a large ground sheet from a camping store and covering it with that. Wheels will be elevated off the ground as I don't want them on the cool concrete all winter.

Falling short of buying one of those vacum bags, what would you suggest!?

 

[Davel]

Personally, I'd keep it useable.

You always get some good days during the winter and a bit of use is normally the best thing for them.

 

[brassmonkey001]

Bring it inside and wrap it up in cotton wool.

 

[Big Lee]

I`d keep using it too, if it`s just sitting outside under a sheet it won`t do it any good. Give it a hose down with cold water if it`s been salty on the roads.

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

If you really can't use it and have to keep it outside then I'd give it a bloody good deep clean and wax and then cover everything in ACF50 (do a search on here for the stuff if not familiar with it).

I'd also have the battery on something like an Optimate.

Keeping on riding it though has to be best for the bike as well as the rider

Andres

 

[jasp]

acf50

 

[Uinneag]

The finish on GS's is crap anyway so don't worry about it

 

[(RIP) Bobble]

ACF 50 and keep riding

Besides that's what the heated grips are for

 

[THE DOCTOR]

VacBag

I sold a vacbag on here a few months ago. Basically it's a huge tough poly bag you push the bike into, gather the end together & vacuum most of the air out then seal it with a zip tie.

Gotta make sure the bike's dry (& cold) before you store it though.

I bought it for my CBR900 but the temptation to get it out on the few nice winter days we had was too much.

One on eBay

Or one from Buster's

Go for the Jumbo size!



...

 

[Dahoum]

another vote for riding it here

Is this bike in London? It doesnt get cold enough to stop riding down here.

 

[Stu_C]

More likely than not, there will be days when I wnat to get out on it... might just buy a bigger oxford bike cover then!

 

[mr badger]

Get some big, wooly pants, a hosepipe, some ACF and get out there. Less bike traffic, no sweaty body folds and a smug sense of being more 'hardcore' than the next man.

 

[stephenm]

The finish on GS's is crap anyway so don't worry about it

The corrosive power of salt slush from roads is 200 times greater than plain water. Give them a break.

Stephen

 

[Jaws]

Just keep riding it .. And yup, ACF-50 is the proper way to go ( but I would say that, being as I flog thwe stuff ! LOL ! )
Seriously though, it does genuinely stop corrosion and does work well ( it does what other stuff claims to do .. lets put it like that ! )

 

[Stu_C]

The thing is, I don't "need" to ride it anywhere! I have my car for serious journies and I walk to work. So it would really only come out on sunny dry days. I allready found some "corossion" at the front of the engine block (where that big plastic cover is)...

 

[AndyW]

I allready found some "corossion" at the front of the engine block (where that big plastic cover is)...

If the bike's still in Warranty go see your dealer and they'll replace that ally cover ;-)

Another fan of ACF50............and I'll throw in Scottoiler FS365 and use of good motorcycle washing products and polishes like AutoGlym
How to become a Cleaning Freak...

 

[chrisjk]

Just don't get ACF50 on your brake disks! DAMHIKT..

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Park it up in late Oct

Put a cover over it in the garage

Start it up in March

Don't worry about a battery tender......................it wastes mains electricity

 

[Gabby]

It's a GS...stop polishng it like a Harley and Ride it, Park it, Ride it......etc.etc.

 

[yamonda1]

I get home maybe once every three months, no special storage regime or even a battery tender, it's kept in a draughty garage and always fires up first time and off I go .. what's the problem ?