Storage and preventative maintenance

[marcopol]

I am driving a 2002 1150GS down to Spain at the end of the month with the intention of leaving it there. I then intend to fly down there every couple of months to tour from there. The bike has 52K miles. Two questions, what prevenative maintenance should I do now and what is the best way to store it for up to 2 or 3 months at a time.

 

[sproggy]

I don't know why you'd need to do preventative maintenance before storing a bike? If you mean before you ride it to Spain just make sure it's serviced and everything's OK - tyres etc.

Disconnect the battery when the bike's being stored, and put it on a battery maintainer (Optimate, C-Tek etc). Don't leave old, dirty oil in the engine - if it's old, change it before you leave the bike sitting.

Leave it with as little fuel in it as possible and then put super-unleaded in it from a can (don't ride it to the petrol station) before you use it again - petrol goes off with age and the less old petrol you have the better it'll be diluted by the fresh stuff. You can get petrol stabilised but I've never bothered with it.

Leave the bike on the centrestand so there's little weight on the tyres.

 

[kanhulk13]

also - stuff rags into any air inlets (mice) and cover the exhaust opening with something (prevent moisture/oxidation/rust).

spray the bike down with oil (ACF something or other or WD40)

I sometimes pour a can of gas stabilizer in the tank. Cheap insurance, but likely unnecessary.

 

[sproggy]

also - stuff rags into any air inlets (mice) and cover the exhaust opening with something (prevent moisture/oxidation/rust).

If you're worried about mice I'd suggest stuffing something into the air inlet that mice wouldn't find attractive for bedding! Like plastic sheet screwed up.

As for covering the exhaust, by doing this you might trap moisture inside so depending upon the storage conditions it might be preferable to leave it open to 'breathe'.

 

[AberdeenAngus]

Just disconnect the battery or put it on trickle.
Otherwise for just 2-3 months.......nuthin.

Give it a dose of looking at before you ride it, tyre pressures etc.

 

[Mutley]

Just disconnect the battery or put it on trickle.
Otherwise for just 2-3 months.......nuthin.

Give it a dose of looking at before you ride it, tyre pressures etc.

No need for ACF in Spain

 

[marcopol]

Storage

Thanks for all the replies