Winter Wonderland

[Andrei Ukrainian]

I rode to Ukraine in the summer and am now staying here with my GS Adventure, Muller BMW in Leipzig, Germany replaced a fuel sensor under warranty but am still getting incorrect readings, anyway I have read threads here since June, especially the one concerning winter storage. My house is in a village on top of a hill, any rain and the whole place turns into mud, Goodness knows what will happen in November to March.
Please Guys any advice on storing the bike over winter, I bought a trickle charger from BMW, I have an oil filter and am waiting for the oil to arrive by courier, btw only Kiev has a BMW dealer and that is a 6 hour train journey away.
Any help and advice would be much appreciated

 

[Spikehammer]

I presume it will be well below freezing in the ukraine in mid-winter?

I would do the following:

Drain all fuel or use a fuel stabiliser.

Do an oil change with the best oil you can get.

If using a battery tender you be fine, if using a trickle charger then don't leave it on constantly, it will eventually damage the battery. Use a timer to switch the trickle charger on and off for an hour a day.

Give the bike a really good wash before storage and then dry the bike off, with compressed air if possible and remember that water collects at the lowest points so wipe the undersides of areas like the swinging arm, stands, fork bottoms and exhaust etc.

Lubricate all moving parts and grease bearings etc (wheels, suspension).

Use WD40/ACF on the electrics.

Deflate your tyres (this gets rid of any moisture in the tyre) then re-inflate to the correct pressures.

Get both wheels off the ground so there is no weight on them. If the bike is in a light area (sunlight) cover the tyres with black plastic bags.

Cover the bike with a cloth, a painters dust sheet is a good idea. This will soak up most condensation.

Don't be tempted to warm the bike up whilst in storage unless you're prepared to go through all the above again as warming it up will only create condensation, which is your enemy.

I'm sure a few of the wiser owls will be along soon to rubbish my suggestions...

 

[Andrei Ukrainian]

Thanks

Thanks for the reply and advice,
the bike is in a warm garage, would you recommend draining the petrol tank and coating the inside with oil? Also when I drain the oil and change the filter I have to start it up don't I?
Bloody Hell, as a London courier I didn't have a problem with putting bikes to sleep, 7 years of English weather and now I am embarresd to ask these silly questions.
BTW its a fantastic bike

 

[PAULHOMAN]

Hi
I'm thinking of riding to Krivoy Rog next year my wife is from there.
I'll probably get ferry to Wales from Dublin then ride down to Channel tunnel then head east.Any tips on border crossing from Poland into Ukraine ie which is easiest my Russian?Ukrainian is bit basic to say the least. I've a 1150 gs which is all ready to go !!

 

[Spikehammer]

Thanks for the reply and advice,
the bike is in a warm garage, would you recommend draining the petrol tank and coating the inside with oil? Also when I drain the oil and change the filter I have to start it up don't I?
Bloody Hell, as a London courier I didn't have a problem with putting bikes to sleep, 7 years of English weather and now I am embarresd to ask these silly questions.
BTW its a fantastic bike

You could drain the tank and coat it but I never have and have never had a problem.

Get the bike nice and hot before draining the oil and changing the filter.

 

[Andrei Ukrainian]

Polish / Ukraine Border

Hi,

Sorry for delay in getting back to you, Ukrainian wireless broadband is not the best in the world and I thought 3G was crap!
The border is always hit and miss but since Poland joined the Shengin Zone going through can be pretty quick. Once in a car I waited 6 hours but this time on the bike it took about 30 mins, go past all the lorries which are stuck in a que and don't get pissed off by Poles on mopeds overtaking you in a que.

Yachi Bam,

Poka

 

[PAULHOMAN]

Hi Andrei
Exactly which border crossing did you use I'mthinking of using e40 in Poland then my maps show two crossing northern one M10 road or southern M11 both lead on to Lyvov.
For storing your bike get a can of ACF 50 it's a Canadian aircraft anti corrosion spray you should be able to get it on e-bay it's brilliant, make sure battery is kept charged get an Optimate charger it'll keep battery in good shape.
regards
Paul

 

[Andrei Ukrainian]

Hi Paul,

Sorry can't really coment on the road numbers but I also took the E40 from Poland and crossed at Medyka, last Polish town was Przemysl.
There used to be border guards on the German/Polish border but now it looks more like Belgium/Germany.
Small world, my mum is from Milltown, Dublin and I went through on my Irish passport.

 

[PAULHOMAN]

Hi Andrei
Is your bike Irish registered ?? Any hassel with customs I read that they want to see all documents and put reg no of bike/car in your passport is that correct.
Paul

 

[Andrei Ukrainian]

Hi Paul,

The bike is still on a U.K plate, I haven't "Paztomozhit" ( customs import duty, I think! ) because I'm still sorting out residency, besides it is stuck in the garage until spring now.
Your passport will receive just a stamp with a picture of a car showing your entry date, you will have to fill out a small piece of paper to include the vehicle in which you crossed the border. Most definately bring your LOG book or proff of ownership of the bike.
I've never been asked for road insurance documents. The roads are terrible, pot holes and missing manhole covers, so ride safe.

 

[HondaMan]

I defo wouldnt coat the tank with Oil, I cant see the point. Its a plastic tank so its not going to rust.

The only way to avoid moisture in a plastic tank is to keep it full of petrol. If you are only laying it up for a few months then I would have thought the petrol would be fine.

 

[Andrei Ukrainian]

I'm not going to coat the inside of the petrol tank or use AC50 since the bike is in a warm garage, I am however confused. Some advice says starting the bike and leaving on idle is bad others say its ok, if I don't turn it over for, say 4 months, shouldl'nt I at least drain the carbs? Petrol jellifies over long periods , dosen't it? As for the other advice given so far I changed the oil and filter last Sunday and reduced tyre pressure.

 

[swissrob]

no carbs as its fuel injection

 

[Andrei Ukrainian]

Oopps, Thanks

 

[Tartan Terror]

I've often left my bikes for 3 or more months without starting over winter and other than a good clean and spray with WD or Scotoiler F365 they have all started up no problem in spring so don't worry too much.

 

[bmwrich58]

I'm not going to coat the inside of the petrol tank or use AC50 since the bike is in a warm garage, I am however confused. Some advice says starting the bike and leaving on idle is bad others say its ok, if I don't turn it over for, say 4 months, shouldl'nt I at least drain the carbs? Petrol jellifies over long periods , dosen't it? As for the other advice given so far I changed the oil and filter last Sunday and reduced tyre pressure.

With repeated starting and stopping the heated and cooling cycles create condensation (internal sweating like when a window sweats from heat on one side and cold air on the other) will buildup and relax in the oil.
Oil then becomes milky colored and in some instances foamy if enough builds up.
Therefore, a good run is needed to get things up to operating temperatures and boil out this accumulated moisture now in the oil if repeatedly started and stopped.
Properly stowed (exterior surfaces waxed and covered),fuel drained or stabilizer installed, and the battery (best if removed for long stationary moments) cared for should result in no problems come spring startup.
Also,vented 'cycle covers will prevent moisture buildup under the cover,on the exterior of cycle surfaces from the external temperature changes in the storage area.