Low/ intermittent usage recommendations

[Kretz]

Living in BC we do get to ride year round, I try to ride when weather is decent, but roads etc can be a bit dodgy in the wintertime.

The group I normally ride with tries each year to do a Jan 1st ride, (as long as roads are dry) but the bike may only be used at 3-4 week (or longer) intervals

What recommendations do you have when using a bike intermittently? Winter temps in my area are generally around -5 to +10 degC (say 20-50 degF)

I do have the bike on a battery maintainer

I check tires/ lights etc before a ride

I usually add stabilizer to my fuel.... do you turn fuel petcock to OFF? I normally don't

Any other suggestions for irregular usage?

Thanks in advance

[BlueSky]

Keep the tank full with stabil added. Turn the fuel off and drain the carbs if it sits a good while. Do your carbs have overflow lines? If not, leaving the fuel valve open only needs one leaky carb needle and seat to hydrolock the engine and destroy it. Keep the battery charged or disconnect the ground.

[Flyinfool]

To me riding once every 3/4 weeks is not stored.

Run some Seafoam in the gas.

Use ethanol free gas if possible.

Keep tank full to avoid condensation.

IF everything is working correctly you do not need to turn off the fuel petcock, but turning it off and on is no big deal for peace of mind.

 

If you are storing it for more than a month, then you need to look at more of the proper storage options.

[Bert2006]

To me riding once every 3/4 weeks is not stored.

Run some Seafoam in the gas.

Use ethanol free gas if possible.

Keep tank full to avoid condensation.

IF everything is working correctly you do not need to turn off the fuel petcock, but turning it off and on is no big deal for peace of mind.

 

If you are storing it for more than a month, then you need to look at more of the proper storage options.

 

:sign yeah that:

[kevin-vic-b.c.]

I ride year round ....except I do not take the Venture out often in poor weather..... I have a VStrom for that. So my Venture could sit a couple weeks at a time. I do put Seafoam in it.... I will add it next time I have it out..... keep it on a tender. I am lucky enough to have a good interior garage so for the most part the bikes are dry and warm. My wife's VStar and the Venture will share the tender and I will have the fuel turned off on her bike as it may sit longer than mine.

 

You do the right thing giving the bike a pre-trip before you head out. On the lower main land and don't take the bike out if the roads are wet.... when do you ride?

 

With that said we just had our wettest October on record.

[gggGary]

With a snowy, cold, salted roads, winter season, all my stuff sits in the shed for months. I do about 2 or three rounds a winter with the battery tender, about 7 or 8 batteries between bikes and farm, lawn equipment. That's it, they all start and go back to work in the spring. I have a Stihl pole saw that was ornery after sitting till I found it was a 4 mix and set the valves, it's a happy camper now.

[Kretz]

I ride year round ....except I do not take the Venture out often in poor weather..... I have a VStrom for that. So my Venture could sit a couple weeks at a time. I do put Seafoam in it.... I will add it next time I have it out..... keep it on a tender. I am lucky enough to have a good interior garage so for the most part the bikes are dry and warm. My wife's VStar and the Venture will share the tender and I will have the fuel turned off on her bike as it may sit longer than mine.

 

You do the right thing giving the bike a pre-trip before you head out. On the lower main land and don't take the bike out if the roads are wet.... when do you ride?

 

With that said we just had our wettest October on record.

 

 

We do get to ride over here Kevin... honest! As you say weather has been pretty damp lately, we do ride in the rain, (we're not total wimps) but do prefer to stay dry. I know you guys over in the "Republic of VI" are tough outdoorsy types I think our biggest problem here (in the Fraser Valley) isn't the weather it's the dreadful drivers, many of whom think bikes shouldn't be on the road. Gawd 'elp us if they ever legalize lane splitting here!

We're considering moving to VI Nanaimo up to Campbell River. It may happen.... one day lol

Take care & ride safe whichever bike you're on.