Winterizing the gen 1

[CaseyJ955]

I found a few posts and most were entertaining. It occurs to me that I cant get this giant pig through my front door, it will not be joining my Vmax for a toasty peaceful slumber this winter. She must be an outside dog this season, just nowhere she can go but right where she is on my deck.

 

I'll make sure the AF is safe at the bitter temps I'm expecting this winter in Western South Dakota. I plan to bring the seat and battery inside and keep the battery tender going. Non-ethanol tainted fuel with sta-bil, Is there anything else specific to the gen 1 that I may have missed, besides covering it? What do you guys do that have to leave your loved scoot outside in the bitter cold/snow/ice?

 

I'll have a garage next year when I buy a home, no more of this. I dont care about the cars as much but the bikes belong indoors.

 

Thanks for any experience.

[Flyinfool]

Store it on the center stand, I have had the tire and shock air pressure drop enough with the extreme cold to tip the bike over while on the side stand. Store it where the prevailing storm winds will not have a good shot at it so that it does not get blown over during a blizzard. Plan that it will need an oil change to get the condensation out of the engine come spring.

 

In your case Sta-Bil should be fine. Since I learned how Sta-Bil works I now just use SeaFoam in my gas. Don't forget to run the engine to get the treated gas all the way thru the carbs. Tank topped us full as you can get it, the less air the better.

 

Mine has been living in a steel garden shed since I got it.

[snyper316]

I am glad I don't live in your area, But when I was looking at places without a garage I checked into climate controlled storage units crazy thing was gonna take a 4x8 foot unit but that was just $45 here, $55 if I wanted the outlet it was also a slightly bigger unit. But no longer the need to move at the moment.I know Minot, ND they get some crazy snow and then the spring they have to worry about flooding.

[cowpuc]

I have stored 2 ways and both very successfully .. One is fairly simple and most enjoyable = put it on the center stand as Jeff mentioned to take the load off the boingers, Seafoam to spec and then leave it all together, start it up at least once a month, let it idle to temp, rev it a little to keep the carbs flowing with fresh fuel, drop it in gear and spin the rear wheel and stop it from spinning with the rear brake to keep em freed up = with this method you get to visit with your scoot and make plans for next year PLUS, if your really touched like some folks around here - you can sit on it and pretend your ..

The other way, which gets more involved and not as much fun. Seafoam or Stabil to spec and fill tank, double check AF, run to make sure the entire fuel system is treated, center stand the bike, pull the battery and put on tender, steel wool stuffed in breather opening for mice control, drain carbs, smack each brake caliper with rubber mallet to drive pistons in (you can tell they are in by wiggling em a little), stuff steel wool into pipes for mice control, light coat of wd-40 on all chrome/metal (stay away from brakes) - spraying down mono linkages, swing arm joints and other pivot points a plus unless your scoot has zerks (I like to use spray White Grease for this), drape some carpet foam over bike to absorb condensate and then cover with a decent tarp that will cover complete bike. Make a wrap around the tarp with a rope to seal it as close to ground as possible and then under the bike and over the saddle area to keep it from getting blown off in the winter winds. ** - bleeding in new hydraulic fluid and lubing throttle cables with one of those cheapy cable lubers and some synthetic bicycle chain lube (best cable lube I have found) is optional but is a good time to do it.

 

Reverse direction come spring but change the oil before you fire it up so all the nasty stuff is in the bottom from sitting. Fill the carbs by bumping the kill switch till the bowls are full and pump stops. Pump brakes till solid.. Pack up n drive off into sunset - dont forget so you can come on here tell about your adventures and not get in trouble with the !

[CaseyJ955]

Thanks to all. I'll go get some more gas to top her off. I still have to get the rear caliper on and lube the cables. Throttle is pretty stiff so that was going to happen anyway. I put her on the center stand already, those tires with 0 miles barely touch the ground, unloading the progressives with 0 miles.

 

I guess winter is the price I pay for rural living.

 

The wall to the outside is glass, I'll have a great view of her outside freezing while I'm inside by the wood stove drinking coffee. Darn, I'll make it up to her in the spring with some real mileage.

[Flyinfool]

Winter will happen weather you are rural or smack dab in the middle of a big city.............Trust me............

 

And then you're going to let/make her watch you be all warm and cozy all winter, and know that the V-Max got to warm and cozy all winter. She may not be happy with that.

 

Man you are going to have to find a LOT of Hardleys and 2nd gens for her to dust off to get her happy again.

[bongobobny]

I would remove the battery for the winter and store it someplace nice and cozy...

[CaseyJ955]

I would remove the battery for the winter and store it someplace nice and cozy...

 

The battery is coming inside, and the seat. If I leave the seat outside when it thaws I'll find chunks of it packed under the intake manifold of my LS400, where they love to nest, and eat knock sensor wiring harnesses, where it's virtually impossible to reach without removing said intake manifold. So not only the cold but the critters. Still a small price to pay though.

 

I faced her the other way so she wouldn't have to see the Vmax inside. She will be jealous fur sure. I know she will forgive me when we ride! The places she will go, very little traffic, lots of scenery, and yes, some HDs to snack on occasionally.