putting away the fzr

[zero9243]

I am not a fan of draining the gas tank. Lots of chance for condensation to happen in there. Fill her all the way up and put a fuel stabilizer in the gas and run your engine with the fuel stabilizer for a few minutes so that it gets through the system. Take the battery out and throw it on a battery tender and, if you can, get the tires off the ground to avoid flatspots, although mine sat through an entire winter w/ no flatspots forming, so idk.

[shift]

lots of good responses above. i don't think anyone mentioned anything about the battery though. in any case, here's a nice write up from a local racing shop in my area, R&R Cycles:

Some useful guidelines to proper winter storage of your bike:

1. Engines are best stored with a fresh oil change, and inside a weatherproof
building or shed.

2. Check the battery, clean the battery terminals, and connect a Battery
Tender or similar trickle-charger. If the bike has to remain outside,
remove the battery and store it inside.

3. Lube the chain liberally, and wipe some oil on the fork sliders. Be careful
not to get oil on the rotors or brake pads.

4. Be sure the tires are properly inflated, about 30-35 psi for most bikes. Also
try to get the tires off the ground if the bike is inside. If you don’t have
stands or if the bike is stored outside, try to move it every few weeks to
keep the tires from flat spotting.

5. The gas needs to be treated with a product called "Stabil", a fuel stabilizer,
found in most automotive stores. This makes sure that the fuel will not
break down while the bike is stored, which would leave a sticky, varnish-
like residue that gives motorcycle shops so much work in the Spring.
You will need to run the bike for 5 or 10 minutes after adding the fuel
stabilizer to your fuel to be sure it flows into your carbs. Fuel injected
bikes need only run 1-2 minutes.

You will also want to drain the float bowls on carbureted bikes by
unscrewing the small screw on the carb float bowl. Any fuel left in the
bowls for more than two months will turn into a jet-clogging sludge that will
cost you an expensive carb overhaul in the Spring. If you have a fuel
injected bike, you can skip this step and move on to the next.

6. Be sure your tank is full to the top. Air has moisture, which causes rust in
the tank—no air in the tank, no moisture.

7. If your bike has a liquid cooling system, check it’s level and anti-freeze
with a hydrometer. Drain, flush and replace anti-freeze if necessary. We
do it every two years. Do not leave it low or empty, it will rust and
corrode your cooling system.

8. Go ahead and check all the other fluids while you’re at it!

9. Lube your cables. Lube suspension and pivot points. Give your bike a
good once-over.

10. Your bike needs a thorough wash job before storage. Towel off excess
water and blow dry with a leaf blower.

11. A cover is a nice touch, but be sure to remove it in a high wind if your bike
has to remain outside. Bikes blow over much easier with a cover on them.

12. Make sure the bike is locked up and the registration and other papers are
removed in the unfortunate event the bike is stolen.

13. Do not just run the engine without riding the bike during this period; you’ll
create condensation in the engine and combustion byproducts (acids, etc)
in the oil. If you take the bike out for a ride, you’ll want to get the bike up
to temperature, so make sure you ride around for about an hour.

[mike94fzr600]

thanks that is a lot of good info. i am going out to get started right now. its been snowing all day yeaaaaaa. putting the bike away and geting my ski-doo out got to go get some plugs and oil for her.

[PIMPMYFZR]

thanks that is a lot of good info. i am going out to get started right now. its been snowing all day yeaaaaaa. putting the bike away and geting my ski-doo out got to go get some plugs and oil for her.

my cousin got this older sled with metal spikes supposedly for lake riding on somthing but its crazy sick , will pop wheelies <say he says> its out there by you in waterford ... where do u go sleddin , like up north or somwhere local ?

[mike94fzr600]

white lake and up north. white lake inn is a good place its on the lake. it has good food and you can watch races while you eat.

[YAM93]

i do the Sta-bil thing usually, and the battery tender when needed. But i try to ride at least once a month during the winter, even if i have to freeze a bit.

there are some really good jackets and gloves out there, also pants if you need, that are designed for snowmobile riding and also other gloves that are designed for motorcycle winter riding, or hunting that are not too bulky but very warm / windproof.

in your case if you have it up on blocks doing other work that's cool, otherwise, i say be a man and ride during winter as much as you can. The only things i plan on letting stop me this year are snow on the ground or rain. Hell i might even go out in the snow just to be a smart-ass.

Rule #1 is never grow up, you start turning into a walking corpse. Some people say i act like i'm 12, screw them, i have fun and have stories to tell. Life only happens once, live it.

[PIMPMYFZR]

Yea it was in the 30's yesterday and light but nice big snow but I managed to ride around the block just to get its blood flowing a bit then put bike back in . Almost ate shit in the grass was squiding with some Jordan flipflops and they my all around the house shoes so foot almost slipped out from under me that woulda sucked cuz was plenty snow on the grass but wouldn't stick to pavement.

[mike94fzr600]

Yea it was in the 30's yesterday and light but nice big snow but I managed to ride around the block just to get its blood flowing a bit then put bike back in . Almost ate shit in the grass was squiding with some Jordan flipflops and they my all around the house shoes so foot almost slipped out from under me that woulda sucked cuz was plenty snow on the grass but wouldn't stick to pavement.

the snow has me excited. i am in a hurry to ride my sled, i started it yesterday and rode it around my yard it was fun. the wifey got mad cus i put a 10 ft patch in the grass from gasing it. lawn job

[tommyj27]

I'm excited to get my snowboard out of the closet.

Regarding the coolant. What specific gravity is safe for storage? I've got a battery tester, should this work to test coolant as well, or do I need a different hydrometer?

[mike94fzr600]

I'm excited to get my snowboard out of the closet.

Regarding the coolant. What specific gravity is safe for storage? I've got a battery tester, should this work to test coolant as well, or do I need a different hydrometer?

i thnk they are diferent but i could be wrong

[haunter]

I need to do coolant too....sucks cuz ill just be dumping it out come spring for water + water wetter

it wont start now due to being left alone for 2 weeks and it got cold

[PIMPMYFZR]

I need to change out the coolant also so in winter can you run str8 antifreze or is there a motorcyc type coolant

[YAM93]

Yea it was in the 30's yesterday and light but nice big snow but I managed to ride around the block just to get its blood flowing a bit then put bike back in . Almost ate shit in the grass was squiding with some Jordan flipflops and they my all around the house shoes so foot almost slipped out from under me that woulda sucked cuz was plenty snow on the grass but wouldn't stick to pavement.

I already did all the bikes with Engine Ice a month ago. Running sweet. Boy get some bad-ass hunting / hiking boots from Cabelas and you're set. I got some nice $200 German-made ones about 8 years ago and they still look new. Of course I don't wear them very often unless it snows.

[mike94fzr600]

I need to change out the coolant also so in winter can you run str8 antifreze or is there a motorcyc type coolant

why would you run str8 antifreze

[shredex]

holy shit
its 34 degrees out!
I live in freakin florida! am I going to have to move to mexico for all around summer?
I HAVE to ride my bike in this weather to....