Parking my GS750 for the winter

[drswaity]

Hi Guys,

I bought a 1982 GS 750 a month ago (which i love!! So much fun to ride). But now its time for it to go into the garage for the winter.

I'm going to pull the battery and keep it indoors but I'm not sure what else I need to do before I park my bike. With my other bike I didn't really care (it died on me at the end of the season and I was fed up with it, was a 1978 kawasaki money pit) and all I did was pull the battery, put the petcock on off and run the bike until it dies.

What should I do with the GS before I store it? I was looking and my petcock doesn't have an off position.

I really appreciate the help.

[cowboyup3371]

Welcome to the site. I would highly recommend you do a search on winter storage since it has been extensively covered. But essentially, you'll want to run some Stabil through your tank and carbs, fill the tank up to full (unless you're going to do some work on it), lift the tires up off the ground by placing it on the center stand and putting some plywood under them, keep the battery on a maintainer, and depending on where you store it put a cover over it (I have mine outside since I don't have a garage).

[Redman]

Petcock doesnt have an Off, yes, that is correct.
But you can make it go off by leaving it in the "ON" (or REServe position) and pulling off the vaccum line from the petcock. (plug vacuum line so it doesnt effect the bike running).

Apparently you are are thinking of running the carb bowls out of gass, which is a good idea. BUt any such effort isnt completly sucsessfull since bike will quit before all are empty.
So it is a good idea to use the Gas-Stable stuff.

And have tank real full, so less air in tank that could have moisture in tank that will condense into water (then water sinks to bottom and rust the tank).

Hey, wait, this is your first post.
Oh, we are not suppose to give any advice untill you post the required photo of your bike.
(joking)

Welcome to GSR.

Where are you located? (maybe add that in your profile, goto UserCP)

.

[BassCliff]

Greetings and Salutations!!

Hi Mr. drswaity,

Here's one way to winterize your bike: http://motorcycleinfo.calsci.com/Trailers.html#Storage

Now let me share some more GS lovin'.


I just stopped by to welcome you to the forum in my own, special way.

If there's anything you'd like to know about the Suzuki GS model bikes, and most others actually, you've come to the right place. There's a lot of knowledge and experience here in the community. Come on in and let me say "HOoooowwwDY!"....

Here is your very own magical, mystical, mythical, mind-expanding "mega-welcome". Please take notice of the "Top 10 Common Issues", the Carb Rebuild Series, and the Stator Papers. Now let me roll out the welcome mat for you...

Please click here for your mega-welcome, chock full of tips, suggestions, links to vendors, and other information. Then feel free to visit my little BikeCliff website where I've been collecting the wisdom of this generous community. Don't forget, we like pictures! Not you, your bike!

Thanks for joining us. Keep us informed.

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[DanTheMan]

Mine will be going to sleep pretty soon too. I've got ice at the street side of my driveway now and if it doesn't warm up, I won't be able to ride, so it'll be sitting until about March. I just make sure it's got a full tank of gas, an oil change and put it on the centrestand, nothing special, she starts right up after I put it on prime, good to go! Oh, yeah the battery goes on the tender as well.

[drswaity]

Thanks for the great help and the welcome guys! I'll be going out to my parents garage this weekend to winterize it. *sob!* I only had it out for a month, I bought it from someone end of season who just wanted it gone. I got a great price ($600) but I sure wanted more ride time. Ah well, next seasons going to rock.

I've got a pic up for my bike now.

Thanks again!

[Spyderman]

each winter i pull the carbs and the tank once they are drained then keep the tank and carbs in the basement for the winter i seal the intake ports with rags and plastic covers and i seal the exhaust can up with a rag and plastic so nothing gets into the motor i also remove the battery and keep it in the basement as well and i trickle charge the battery every 2 months for a day or 2 to keep it charged up

[chuck hahn]

spyderman..seems like a lot when all you gotta really do is add a bit of STABIL, top it off, and hook up a battery tender!!

[Redman]

...
....this weekend to winterize it. *sob!* ...
....

Now that we know your location, I would say, yah, you have gone well into the end of the season.

.

[Spyderman]

spyderman..seems like a lot when all you gotta really do is add a bit of STABIL, top it off, and hook up a battery tender!!

not really it gets very cold here and we get a fair amount of snow so i would rather do it this way and be sure that things are as i want them in the spring
this way i'm sure my tank won't get any condensation inside it over the winter so no rust and so on and the carbs stay clean and free of crap and gunk
it's worth it to me

[SVSooke]

This is how I "winterized" my bike

Not recommended unless you want to repaint everything

[Skunky]

SV,
Looks like you forgot something...shouldn't the tires be off the rims?

[SVSooke]

Get right on thatActually I have to take the swingarm apart yet.

[mrbill5491]

One more step

Don't forget to fog the cylinders with some oil so the rings don't freeze up. and rotate the engine at least once a month about 4-5 rotations.