long winter and starts? storage question

[buckeyemike]

just thinking about this winter after getting the bike up and running. never did get it onto the road yet due to tires and not done with brake lines. The question I wanted to ask you guys, how often and for how long over the winter should I start the bike? I dont want to rebuild these carbs for a while. I hear some people drain carbs but thought I heard most say that was useless?

[almarconi]

I'm going to fill the gas tanks on both bikes and add some Stabil to the gas. Will definitely drain the carb bowls. If gas sits in there for even a few weeks the passages can become clogged.

[JMHJ]

In a 750T for sale ad I saw one time, the guy said all you have to do is run it for 15 minutes once a week, and you're good to go. That, or some variation sounds like a pretty good idea. It'd have to be kind of cold for me to let it sit still for 15min. though.

[Nessism]

You don't want to start the bike at all during storage. Get some fuel stabilizer and fill the tank to the top. Some people drain the carbs but I'm not clear on whether or not this is necessary. Some people also fog the cylinders with oil as well. The reason not to start the bike is that condensation forms in the exhaust and engine. It takes a good long ride to get the engine hot enough, long enough, to properly heat everything and dry up the water.

I'm sure there is more to the storage story than I'm mentioning so please do a search for more information. It never gets cold enough here to worry about storage so can't claim to know a whole lot on the subject.

Good luck.

[JMHJ]

I'm sure there is more to the storage story than I'm mentioning so please do a search for more information. It never gets cold enough here to worry about storage so can't claim to know a whole lot on the subject.

Good luck.

The factory owner's manuals have a section on storing your bike, but I've never done it either.

[Sandy]

We've got long cold winters here and my bike is stored in an unheated barn and all I've ever done is;
1.) make sure the bike is clean, waxed and all parts such as cables and pivot points that require lubrication are lubed.
2.) remove battery and bring it in the house for proper storage and charging.
3.) fresh oil change and filter.
4.) fill the tank with gas and treat with stabilizer, or fully drain and dry tank and vent it with cap off for a week or so and bring it in the house also, leave it with the cap off and cover the opening with a cloth.
5.) drain carbs.
6.) lube the chain so the o-rings don't dry out.
7.) check tires pressures in maybe prop the front wheel off the ground if I'm really getting fussy.
8.) Do not start it until I'm ready to ride or do a tune up in the spring. I know it will run so what's the point. LOL.

Were we live is generally well below freezing for most of the winter and also a super dry climate so I don't have worry about moisture much. If you're in a climate that constantly cycles between above and below freezing and is also very humid there may be other methods of storage required. I'm sure other members here will have recommendations for that. But this list should be used as minimum.

[robertbarr]

I think most people overthink winter storage, but if it makes them feel better, there's no harm in it. The huge exception is fuel.

A completely full tank of stabilized fuel (with the bike's engine run long enough to make sure the carbs are also full of stabiized fuel!) will prevent most of the problems you'll ever encounter with storage.

[tkent02]

Don't run it at all unless taking it for a good ride, half an hour or so at least?
Stabil in the gas for sure.
That's all you need to do unless in a humid area, then think about protecting the cylinders, fogging or whatever.
Had a Honda 750 cylinders start to rust up when parked in South Carolina for a few months, took a LOT of effort to free it up.