I was an idiot and I don't wanna pay for it.

[Imreallycrazy]

This past year being my first as a Motorcycle rider, I was quite unaware of normal winterization (sp?) of my motorcycle. As winter has passed I have learned a little about this and have lamented my failures. As March is quickly approaching, I am looking to repair this situation as much as I can so that when riding weather finally arrives, I can enjoy it.
I am aware that I'll need to do something about the gas in the tank, should I just add clean gas and try to burn through it, or get it all out of there? What about the Carb? How do I know if I might have caused problems there?
Anything else I should do? I know I need to change the Oil/filter, and clean out my air filter.

I know I could have saved myself alot of trouble if I had known about these things, and I plan on planning ahead for next year.

Thanks to all for the help!

Ben

[BassCliff]

Hi Mr. Imreallycrazy,

Definitely, new gas. Take off the float bowls and see if there is any varnish or rust. Is there any rust in the gas tank? You might have to pull the carbs for disassembly and chem dip. But maybe you can get by with pulling the float bowls, a liberal use of carb spray, and a big dose of Sea Foam in the tank. It depends on if/how bad the carbs got gummed up during the inactivity. Good luck.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[Flaggo60]

This past year being my first as a Motorcycle rider, I was quite unaware of normal winterization (sp?) of my motorcycle. As winter has passed I have learned a little about this and have lamented my failures. As March is quickly approaching, I am looking to repair this situation as much as I can so that when riding weather finally arrives, I can enjoy it.
I am aware that I'll need to do something about the gas in the tank, should I just add clean gas and try to burn through it, or get it all out of there? What about the Carb? How do I know if I might have caused problems there?
Anything else I should do? I know I need to change the Oil/filter, and clean out my air filter.

I know I could have saved myself alot of trouble if I had known about these things, and I plan on planning ahead for next year.

Thanks to all for the help!

Ben

Not sure what the other folks will say, but I would say no problem, all will be well.

Assuming it was running well at the close of business last season, empty the stale gas in the tank into your lawnmower container or into the car gas tank mixed with fresh. Fill bike tank with fresh gas. Remove the screws at the bottom of the float bowls and drain the stale gas out. Definitely change the oil and start the new riding season with a new filter. Clean the air filter. Me, I would also change the plugs, they're cheap. Lube the cables, including the speedo and tach cables. These will last a whole lot longer if you're regular about that. Brake fluid condition and fork oil levels should also be noted and corrected.

Do a visual once over on the bike, check for frame cracks, loose bolts, free control operation, tire condition and proper tire pressures, all lights, horn and signals working, make sure the battery is charged and, in my world, you're set to go.

[KiwiGS]

Hey mate,
I recently started a bike that had not been run for over five years.
I drained the carbs, sprayed them with carb cleaner, blew out the air filter, replaced the battery and checked the oil, mainly to make sure it didnt have gas in it.
After all of this I put a funnel on the fuel line and primed the carbs with new fuel. Put everything back how it should and hit the starter button.
The bike fired up straight away, after a warm up I took it for a ride. It ran a bit rough untill it had a tank of fresh gas. Since then the bike has run well.
Good luck.

[Zooks]

Take Flaggo's advice. I know that modern fuel goes 'off' fairly quickly these days, but if it's only a few months (that it's been sitting) you should be okay with just flushing it out with some new stuff. It usually takes longer than that for the fuel to turn to 'gum' and really plug things up.

[duaneage]

Yeah I get enough gas out of the GS to mow the lawn and run the weedwacker all summer long.

[Suzuki_Don]

I know that modern fuel goes 'off' fairly quickly these days, It usually takes longer than that for the fuel to turn to 'gum' and really plug things up.

Yeah, but Zooks we are talking about "U.S." gas here, not the stuff we use.

[dirtyfingers]

Yeah, but Zooks we are talking about "U.S." gas here, not the stuff we use.

Yeah U.S. gas is garbage. Goes bad quickly in small amounts.

Get some fresh gas to the bowls and see if she'll start up. If it does, then you got lucky. If it only runs good with the choke on, even when warmed up, then it's time for a dip.

[kilog55]

what about if you added restore before you closed shop for the winter? cause i have a full tank with the red restore stuff in it a good dose of it.

[verles]

I park my Honda Magna with a full tank and a whole can of Seafoam mixed for the winter so the first warm day shows up well she fires right up. you should be find just add a can of Seafoam and fresh gas and ride to your hearts content.
I have been running the Magna on the carbs that has been sitting 3 yrs before I got it and a fresh set are sitting next to her on the bench, she is my first bike ever and that was May 2007.

[Dave8338]

Yeah I get enough gas out of the GS to mow the lawn and run the weedwacker all summer long.

You either have a very small lawn...or you've been mod'n the GS to recieve a 30 gal. tank. I can't mow the lawn on less than 5 gal.

[jbs80106]

hmm...a dissenting opinion....

For the past 4 years I have NOT used any STABIL in the gas remaining in the tank at the end of the riding season. As a matter of fact, one year my bike got parked in August and aside from starting it up now and then over the winter and maybe a ride around the block she was parked in the garage, battery on a tender every few weeks for a top off.

I've never experienced any rough running conditions or indications of so called 'bad gas' syndrom.

If my bike sits for more than a few weeks, my carbs are DRY due to evaporation of the gas. Bear in mind there is low humidity in Colorado in the Summer, virtually none (single digits) in the winter.

Check out your Clymer's manual for your bike. There will be a list of stuff that needs to be lubed and checked atleast each spring when you come out of hibernation. Its always a good idea to start your bike (frequency will vary across the board) and let it run for a while, even if on center stand (oh, and when parked for the winter you should park it on center stand!). I usually have to open the garage door, and the side door to keep air moving to cool the engine.

If you've not done anything with it since parking it in the fall, probably some other tips that members might suggest, like pulling spark plugs and putting a bit of oil down into the cylinders before trying to crank 'er up.

I usually have atleast a 1/2 tank of gas. Sometimes if I have some in a gas can I'll top up with fresh before riding the first time. Usually not though.

FWIW, that's my process for the winter.

FYI, you'll need to lube pretty much all your cables (speedo, tach, brake, throttle, choke), and yes, changing the oil would be a good idea...

[kilog55]

yeah i got my GS last year first bike and i cant complain about it

glad i got this instead of the GSX-R i was wanting to get cause i probly would have hurt myself

[Flaggo60]

..........glad i got this instead of the GSX-R i was wanting to get cause i probly would have hurt myself.........

I think you can hurt yourself just as good on this one....

[kilog55]

yeah but i wont be tempted to do really stupid things like i would on a sport bike. stuntin' etc. no passengers on my bikes either.