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any tips for LONG STORAGE

Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 12:58 pm
by ezydeek
im heading to LA for almost 6 weeks for a hoilday and was hoping if anyone can give some tips on what to do with the bike for storage.
my main corncern is not to let the battery go flat, any good battery charger out there?
what about tyres, fuel, spark plugs?????
any advice would be great

Re: any tips for LONG STORAGE

Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 1:06 pm
by red_dave
Did someone ring??? 8)

Go to Super Cheap Auto and buy one of these (under $50 from memory) ------------> http://www.master-instruments.com.au/pr ... FJ012.html

For the battery side of things, all will be good - trust me ;)

Re: any tips for LONG STORAGE

Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 1:16 pm
by Frank
red_dave wrote:Did someone ring??? 8)

Go to Super Cheap Auto and buy one of these (under $50 from memory) ------------> http://www.master-instruments.com.au/pr ... FJ012.html

For the battery side of things, all will be good - trust me ;)
What the hell would know about batteries CHAMP ;)

Re: any tips for LONG STORAGE

Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 1:17 pm
by ezydeek
with this automatic charger you just connect it to the battery and leave it turned ON for 6 weeks?

Re: any tips for LONG STORAGE

Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 1:29 pm
by red_dave
ezydeek wrote:with this automatic charger you just connect it to the battery and leave it turned ON for 6 weeks?
Yes...

It comes with a ring terminals which you permanently attach to the terminals. The attached connector can just pop out the side of the bike and plug into the charger when the bike is stored.

It's a 3 stage smart charger which you can leave connected forever basically.

frl0173 wrote:What the hell would know about batteries CHAMP
I know enough that you also need one of these chargers seeing as you ride your bike less than i ride mine.... CHAMP :lol:

Re: any tips for LONG STORAGE

Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 3:08 pm
by photomike666
As well as Battery, tyres and fuel are the main concerns.

Run the bike out of fuel if you can. I usually siphon as much as I can out and then ride around the street in front of the house until it runs out. This is good to practice your slow speed control

Tyres don't like sitting on concrete for lond periods. Best method is to leave the bike on stands, but failing that put mats or carpet off cuts under them.

In 6 weeks nothing else should be a problem. My race bike has been known to sit longer than that.

Re: any tips for LONG STORAGE

Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 3:57 pm
by jl4049
Drain the tank, use the drain screws to empty the carbs, if FI just start it and run dry (wary of this as FI system fuel pumps don't like being run dry too much), and as Photomike said, put it up on stands if you can, and throw a sheet over it too keep the dusrt out.

Re: any tips for LONG STORAGE

Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 5:23 pm
by Rossi
I have always filled my tank to the very max........no air = no rust !!
smart battery charger a good idea, and get ya tyres off of the floor .....race stands ;)
and a bike cover so you don't have to wash it when you get back......6 weeks covers it in dust :shock:

Re: any tips for LONG STORAGE

Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 6:48 pm
by swabio-ACT
Tip of the day is..... lend ya bike to swabio.... and it won't need storage ;)

Re: any tips for LONG STORAGE

Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 9:49 pm
by Slow and wobbly
6 weeks?
Take the key out of it and that would be about it.

Re: any tips for LONG STORAGE

Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 3:00 am
by ezydeek
well... atleast i got a rear stand, i got some old off-cuts of carpet to put under the front tyre.
i heard that you should deflate the tyres so it wont cause any flat spots on the tyre?? is this true?

with the fuel, is it possible to still have some fuel left and i can get my brother to start it every 2 week??

Re: any tips for LONG STORAGE

Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 11:43 am
by Blurr
flat spots only occur if you leave it on concrete as the chems in the concrete slowly eat away at the rubber.

Race stands and carpet = fixed

+1 for what Rossi said. I have been told to fill the tank all the way to the top to aviod rust. I know the boys over sea's fill it to the top when they winterise their bikes.

Re: any tips for LONG STORAGE

Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 3:37 pm
by jl4049
dont give it yo your brother to start every couple of weeks unless he is going to take it for a ride and warm it up properly, or you will end up with condensation in the oil, I get it from time to time int he winter with the shortish runs to work and back.

Re: any tips for LONG STORAGE

Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 9:08 pm
by Burky
photomike666 wrote: In 6 weeks nothing else should be a problem. My race bike has been known to sit longer than that.
Race bike :shock: My 10 lives in the garage just as long :oops: but yes the carpet and stand is the best way ;)
Don't let the tyres down, there is no need. Just check pressures once you are back.