My last bikes I rode all through winter but my new 848 needs tucking up until spring. What should I do to keep the bike in A1 condition. I've bought a charger ready to keep the battery at peek. Anything else? I assume I should fire her up for a few minutes until she's warmed every couple of weeks also. What about tyres, should I be raising the bike on stands? I only have a rear paddock stand at the mo.
I give it a good clean including removing the panels and doing the engine cases. Depending on when the bike was last serviced I change the oil and filter as old oil has low levels of acid in it so its always good to put some new in. Doesnt have to be anything special as its only for storage but bare in mind to replace with like for like ie fully/semi synth. I also put it up on front/rear paddock stands and reduce the tyre pressures slightly to around 20 psi. Put the battery on an optimate and wrap in an old duvet. There are arguments for and against periodic starting over winter so thats just a matter of choice.
On an older bike I'd switch off the fuel tap and run the engine to drain the float bowls, I dunno what the FI equivalent of this is, or if it's necessary at all? Is it necessary to lay it up for winter? Modern textiles mean riding in winter ain't the ball-ache it used to be, and the weather doesn't seem to change much all year round. I'd be tempted just to stick it on the optimate and take it for a spin whenever there's a nice weekend.
I stick mine on a batt conditioner and fire up every couple of weeks. Manly just to her her.:redface: Mine also stays on a rear paddock stand, dunno if this is really necessary, but I like the look and it creates more room in the garage. There used to be massdebates on the old forum on this topic as I recall. :biggrin:
Get the battery off and keep it on the house, cold kills batteries! Drain the tank completely and keep it in a padded box in the house to eliminate any chance of condensation/water forming in it Keep the bike up on stands to prevent flat-spots on the tyres BUT give the forks a good squidge every week or so or your fork seals will dry out and leak, meaning the ultimate faff of new seals come springtime... Leaving a tyre on concrete will blot oils and minerals out of the tyre compound over time meaning a dry-spot on your tyre? +1 on giving it a good run of the roads are dry? Starting it up and running it on your driveway for 10 minutes will just piss the neighbours off :biggrin: A long run will do it more good! If you DO go out - look at some of the anti-corrosion sprays for your bike? ACF-50 is a good one for fasteners etc to stop them turning into cornflakes, Scottoiler do the FS365 spray which isnt half as *sticky* and will stop any salt-rot etc :smile: I've always tended to load the bike up with anti-corrosion spray then leave it on until Spring has come? Getting a Ducati wet can lead to all sorts of unwelcome dramas, I avoid it unless it is absolutely necessary
no no no keep riding it my battery is kept in the house tho with the rest of the bike cleaned once a year wether it needs it or not:biggrin:
I run mine on the front and rear stands at the beginning of each month and keep it running until the fans kick in. That gives the engine and the oil a heat cycle and avoids moisture building up in the cases. I also change through the gears while she's running.
Thankyou for your helpful comment, we are now educated beyond all belief. Can I ask what you are doing with your bike this winter, or did it only get used in June and July? :smile:
I'll be riding it.any day its dry and no grit down i will ride out for a bit.when not working of course. Don't think it does these bikes any good to be stood up for weeks.imo .
Thanks for all the advice. Seems getting at the battery on my 848 means removing LHS panel. A bit of a faff I think I'll be better rolling her out of the garage every weekend and running her for 10 minutes. Looks like I need to get a front paddock stand sorted then.
A 10-15 ride on the bike will be more beneficial than just starting her up and ticking over, it'll get fully hot and clear any lingering condensation for one thing. I'd be more tempted to a 15-minute once a month rather than just starting it up once a week. Mind you. given the weather today, I could happily hibernate myself, never mind the bike...
+1 on that. I wouldn't fire it up unless I were going to ride it on a full heat cycle for several miles. Otherwise wrap it and leave it on the optimate until the opportunity to roll it arises.
Dont just run it up in the garage you will get condensation building up. Then come spring you'll be posting about water in your oil etc etc etc
