How do you store your bike for the winter?

[Cartmanpig92]

Hello all, I was wondering how I can store my bike for the winter. Im going to be living in apartment during the winter while in college and my home doesnt have a garage so I wantedto see if anyone can give megood ideas on where and how to store my bike for the winter. Thanks!

[Zippo475]

find a friend with a garage or rent a storage unit? <.<

[Ga-Bandit]

Isn't Winter over?

[Alilyoyo1]

store it? just put on warmer gear and ride it!

[wallypiper]

I'm going to make some assumptions based on your question.
1. You don't feel it's safe to keep your bike at the apartment or the apartment is located somewhere where winter is the real deal and you don't expect to get any riding in at all.
2. You can't even consider keeping the bike inside your house or apartment. I used to keep TWO motorcycles in the living/dining room area of a house that didn't have an enclosed garage. Admittedly it used up a room and it was more of a chore to get them out for a ride, but they were secure and out of the weather. Neither ever leaked a single drop of fluids but if you're not sure about that you can always put down something to protect floors and carpets.

But if you really need to truly store a bike for the winter, first you need to winterize it - fresh oil, fresh gas with some stabilizer, trickle charger on the battery. Both tires off the ground if possible or, if not, go and turn them a little once a week or so and keep plenty of pressure in them. If security wasn't an issue but cost is, just keep it under a tarp. Allow some air circulation but keep rain etc off it. Watch for critters, too, taking up residence in the exhaust system or intakes or some cozy spot in the fairing.

My garage is full. Maybe somebody else here has some space. If the money's not a problem, most self storage places will allow vehicle storage but you still need to do the winterizing stuff if it's going to be parked for more than a couple of months. Do check with the storage place before you commit. Some won't allow vehicles because of the flammable fluids. It would be a pain to sign an agreement and pay for a month up front or something only to find that they won't let you put a motorcycle in it.

[Derrick]

If it's only for a few months just rent a storage unit.

[PlayfulGod]

store it for winter??? Here? F**k that ride it :)

[Cartmanpig92]

well im not sure on the security of my apartment but im not opposed to getting outside once a week or more to start it up and maybe ride it around the apartment complex. i just want to see what my options are so i dont ruin anything. if that isnt possible i was thinking maybe a storage unit. but security isnt much of an issue its mainly convenience. at my house the room i would put it in is the same room we put our xmas tree in and have our xmas dinner so a motorcycle isnt the best decoration to my mom however i think a clean sv650 would beautifully accent the room haha. my apartment well we will be living on the top floor for various reasons so that wont work. i figured a ga oriented forum would help me best because you guys are used to the weather so if anyone has any ideas that would work with my circumstances that would be great. i mainly want to keep it with me because i think i would have a problem with not being able to see my bike everyday.

[RogueElement]

well im not sure on the security of my apartment but im not opposed to getting outside once a week or more to start it up and maybe ride it around the apartment complex. i just want to see what my options are so i dont ruin anything. if that isnt possible i was thinking maybe a storage unit. but security isnt much of an issue its mainly convenience. at my house the room i would put it in is the same room we put our xmas tree in and have our xmas dinner so a motorcycle isnt the best decoration to my mom however i think a clean sv650 would beautifully accent the room haha. my apartment well we will be living on the top floor for various reasons so that wont work. i figured a ga oriented forum would help me best because you guys are used to the weather so if anyone has any ideas that would work with my circumstances that would be great. i mainly want to keep it with me because i think i would have a problem with not being able to see my bike everyday.

Ride that sucker! Get some heated gear and a good balaclava. You won't be uncomfortable at all.

[Cartmanpig92]

yea im just worried about my inexperience is all but yea I might just do that

[Lazarus]

To "store" it properly would require either front and rear stands or increasing tire PSI to prevent flat spots, ideally rolling the bike around a little bit once a week, filling up the tank with fuel and using some Sta-Bil, getting a cover for it. In Jersey I just started my bikes up twice a week and let them run, not stabilizer needed and I never had to clean the carbs come spring.

[Bobby "Brown"]

store it for winter??? Here? F**k that ride it :)

What he said. lol

[Cartmanpig92]

so laz if i just start it twice a week and roll it if not ride it then i should be good? would i still need to put a cover on it? i dont see why you would have to but it doesnt hurt to ask.

[Cartmanpig92]

thanks everyone for your responses!

[Georgiacbr]

squid's and there questions lately I guess it's better to ask tho. I have a freind with a sportbike in his basement that has had that in for year's and didn't start it hate to see the results there LOL.

[Kenand1988]

Is your bike carbuerated? If it is you will need to drain them to winterize it. If not then you will still need to make sure the tires do not get flat spots and keep the batery on a trickle charger. I would not leave a bike out in the elements unless I have to. I keep my bike in my apartment sometimes, for me it is really convenient. I live on the back side on the ground level. However, its a Georgia housing code violation or something like that. I asked my maintenance guy who I am friends with how much trouble I could get in and he said it is a $1000 fine! It makes sense because it is a potential explosive. So f that. In the winter I plan on storing it at a friends garage but I, like you, will need to winterize it. Your best and cheapest bet is to use some one elses garage.

[Lazarus]

Is your bike carbuerated? If it is you will need to drain them t winterize it.

If you are able to start the bike every week, maybe even every two weeks you wont have to do this.

[Kenand1988]

I was just about to add that. Thanks for mentioning that. You should also probably keep a full tank of gas in it to prevent it rusting.

[Cartmanpig92]

well the plan is to get an 06 sv650 so itll be FI and i have no problem with getting out even every other day and starting it up and i figure id just ride around the complex when the ground isnt crap. and when im done i could just put a tarp over it just exposing the wheels? does that sound good? i cant stand the cold for a bit. how long would i need to keep it running?

[Lazarus]

You should also probably keep a full tank of gas in it to prevent it rusting.

+1

[Kenand1988]

let it run till it gets up to operating temp, whatever that may be for your bike. Ride it around for a few minutes and let it idle some more. I'm not an expert but I would think 10 minutes or so would be good. You can buy a motorcycle cover for 25-40 bucks depending on where you go and it will cover the entire bike. Your bike is a size medium. Running it even just once a week will keep it in good working order, expect the unexpected when dealing with mother nature though.

[Cartmanpig92]

sweet! this is starting to look easier than i expected. i cant wait to start riding!!! thank you everyone for helping me with this i had no clue how i would go about it given my circumstances but i think i have a good idea of how to handle the winter. good thing we live in georgia and dont have to worry too much about snow.

[saboulet]

I'm in Athens and when it's Winter here, I used to keep my bike outside because I also do not have a garage. 30 minutes before I left in the morning I would plug my bike up to a battery tender to ensure the battery was fully charged, and I also bought a little $30 heater to put on the oil to warm it up in the morning. That helped a lot and never had any issues starting it up on a cold morning.