Storing a motorcycle outside in New England winter

Buddy of mine just shipped out to the Marine Corps. He had to leave his bike with me. I made sure he understood it was going to have to stay outside. It's a rather nice 02 YZF600.

I have a motorcycle cover that I'm going to throw on it, but other than that, what are some things I can do to keep it in good shape over the winter?

I'm mostly concerned about the tires.

Find air box inlet DUCT tape it off!! Use Startron in the last tank of fuel.

Plug exhust pipes with something plastic. Note those cheap ass water bottle work well loosen the cap flod and push the bottle in to the pipe. refit cap and push it in a little more to seal it off.

This will keep mice out.

If possible raise wheels off the ground via "race stands" or stack 6x6's under the swing arm sides and under the front axle.

I can set up up with cold winter storage inside if you like. I'm in Gardner Ma.

44

Also, take the battery out and put it on a trickle charger.

I haven't posted in Sprockets because I haven't had a bike since joining the forum, but I do have experience on this topic having had bikes in CT and MA for 20+ years. Fluids prep, battery remove and trickle, Animal prevention things are all good ideas. Tires are only good for about 6 years reguardless of mileage, because the rubber drys out no matter what you do. How old are the tires?

Here's my tip.

Go to local storage/moving facility and get a plastic mattress bag (they're cheap). Put the whole bike in the bag on a dry, low humidity day and seal it up so there's no air exchange. The daily warming/cooling cycles that cause condensation increase the rate of aluminum oxidation and pitting of chrome etc. By putting the bike in the bag the heavy condensation forms on the outside of the bag rather than on the bike itself and since there should be relatively little moisture in the bag the bike doesn't get sweaty. Cover the bagged bike with a cover that doesnt let light through and use bunji cords to hold the cover and bag so they wont move in wind. The constant movement of the bag/cover can wear a hole through the plastic bag and can also dull paint finishes etc. by rubbing.

If you want to be a real nice guy, coat all chrome that doesn't get hot with wax, let it dry, and don't wipe it off before bagging the bike. Does a great job at protecting the chrome from pitting especially combined with the bagging. I have not tried it on painted surfaces.

Thanks so much guys. I appreciate the help. He's an old friend and I want to take care of it for him while he's gone. It's his baby.

If you bag it toss in some desicant bags. Asked the guy at the shoe store they toss'em all day. 02 i think is injected so just startron should be all that needed there. Heres a cheap but good tricle charger. You can leave the batery side plug under the seat come spring no need to remove it again.

http://www.bargainoutfitters.com/net/cb/battery-tender-jr.aspx?a=386904

What, you can't park it in your living room?

Your YZF is carbed, so the #1 most important thing: DRAIN YOUR CARBS. If it's got a petcock, turn it to the OFF position and let it run till it stalls, or just drain the floats with the drain screws. Put some stabil in the gas tank so it doesn't go off.

I would anticipate new sneakers when you pull it back out. You may get away with a little dry rot on a car, but there you've got three others.

Dan

why would you get dry rot from letting a bike sit out over the winter? Why would storing it in a dry but unheated garage not cause dry rot? Just wondering because I have stored multiple bikes for 20+ years in Cleveland Ohio with no problems.

I assumed more than one year storage, shipping out with the Marines?. I do it because I'm safety anal and don't heal that fast any more.

Dan

Thanks all for the help.

This is temporary, ie over the winter. When spring rolls around, he will be back for a break (he's a new recruit at the moment) and plans to find something more permanent, or perhaps sell it.

Lots of great info here, I'm sure he'll be happy when he sees what I have in store for his storage. He's assuming I'm just going to toss it out back under a tarp.

Honestly, if it is a cool enough bike, drain the tank, clean the crap out of it and move it inside. I will make a great conversation piece.

I think I'd consider building some sort of a wood frame to keep a cover from touching paint. I've seen some nasty paint damage caused by a windblown cover rubbing a fairing or etc.

I kept my Seca 750 in the living room of my apartment, did the same with a TT250 and parked my TT600 in the kitchen of a house I rented. Just be sure to put cardboard under the tires because they will stain carpet, tile, hardwood etc. I was going to keep my Hodaka Super Rat inside but the wife nixed that. But now if I get another one...

Buy a cheap van to put it in, or steal a dumpster from the city. Do all of the above posts. I am a taxpayer and I approved this message.