Guest Posted October 24, 2007 Posted October 24, 2007 With only a few spare good weekends left, the bandit is soon going to be banished to the garage for a couple of months or longer. What tips do peeps have about putting their bikes away and keeping them in good nick. A cloth cover to keep them dry and dust free has already been suggested...any other good maintenance ideas? Quote
Guest philgale Posted October 24, 2007 Posted October 24, 2007 get out and ride it.....i have no idea about maintenance, im just gonna wash it every now and then... Quote
Guest nigelf Posted October 24, 2007 Posted October 24, 2007 Do an oil change before you put it away.clean and wax it.put loads a protective oil/lithium grease on chrome or any where it could get rusty.If you really want to get anal... service the front and rear brake calipers.make sure the tank is full as much as you can with petrol. stops it rusting inside.drain the carbs of fuel. stops petrol gumming up.remove battery and keep on a charger.you may want to let a couple of PSI out of the tyres.but dont forget to rotate them during the winter.just a few things, hope it helps... Its actually less work to keep it on the road on all but the worst conditions.Nigel the Elf Quote
Guest Posted October 24, 2007 Posted October 24, 2007 Cheers for that, i most likely will try and take it out whenever it's either dry or not icy or at least get the engine ticking over once a week Quote
Stu Posted October 24, 2007 Posted October 24, 2007 or at least get the engine ticking over once a week worst thing you can do if you are storing it dont start it until you are going to go out for a ride on it if you just start it once a week and let it tick over it will never warm up properly and causes condensation in all parts of the engine and it mixes with the oil Quote
Guest Posted October 24, 2007 Posted October 24, 2007 get out and ride it.....i have no idea about maintenance, im just gonna wash it every now and then... Take it out, hose it off with COLD water. Polish it, wipe over with WD40 or acf. Ride it, and repeat process Quote
techno Posted October 24, 2007 Posted October 24, 2007 Dont store it ride the damn thing sopposed to be a mild winter and theres some good rifing to be had if ya get ya winter gear on lovely crisp air Quote
Guest Posted October 24, 2007 Posted October 24, 2007 Lets hope so, i intend riding it as much as the weather will allow...got plenty warm winter clothing too. Dunno what the rest of the country is like but we're allready into the minus up here! Quote
queen bodecia Posted October 24, 2007 Posted October 24, 2007 I'm putting mine away for winter this weekend. It gets a good clean, battery connected to optimate, put on paddock stand (if I can persuade someone to come and help!), dust cover and that's about it. Then it gets a mini service before I put it back on the road in spring... Quote
yorbandit Posted October 24, 2007 Posted October 24, 2007 Store it mate batt off on shelf or somewhere warm, petrol tank full as poss, bollocks to that poss explosion rubbish, if ya not gonna take it on a good run just let it sit, next summer trickle charge batt and a way ya go, always get service in summer not end of winter Quote
houdini Posted October 25, 2007 Posted October 25, 2007 Qb Ive just been given a paddock stand by another member (cheers bud) its dead easy to do. Hold the bike and use yer right leg on the stand, I wasnt too sure at first but it gets esaier the more times I do it.Ive been debating whether to winterize mine but chances are every weekend is blast time so polish it spray it then enjoy it.Oh and qb, if the bike falls on you whilst trying this dont blame me lol Quote
techno Posted October 25, 2007 Posted October 25, 2007 I dont understand why you pay to use them all year round then leave em alone for 6months...then it takes you a while in the spring to get back up to speed...however I will thank someone for my next low milage baragin! Quote
Guest Posted October 25, 2007 Posted October 25, 2007 Could i just put her up on the centre stand rather than a paddock stand?I dont have a battery charger so is there still any use in removing it and keeping it somehwere warm?Ideally she might only be sitting stored for 2-3 months, i reckon i still got a good few weeks use of her yet... Quote
Stu Posted October 25, 2007 Posted October 25, 2007 yeah just put it on centre stand and get the front wheel off the deck some how as for a charger go bloody buy one they are only about £20 for a oxford one failing that take it off and keep it in the house Quote
cyberwolf Posted October 25, 2007 Posted October 25, 2007 I dont understand why you pay to use them all year round then leave em alone for 6months...then it takes you a while in the spring to get back up to speed...however I will thank someone for my next low milage baragin! i dont see the point of having a bike if you not going to use it sell it to techno and buy a other bike when you need it Quote
Guest Posted October 25, 2007 Posted October 25, 2007 people who buy a bike & dont use it are big poofy girls Quote
queen bodecia Posted October 25, 2007 Posted October 25, 2007 Qb Ive just been given a paddock stand by another member (cheers bud) its dead easy to do. Hold the bike and use yer right leg on the stand, I wasnt too sure at first but it gets esaier the more times I do it.Ive been debating whether to winterize mine but chances are every weekend is blast time so polish it spray it then enjoy it.Oh and qb, if the bike falls on you whilst trying this dont blame me lol Houdy, my paddock stand is rubbash. The bike needs to be upright to get it in place, then it's a whole body weight job to push it down. Def a two person job. I think I need to invest in one of them abba stands one day if I ever have any spare money... Quote
queen bodecia Posted October 25, 2007 Posted October 25, 2007 I dont understand why you pay to use them all year round then leave em alone for 6months...then it takes you a while in the spring to get back up to speed...however I will thank someone for my next low milage baragin! The simple answer is I don't pay all year round. I cash the tax in and downgrade the insurance to garage only. That usually gives me about £75 back at at time of the year when I need it most. I usually put the bike back on the road in March/April time so it's only off the road for 4/5 months.There may be the occasional weekend day between November and February where the roads are dry, frost and salt-free and the temperature is above 15º, but I wouldn't count on it and it's worth more to me to have an extra £75 in me pocket... Quote
Guest Posted October 25, 2007 Posted October 25, 2007 i can do my paddock stand alone with ease. hold the bike with one hand & push the stand down with the other. just need to get the knack of it.trouble is the bugger doesnt fit the new bike - i need a wider one! Quote
Stu Posted October 25, 2007 Posted October 25, 2007 trouble is the bugger doesnt fit the new bike - i need a wider one! bend it out i can do all 4 of my stands on my own mind 2 of them are a easy peasy Quote
queen bodecia Posted October 25, 2007 Posted October 25, 2007 Well I can't. I can't hold the bike upright with one hand and crouch down to position the paddock stand at the same time, nor can I lift the bike with one hand. I can do the track bike by leaning it upright against the garage wall, but I wouldn't do that with the Blade... Quote
houdini Posted October 25, 2007 Posted October 25, 2007 4 stands stu????you talking axle stands here? you lifting a car?Just for qb I put mine up on the axle stand this mornin, set the left hand u cup against the swingarm, push down on the stand checking the right one is set right and wahey.Every bit of spare time is potential riding time so thats my plan for winter. Quote
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