Storing bike for a year

[manwithav8]

Ok team, if you were to go overseas for a year ( no less ) what would you do with your bike to ensure :-

1. It was still there when you returned
2. when you returned you know it will fire into life and run as if it weren't stored.
3. It still looked and nice and shiney as the day you put it away....

[Drum]

I remember this being done before.

Here you go........

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=46163&highlight=bike+storage+long+term

[manwithav8]

I did look but obviously not hard enough

[psyguy]

i read that thread at the time but don't remember if the cosmetic side of things was covered

anyhow, i'd thoroughly clean the bike and give it a polish - and than spray it all over with a silicone spray (lots of it...) - that should repel any moisture from the metal parts and would keep all the rubber/plastic in good nick (as those parts can deteriorate just through the exposure to light and air)

i'd also cover the bike with a good quality cover (breathable), alowing the air to circulate around the bike

one wash before you next want to use the bike should be enough to get it back to the condition you left it in (cosmetically at least)

[FROSTY]

V8 man---Number 2 aint gonna happen Im sorry dude but ya need to put in about an hours work to fire her up after a layup.
Couple of areas my experience dissagrees with other peoples opinion.
1)clean the chromes of ya front forks and rear shock really well and spray em with storage wax or chain wax. Thisll stop moisture from getting in and causing rust bubbles
2)Drain your CARBS/fuel filter -pumps completely dry -not a drop of fuel in em
3)Fill your fuel tank to the brim--Now If you are a smart bugger--Drain it totally dry then fill it with AVGAS not just high octane normal pump gas--
The reason being that avgas will loose octane same as normal gas but its made differently from pump gas so should still fire up the bike after a year.
4) Haul the battery out completely.Its very unlikely to last a year just sitting so better to have it out of the bike where it can't cause problems.
5) overinflate your tyres to 50psi
6) Do have BOTH wheels raised off the ground
7)give your brake calipers a little bang with a mallet so the wheels rotate freely --thatll reduce the chances of the pistons getting rusty and also reduce the chances of the pads gluing themselves to the disks.-remove the brake lever so no "mate" can grab some brakes.
8)after you have taken the bike for that one last ride Change the oil N filter and Id suggest using a fully synthetic oil.
9) do take notes of exactly whats been done so you remember in 12 months what you've done

[JimO]

i will look afta it for ya save all the hassle

[manwithav8]

how do you stop the carb seals deteriorating if no fuel is present? You said to drain them completely but fill the tank. The way I read it was drain carbs, refill tank but close fuel valve to the carbs off..

[manwithav8]

I little far away to give it to you mate..

When the time comes will look at doing all that has been advised but will put it into an alarmed storage facility with the rest of our house pack.

Not going anywhere for another year and a half but it has crossed my mind as to what needs to be done... I mean sheesh, I don't even have the bike yet and am starting to get concerened on the small things lol

[BigG]

I little far away to give it to you mate..

When the time comes will look at doing all that has been advised but will put it into an alarmed storage facility with the rest of our house pack.

Not going anywhere for another year and a half but it has crossed my mind as to what needs to be done... I mean sheesh, I don't even have the bike yet and am starting to get concerened on the small things lol If Dunedin is to far you could bring it to Hastings and I wou;d look after it for you, give it a gentle ride once a week:yes:

[FROSTY]

how do you stop the carb seals deteriorating if no fuel is present? You said to drain them completely but fill the tank. The way I read it was drain carbs, refill tank but close fuel valve to the carbs off..
You read it right. The reasoning is a FULL tank wont get condensation in it therefore won't rust from the inside out.If you use normal pump gas ya still need to empty the tank before start up.
Carb wise you have a different issue -The volume of fuel is so small that the fuel "flashes off" leaving a thick layer of gunk in the carbs.