Leaving bike for 3 months, what do I need to do?

**awesker** · 15th January 2007, 12:13

Hey, so Im gonna be leaving my bike here in auckland for about 3 months while Im down in blenhiem. What do I need to do to it, if anything so it doesnt get raped while Im not here, somebody told me to chuck some fuel stabilizer into the tank so it doesnt go bad, or I can drain it and spray some WD40.. but Im not sure.. I dont have a bikestand either so I guess the tires are gonna square off.. but thats nothing major, cause I could just chuck on a new pair when I get back up..

This is my list so far:
Disconnect battery

thats it! anyone else got any tips so when I get back itll fire up without giving me issues?

Cheers!
Nick

btw: its just the cbr where talking about, the 2nd owner of the RGV is taking that off my hands.

**wybmadiity** · 15th January 2007, 12:22

Originally Posted by awesker

Hey, so Im gonna be leaving my bike here in auckland for about 3 months while Im down in blenhiem. What do I need to do to it, if anything so it doesnt get raped while Im not here, somebody told me to chuck some fuel stabilizer into the tank so it doesnt go bad, or I can drain it and spray some WD40.. but Im not sure.. I dont have a bikestand either so I guess the tires are gonna square off.. but thats nothing major, cause I could just chuck on a new pair when I get back up..

This is my list so far:
Disconnect battery

thats it! anyone else got any tips so when I get back itll fire up without giving me issues?

Cheers!
Nick

btw: its just the cbr where talking about, the 2nd owner of the RGV is taking that off my hands.

I am bikeless at the moment and am more than happy to look after it for you ...

I'd be nice to it I promise...

**Macktheknife** · 15th January 2007, 12:29

Drain fuel and carbs disconnect battery and if possible put it on a block or main stand if you have one. When you return, do oil/filter change and refuel then reconnect battery and off you go. If you were going to be away longer then I would say also give the cylinders a squirt of lube before leaving too.
Best of luck

**paturoa** · 15th January 2007, 12:31

If it is only a few months then a battery minder or get a mate to take it for a ride every couple of weeks.

**notme** · 15th January 2007, 12:34

You can do a lot of stuff like removing the plugs and oiling the cylinders etc...but another alternative - is it possible to get someone who would turn it over / run it for a few minutes say once per month?

**idleidolidyll** · 15th January 2007, 14:26

Originally Posted by awesker

Hey, so Im gonna be leaving my bike here in auckland for about 3 months while Im down in blenhiem. What do I need to do to it

No sweat, just leave it with me, I promise to treat it as nicely as I treat my own (and I'll save lots of km's on my own bike riding to work)

**Bonez** · 15th January 2007, 16:14

3 months is bugger all. Disconnect the battery(battery tendered posibbly), drain the carbs(i've neglected to do this this for six months and just drained allowing fresh fuel to flow through at times), get someone you trust to move it a foot every other week, once again probably not really required. Fill the tank right up also-91 as it has less crappy additives in it. It's better to have it full as this helps reduce the amount of condesation.

Bikes are stored longer than this in m/c shops

.

As long as the battery is charged and fresh fuel is in the carbs it should fire up almaost straight away. Warm it up and then take it for a decent ride, 50k-80ks or more(20kms should be ample but do are hanging out for a ride decent aren't you?). This should get rid of moister out of the engine.

Main thing is to make sure the bike is in a dry storage area covered to stop birds shitting over it, reduce dust and sunlight.

**Ixion** · 15th January 2007, 16:20

Originally Posted by allun

You can do a lot of stuff like removing the plugs and oiling the cylinders etc...but another alternative - is it possible to get someone who would turn it over / run it for a few minutes say once per month?

That can be a rather bad practice on a four stroke. Running for a few minutes from cold produces a lot of acidic exhaust gas vapour. If you don't run it long enough to get everything thoroughly hot, that acidic vapour condenses in the exhaust system and starts rotting it out, from the inside. Either leave it be , or run it until thorougly hot.

**Bonez** · 15th January 2007, 16:51

To give you an idea how robust a 4 stoke can be I helped rejuviate a GS1000 that sat for almost a year many moons ago that had mininal, read no, storage prep whatsoever. It was left under shelter but that was about it. Still was subjected the driving rain, wind etc. It sat for nealy a year without any attention to it at all. Fresh fuel then used a truck battery cart to fire it up as the bikes battery was obviously dead. Away she went. You should of seen the crap the came out the exhaust.

**awesker** · 15th January 2007, 17:16

Originally Posted by Bonez

3 months is bugger all. Disconnect the battery(battery tendered posibbly), drain the carbs(i've neglected to do this this for six months and just drained allowing fresh fuel to flow through at times), get someone you trust to move it a foot every other week, once again probably not really required. Fill the tank right up also-91 as it has less crappy additives in it. It's better to have it full as this helps reduce the amount of condesation.

Bikes are stored longer than this in m/c shops

.

As long as the battery is charged and fresh fuel is in the carbs it should fire up almaost straight away. Warm it up and then take it for a decent ride, 50k-80ks or more(20kms should be ample but do are hanging out for a ride decent aren't you?). This should get rid of moister out of the engine.

Main thing is to make sure the bike is in a dry storage area covered to stop birds shitting over it, reduce dust and sunlight.

So I dont need to add any fuel stabilser or anything? Just fill it up to the brim?
Itll be inside a closed garage/gamesroom so no worries about bird shit or sunlight.
what about some WD40 on brakedisks and stuff to stop any rust?

Cheers for the advice guys! man, Im gonna miss the old girl.. I was starting going nuts over a week while I was up north for new years... will I go insane? place bets now!

**NighthawkNZ:Me** · 15th January 2007, 17:17

3 months is bugger all, years ago I went over seas for 6 months and didn't do anything as it was a quick draft, and in the middle of winter, no shed and no cover. Came back put the key in, flicked the choke, pushed start and away I went.

I also had my XJ in storage for almost 4 years... and well it blew us away when we started it first pop after priming the fuel lines and carbs, and actually rode it happily up and down the street, but she was stored in a shed and under cover.

Depends where its being stored... under cover out side or under cover in a shed.

However, I would discount the battery, and maybe drain the carbs though I wouldn't think this really essential.

**Bonez** · 15th January 2007, 17:23

Originally Posted by awesker

So I dont need to add any fuel stabilser or anything? Just fill it up to the brim?

what about some WD40 on brakedisks and stuff?

Allow a bit of gap for expansion. Add stabilser if you feel you have to, thats the main thing being comfortable. Never needed to myself. NO WD40 repeat NO WD40 on your disks, pads etc!!!

**awesker** · 15th January 2007, 17:24

Originally Posted by NighthawkNZ

3 months is bugger all, years ago I went over seas for 6 months and didn't do anything as it was a quick draft, and in the middle of winter, no shed and no cover. Came back put the key in, flicked the choke, pushed start and away I went.

I also had my XJ in storage for almost 4 years... and well it blew us away when we started it first pop after priming the fuel lines and carbs, and actually rode it happily up and down the street, but she was stored in a shed and under cover.

Depends where its being stored... under cover out side or under cover in a shed.

However, I would discount the battery, and maybe drain the carbs though I wouldn't think this really essential.

churr! thats what I wanna hear! Ive heard stories on the ozzie CBR250 forum about guys bikes going through major issues from being left to long.. makes you a bit paranoid!

Originally Posted by Bonez

Allow a bit of gap for expansion. Add stabilser if you feel you have to, thats the main thing being comfortable. Never needed to myself. NO WD40 repeat NO WD40 on your disks, pads etc!!!

Roger that capitano! I thought fuel goes 'off' after a couple of months? when I get back should I drain that old crap out and put fresh gas in?