| Author | Message | ||
     Xbniner |
This is my first winter with the bike, and it just got back from the shop for the headlight recall. I live in illinois, so the riding season is long gone for me. What should I do to take care of it for the next few months? I just planned on changing the oil, topping off the gas, yanking the battery and covering it in my non heated garage. Anything I'm forgetting? | ||
| Hammer71 |
Replace oil, throw some fuel stabilizer in it and run it for a bit, throw battery on tender or take it out, tire pressure and get tires off ground. Should do it for ya, I may have missed something I'm not too sure as I ride all year round. | ||
| Jaimec |
You've got it all covered except for the tire issue Hammer71 pointed out. I feel for ya! Fortunately, I get to ride year round here on relatively mild Long Island... | ||
| Boney95 |
Pull the plugs and spray some fogging oil in each cylinder. Wash good before you store. | ||
| Jaimec |
Nah, a protective layer of dirt will protect the finish...  | ||
| Kowpow225 |
What do you recommend using to cover the battery? Mine are sitting out in the cold with a trickle charger on them....up off of the ground of course. | ||
| 2008xb12scg |
Nah, a protective layer of dirt will protect the finish Are you related to cityslicker? | ||
| Xbniner |
tire pressure and get tires off ground. Hmmm never even thought about that... I don't have any jacks or stands for the bike. I understand the reason for it, I don't want flat spots on my tires. Should I just go buy some axle stands? | ||
| Boney95 |
Yeah, go get yourself some rear axle sliders w/spools. Every one needs sliders. T-Rex offers some cost effective stands. | ||
| Thetable |
Someone feel free to correct me if I'm wrong. It has always been my understanding that the tires off the ground thing bases it's roots in the old days of bias ply tires with nylon cords that would actually distort if sitting in place for an extended period of time. In looking through a few manufacturers websites, the main recommendation, is stable temperature away from ozone, chemicals, and freezing temps. | ||
| Hammer71 |
Forgot about spraying the cylinders. Thetable, as far as the tires off ground, you may be correct as it's something that has been passed down over the years. But better safe than sorry may apply here. If it cant be lifted put it on some wooden blocks. Correct pressure I would assume is the most important. | ||
| Boney95 |
Spray the cylinders. What up Hammer. They even tell you to do this in the service manual. | ||
| Rkutzner |
2 or 3 months on the ground won't hurt the tires. Just move the bike a few inches every coupla weeks. If it makes ya happy, put in a few extra psi.... | ||
| Ratbuell |
Buy a set of heated clothes, install the lead for them, and ride. lol. Seriously though. I try to keep my tires at least on carpet (yeah, there's a couple rugs in my garage) or plywood. It's not so much a bias-ply (by the way, bike tires aren't radials I don't think) thing, but trying to insulate the contact patch from the cold ground. If you don't have stands, and the budget is tight, get some automotive jackstands, and a couple pieces of metal rod from Home Depot. Slide the rod thru the axles, jack the bike (ratchet straps to the garage rafters works in a pinch), put the rods in the cups on the jackstands. Presto - "work stands". | ||
| Froggy |
Lol winterizing! Came out from work today, 27.2F, found a layer of ice on my bike :P     | ||
| Brumbear |
And you didn't scratch your name in the seat | ||
| Froggy |
I thought about it, but then I would have to sit on it, so it would be like an insult or something. I could of thrown a shoe at it too.... | ||
| Johnnylunchbox |
Froggy I hope you're not running 20W50 in those temps. | ||
| Mesa_cityx |
Ok, so what is with the acc plug on the dash? My cityx dosen,t have one ! | ||
| Hammer71 |
LOL that would make for some fun starting issues. | ||
| New12r |
Ok, so what is with the acc plug on the dash? My cityx dosen,t have one You dont have a Uly. I agree with Ratbuell, heated gear and ride. But I cant say anything, I rode to lunch yesterday in a t shirt, and we will be in the upper 60's again today. As far as the tires goes, even a steel belted radial can develop flat spots over time. **IF** I ever had to store my bike for more than a month it would be in the air. | ||
| Xbniner |
Buy a set of heated clothes, install the lead for them, and ride. Trust me, I'd much rather be riding it. I'll post some pics later, but let's just say it's the ice more than the temp that keeps the bike in the garage.} | ||
| Ratbuell |
but let's just say it's the ice more than the temp Right there with ya. I need to get a nice, small thermometer to stick to the dash of my Uly so I know when I'm at freezing. We've got so many trees around here, and so many road sections that don't sun-dry...it'd be nice to know if I'm about to ride over water, or ice. | ||
| Froggy |
I am overdue for a change, what should I throw in? It has been a bitch to start, between the cold and my 750 idle. Mesa, my bike isn't a CityX, In fact its not a production Buell. Its a XB12, has the 4.4 gallon frame/swingarm, Ulysses front end, SS/STT rear, Hero Blue plastics and wheels, STT handle bars, various other bits yanked off other Buells  Vin number says its a SS   | ||
| Froggy |
Just took these     | ||
| Xbniner |
Wow please tell me you have a cage to ride on days like this? | ||
| Froggy |
Yea, its parked behind my old uly in this pic, I need to go take some better ones of it:  | ||
| Thetable |
by the way, bike tires aren't radials I don't think Most of the sport and sport touring tires offered these days are radials, and the ones that came on the XBs definitely are radials. I need to get a nice, small thermometer to stick to the dash of my Uly so I know when I'm at freezing. Let me know what you come up with, I need one too. I've made too many trips home just wondering. | ||
| Froggy |
I got one for an oil temp gauge. If you haven't ridden in 5 hours it is very accurate. Pic of it on my blue bike above. | ||
| Hammer71 |
Frank, put some 10/40 in there for the winter and all will be good, havent had any issues here. |
