Outdoor Winter Storage

[TorontoGuy]

Hey all,

New to this forum and hoping some of you can give me your thoughts on outdoor winter storage. I've had an '82 CB750F Super Sport for the past few years and stored it in a friend's garage during the winters. But that option's no longer on the table.

If I cover the bike properly, and then remove the battery and do all the other maintenance things you'd normally do (stabilizer, oil change) will it be ok? Or am I just asking for trouble? The bike would be in an outdoor parking area behind my building. I don't plan on riding it again until the weather warms up - so it'd probably be out there from mid-November to early April.

I guess I could cough up the dough to store it somewhere in the city, but for what most places around here charge it feels like a scam.

[TOOLS1]

Should not be problem, however in addition to what you have already mentioned, I would add a through waxing. I would first give it a wash-down at a carwash, then use the spray wax feature they have. After that I would wax everything with a good quality wax, and I mead everything. Paint, aluminum, and chrome.
TOOLS

[Re-run]

I would add 2 things, get a piece of plywood and a cover of some kind. Doesn't have to be a motorcycle cover, even a simple tarp will do. Park the bike on the wood and cover with a tarp. Attach the tarp to the wood so it can't blow off. I would still wax everything you can reach, especially if it isn't painted or has scratches, but the tarp will keep most of the snow off, and the spring melt off. The wood will help the tires too and prevent the bike from sinking depending on the surface it is parked on.

Otherwise, you could always check with other friends, maybe 1 has a shed and you can shoehorn the bike into it. I cram 4 bikes into my 8'x10' shed. It gets interesting sometimes.

[Truck]

if you get alot of snow I'd recomend building a frame out of PVC or something to go over the bike so the tarp doesnt rub in the wind and an angled top (kinda like your roof) to keep the snow from sitting in any flat spots and possibly tearing the tarp.

[TorontoGuy]

Appreciate the input guys. I've got a high-quality cover for the bike so no need for a tarp. The bike will be up on its center stand, but maybe some plywood underneath wouldn't hurt. Otherwise sounds like it should be alright. Thanks!

[ETFerguson]

Sorry, don't want to hijack your thread TorontoGuy but I'm from Winnipeg and I'm in the same boat! Well almost, as I have a shop I'm keeping my bike in. Problem is that it will only be heated when I'm out at the farm and working on it during the weekends. I will most likely start the bike up after the stove has warmed the building up but what difference should there be in my storage routine (if any)? Can I add fuel stabilizer like normal even if I'm going to run the bike once and awhile while in the shop? Will running it on and off throughout the winter and having the shop warm up to room temp then back down to -20 C be an issue for the bike?

Thanks everyone and good luck from a fellow Canuck!

[Re-run]

Naw, that won't be an issue. Fuel stabilizer is good but I don't like the Sta-bil brand. Any time I used it, I had to clean the carbs. I prefer to use Seafoam. If you don't have that, I think Star-tron is supposed to work well.

Put some in the tank and fill it to the brim. If you are going to run the bike, maybe keep a small tank with stabilizer in it so you can keep your fuel tank full. help keep out the moisture so the tank doesn't rust.

Only thing would be to make sure you warm the bike up all the way. Otherwise, condensation builds in the oil and doesn't get burned off and may cause some corrosion in the engine, may.

Even in a shop, if the bike is on concrete, put it on wood. Supposedly concrete can leech the tires and make them rot faster. I have read this from credible and not so credible sources. I didn't do it for years and I can't say it caused any tire damage for sure.

[ETFerguson]

Thanks for the advice, this makes me feel better and when more pumped for my winter projects! I can't wait to have a heated shop that's warm all year round, then my problems will be over :D

So when you say warm or up all the way, you mean run it for a few minutes at least? Not just turn it over and shit it off right away?

Also, is there a specific amount of time I should wait between shutting the bike off and then cutting the heat in the shop, turning off the lights and letting everything re freeze essentially?

On Friday, October 10, 2014, Re-run [via Honda CB750'S] <[hidden email]> wrote:

Naw, that won't be an issue. Fuel stabilizer is good but I don't like the Sta-bil brand. Any time I used it, I had to clean the carbs. I prefer to use Seafoam. If you don't have that, I think Star-tron is supposed to work well.

Put some in the tank and fill it to the brim. If you are going to run the bike, maybe keep a small tank with stabilizer in it so you can keep your fuel tank full. help keep out the moisture so the tank doesn't rust.

Only thing would be to make sure you warm the bike up all the way. Otherwise, condensation builds in the oil and doesn't get burned off and may cause some corrosion in the engine, may.

Even in a shop, if the bike is on concrete, put it on wood. Supposedly concrete can leech the tires and make them rot faster. I have read this from credible and not so credible sources. I didn't do it for years and I can't say it caused any tire damage for sure.

The ride IS the adventure. The destination is just to get gas!

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