I know this is a few months early, but was thinking about it today so I thought I would write. I am a new bike owner (2000 F4 -- first bike) and was just thinking about what I would need to do to store it in the cold Wisconsin winter. It will either be stored in an uninsulated garage or an insulated (but not heated) garage..not sure yet. what would you guys reccommend be done before it gets put away? Seafoam in the tank? Anything else? Any advice would be appreciated!

 

Last winter, I stored a carbed bike in Michigan OUTSIDE with nothing but a tarp over it and a full tank of gas. Started up after about 4 or 5 cranks.

But, I wouldn't recommend it. Add STA-BIL fuel stabilizer to a full tank of gas for starters. Disconnect the battery and maybe put it on a trickle charger.

otherwise: http://lmgtfy.com/?q=motorcycle+winter+storage

 

I ride yr-rd, so I don't really store persay. But, when I do leave my bike(s) for longer than usual...

I use a Battery Tender... http://batterytender.com/ .

I use a front wheel chock that keeps the bike up straight...but that's just my preference. Some will put the entire bike on stands to keep the tires from flat-spotting from extended storage.

Doesn't hurt to keep a cover/sheet/etc over it to keep the dust from layering.

 

I don't know what Wisconsin winter is like, but guessing pretty cold. I've just checked my manual & it seems like a lot of work. Squirt of motor oil down the barrels, draining the
float bowls (yours is fuel injected, but fuel can still go off), removed plugs earthed against each cylinder, seal of the exhaust with a plastic bag, fuel stabilizer in the tank & battery tender.......
Ok so we do get the odd cold day here during winter, but its usually the sh**full rain & wind that goes with it that keeps me off the road & then I just but my battery charger on maintenance if it seems to going on for anything longer than a week. I start my bike & run it a couple times a week in those circumstances (more out of desperation than maintenance though)
Cold (freezing) temps are the battery killers, so a good bike battery charger/tender is a must.

 

I understand that feeling.

 

bauersox, where you from in wi? all i do is use stabil in the tank, and put the bike on its stand. if you have a place with mice/etc, id use a bag over the exhaust tip and in the air intake ducts

 

Good advice, thanx.

 

Sta-Bil..thats what I was thinking of -- not seafoam. That's my bad. thanks for all of the advice everyone.

DaveO -- I'm live in De Pere, a few miles south of Green Bay...puts me smack dab in the middle of Packer Land...Its sickening all the green and gold around here, just can't get away from it.

Thanks again for all of the advice. Now I come home today and there are a couple of oil spots under the bike...always something.

 

Seafoam will work, too, actually.

This is true... and if you know it's gonna be in freezing temps, I'd just pull the battery and bring it inside.

I think the F4 is still carbed.
However, If I use seafoam, I usually just run the bike until it gets into the carbs and then leave it in there.

+1 on covering pipes/intake. I'd also lay some mothballs or something around the bike to try and keep those little mouse basterds away from the bike. I had one build a nest in mine and chew through the neutral switch wires, etc. Gawd, I hate mice....