Suzuki GSX650F Forum - www.GSX650F.biz

This is the first storage for my bike, and I will be putting up the 650F for 3 or 4 months during the harsh michigan winter (Dec. thru March). Are there any things I should do to winterize my bike?
I will have it in my garage, but it is not heated, so it gets mighty cold.
With my dirt bike, I usually just stuff a sock in the exhaust opening.

Hello, jimsuzuki73....I live in California and so my garage time is no where near as long as what you deal with, but I take the following steps when my bike is going to be in the garage (also not heated) for any length of time over 1 month.

1. Get the tires off the ground using either a center stand or front and rear stands.

2. fill the tank to the very top and add the correct ammount of fuel stabalizer

3. Change the oil and Oil filter

4. Hook the Battery to a battery tender (FYI, i do this step anytime she sits for more than a week)

5. wash and detail the bike being sure to get any of that last of the season road salt off, at this point i normally give the bike a good once over for retorquing anything that has worked loose during the ride season.

6. And finally, i end this ritual by reading my baby a nice bedtime story, and throwing the cover on.


Hope this helps.

NorCalHunter

NorCal,
Thanks for the excellent list. I just bought a good battery tender, so that takes care of item 4.
I'll do all these things, plus, for #6 I will read a good bedtime story and maybe get her a nice accessory for Christmas!

Thanks again for the tips. I know she'll be ready in the spring!

Hey jimsuzuki,

I just put mine away for the first time as well (probably coulda rode a little longer, but didn't want to get caught in full-on winter). Anyway, I had a few questions myself, but I had the oil and filter changed, put it up on the center stand, put the front tire on a piece of carpet, fuelled up with stabilizer and am going to hook up the tender. Like you, my garage is insulated but not heated. Should be good to go in the spring (which seems like an awfully long way away).

I'm going to miss riding, dude.

Good list, but I would add that you should run the bike, with the fuel stabilizer, to get the stabilizer through all the fuel lines. You don't want to have the gas tank "preserved" only to find your fuel lines and injectors gum up due to no stabilizer being run through. Run the bike for 5 minutes and you should be good for 4-5 months.

I would add clean and lube the chain with LOTS of motor oil. The temperature cycling through the winter can wreak havoc with uncoated/oiled chains.

Mmmm, i don't have such a battery tender. Is it an idea to remove my battery and store it in my house at a more comfortable temperatures? My shed has no isolation and no electricity.

Will there be any ill effects of depriving my bike from electricity for 3 to 4 months?

NorCalHunter,
Good suggestions and I do same thing along with running it a few miles with the fuel stabilizer. I'm a little anal so I actually put some soft towels over my tank before I cover in case one of my kids drop something on it. I haven't put mine up yet. Still hoping for those last few days in the 50 degree range.

I put my baby into hibernation yesterday. And the list above is the same as what I have done the last two winters and she always wakes up happy in March or April. It gets pretty cold up here in the winter so I don't bother starting the bike when it's so cold not wanting condensation to build up in the exhaust etc.

I put the cover on and when spring comes it's like I'm riding a new bike again!

What is this winter thing you speak of????

You know winter.....that time of year when hurricanes come by and blow you guys off the map Some of us get snow some get rain and others get other types of severe weather.......its that time of year that falls between fall and spring

NorCalHunter

70 degrees and no clouds here today....as far as the hurricanes...ya just gotta learn to hold on real tight...
and keep your water wings handy...