Summer storage question

[Bailey28]

Hey,

Since the weather here has gotten into the mid 90's continually, I have decided as I do every summer to put the bike up until the fall. I usually drain the tank and float bowl, plug the exhaust, throw a teaspoon or so of 2R into the cylinder, change the oil and air up the tires. I clean the air filter then coat the bike in WD40. It sits untouched until I get it out again in Sept.

My neighbor, who also rides and prides himself on attending the last ever CZ factory mechanic school, says:

"Dude, you shouldn't leave the bike all summer, the crank seals will dry out, and you know on a Kawi you have to split the cases and replace them...You need to run the thing every few weeks or so... "


What do you think? Has anyone ever had a seal or other failure due to storage? I stored my old YZ250 last summer like this, and come fall it was fine. BTW, the bike will be in an enclosed garage.

[fuzzy]

Should be fine.....I've never had a crank seal go bad on any newer bike, and mine sit a lot...LOL. I do generally just park them, and fire them up every few weeks.

[IdahoCharley]

Our bikes generally sit for about 7-8 months a year (late fall/winter/spring) and we have never had a problem. I generally do about the same as you but do not use WD40 over the whole bike. (just the chain, pivot points on pegs, kicker, shock shaft)

[krazyinski]

What?? park the bike thats crazy talk. do people really do that kinda stuf I heard stories but thought it was just that.

[IdahoCharley]

Krazyinski - likely depends upon where you live.

Kinda hard to ride in deep snow - that is why many bikers turn to snowmachines for winter fun even in the high desert of Idaho. I guess you could travel a few hundred miles to ride at lower elevations but the high from riding sleds (on a good day in powder) is a good offset to dirt biking. Lotsa people make trips to Nevada or New Mexico or Arizona for dirt biking in the winter.

What is really crazy IMO is the four months a year where it is hard to do either. Too much snow for dirt biking and too little for good sledding.

FWIW - On one side of Swan Valley we rode dirt bikes pretty much where ever we wanted (little snow ~7500') two weeks ago and yesterday my youngest boy and I were stopped at maybe 7000' by snow on the other side of the valley: we have been having weather in the upper 70s and 80's for the last couple of weeks.

I guessing "ClutchCover" who is on this forum has been riding trials in his area for six weeks or so. (he lives about 50 miles from me)

[James_09]

I Was wondering if those with experience with summer storage units etc., would take the time to list any hints or suggestions they have from doing this in past. I would be even more grateful to get recommendations for companies that provide summer storage in Canberra.

[Sheky_09]

I put my car and bike into self storage in Brendale as soon as summer approaches. I am happy with Elite self storage firm that perks their clients with guaranteed and insured facilities.

[diymirage]

no summer storage here in Michigan, summer is the peak time for biking
but for winter storage, do as was mentioned 8 YEARS AGO and fire her up every month or so

[s10gto]

Sounds to me your treating her right. Heck I didn't do half of that with my YZ250 for about 4-5 years in the basement. Fresh fuel and see was ready to rip.

[Roadhazardguy]

Wow putting a bike up in storage during the summer with mid 90s temps? That's just very odd to me as it gets up to 105 or so here in the summer and I still wouldn't even think about parking them, the only time I don't ride is a few days during the winter here and there.

[Mini_09]

Thankfully, self storage in Paddington is just a few miles drive from my house and I can easily accommodate all type of my commercial and residential storage needs.