Good bike, Good bike

[rem]

I was somewhat disheartened to come back after an 8 day, 3,000 km ride to find so many of you apparently having issues with your bikes. I guess there aren't all that many, but sort of seems like it. I did not have Internet access during my trip so I'm trying to play catch up.


I just wanted to let you all know that my bike performed flawlessly, to my knowledge, for the entire trip. We encountered 8 hours of solid rain on day 2, otherwise good to excellent weather. Mr. T. never failed to start, was responsive, smooth, comfortable and a delight to ride the entire time. I hope you guys are able to resolve the problems you are experiencing, and that they turn out to be minor.


I washed my bike on Wednesday, changed the oil and filter, put in fuel stabilizer and tucked him away for the winter in a heated garage in southern B. C. He will be started weekly for a few minutes until next May, when he will return home where he belongs. Regarding another thread, I have pressure washed my bike several times and never had an issue. Maybe I've been lucky, but I'll be a little more careful the next time I do it. R

 

[snuffcityrider]

That's good news for us newbie's. Mine did just dandy on it's 270 mile journey today and it needs a bath as well. Glad you had a good trip with no problems. Looking forward to taking a long trip on mine, just need to do some farkleing first...

 

[rem]

He was pretty well loaded. Micatech panniers, Givi topcase, Biker's Friend Xlarge bag and a Daypack II tankbag. I posted a pic of him on Ride Reports Go Here in this same area, earlier today. Shows him all decked out in front of a nice glacier near Stewart, B. C.


I miss him already. Had to console myself with my crappy old ST1300. It's a tough life sometimes. R

 

[Twisties]

My bike runs fine too. Glad you had a nice ride!

I am generally opposed to starting a bike in winter or other periods of storage. Add some Stabil, pull the battery and let it sit, or use a trickle charger. Starting, but not running the bike allows pollutants to build in the oil, causes excess wear due to idling, and may allow moisture to build in the exhaust system. Either ride it or leave it alone is my approach. Just saying....

 

[rem]

Your comments are accepted in the manner offered. Much appreciated. Someone else is looking after him for me. But you raise some good points. I may instruct him to do just that. Anyone else want to jump in on this? I didn't pull the battery and I don't want him to have to fool with it, but the garage won't get that cold. Maybe it's best to just leave him be for the winter. Any comments welcome. R

 

[Don in Lodi]

Short running periods allow condensation problems. Nothing gets warm enough to cook off the moisture. Running the bike long enough for the fan to come on means a full heating cycle has been reached. Stabil-ized fuel, stable environment, battery tender, Battery Tender? center stand, the bike should be good with just a few start-ups over winter.

And... Parked for Winter already!! :exclaim: Aren't you guys good for another month or so? And wouldn't this bike be a better choice when the conditions are iffy?

Stay warm.

 

[sportrider]

I agree with the above winter storage, change fluids, filters, wash, stabil, tender and let sit until riding season starts. If no heated garage, i would bring battery in house, never had any issues.

 

[spklbuk]

5 WV mountain winters on my former FJR battery in an unheated shed on tender, fresh oil (cheapest preferred choice), Stabil, no starting, fresh better grade oil w/ filter change in when riding conditions returned. Will repeat w/ Tenere...though I sure ain't lookin' forward to it. La Nina forecasted to create a PIA here.

 

[rem]

And... Parked for Winter already!! Aren't you guys good for another month or so? And wouldn't this bike be a better choice when the conditions are iffy?

My bike is 1,800 miles south of me. The trip was timed such because we never know exactly what conditions will be present in the mountain passes getting out of here. You don't want to be coming from or going to the Yukon on a bike much later than early September. You just never know. Today and tomorrow are supposed to be awesome days weatherwise, but it could also snow. It is 28 degrees F here this morning, but will warm up. One just never knows. So it's a crapshoot weatherwise once the first of September rolls around. I took the Tenere because had we encountered construction or bad weather enroute, it would have been the bike of choice. As it turns out, we encountered neither other than 8 hours of rain. One of the places we spent the night a week ago is now cut off due to flooding from heavy rain. Two bridges washed out. It's all part of living in the far north. I may have a couple weeks left of local riding, or it may all end this weekend.


Send money. R