Forum

[Les H]

Hi Durham Tim. Some people have more than one bike, even a collection of machines or a machine they are renovating. In these cases it is not always possible to use all of them through the winter months. We have all had to ride motorcycles in the very worst freezing and snowy conditions at some time in the past but if one can spare the bike for better weather then most of us will do so. In my experience NOTHING will protect a bike against salt spray, and as an engine will melt grease and it can be washed away by heavy rain, and any salt on the road has a terrible damaging effect, especially on the alloy turning it black deep into its porous surface. Once this happens there is hardly any cure, even aqua blasting will not shift it once the pits have gone deeply into the metal.

[Arch Stanton]

Peter F,
Of course there is no substitute for regular use and I know this isn't exactly scientific but one of my current bikes is on its third battery. The two that spent their winters connected to an Optimate lasted much longer than the one that didn't. I have no connection to the firm whatsoever but I believe leaving them connected permanently does no harm whatsoever provided of course that you check the electrolyte level before you connect it which you should be doing on a regular basis anyway.

Regards

Arch

[PeteF]

Arch,interesting findings. I suppose modern electronics have come on a lot. I always thought that to constantly trickle charge was a no-no and to charge the unused battery every few weeks (and letting it lose a small amount of charge in between) was the best thing. We live and learn.

[Alan R]

Hi guys,-------------- OK, I've been onto GOOGLE and found this DURHAM place, but where the heck is TIM ??----- Still working on that one..............LoL !!

[taper]

Thanks for all the tips on keeping my bike dry,I will try out some of the suggestions,I do intend to go for a run as often as possible weather permiting,but ALAN R ,I live up north NOT a Londoner so the weather here is a tad cold and damp at the moment(but i did take the old girl out ,left the bike at home,cost me a fortune christmas shopping)

[Bertie the Bullet]

Got nothing against the cold weather, but I've seen my mates BSA 650 turn from an almost concourse beauty into a good even spread of rust over all of the chrome after riding through the road salt and failing to wash it for about a week afterwards. nothing will make me take my bikes out until the salts gone.

[Jojje]

If you have space in your freezer it is a marvellous place to store a motorcycle battery - full charged of course!

[guru]

Just an addition to your winter storage procedure / information, also spray 4D-40 down the plug hole then kick it over half a dozen times to get it around every where, then leave the piston at TDC(as all ready been sugested) just leave till summer or your next ride.

I got this tip from a ducati engine builder who rebuilds racing dukes so sounds a good tip


Guru

[Alan R]

Hi guys---------- BERTIE, why not get an old "Hack" bike, say a Black 350/500 Bullet trail-type with Aluminium mudguards ?? All you'll need for Winter maintenance is a 1/2" brush, a tin of black, smooth Hammerite and a bucket of warm water at the end of the day !!... = BLISS.

[Alan R]

Hello TAPER---------- sorry about that----got my Google-Mapping Head on upside down !!!