Forum

[jenks]

Hi Chaps,
I am due to have a knee replacemnt,so will be out of action for a while.
What is the best method of laying bikes up?
Suggestions please.
Cheers
Jenks

[papasmurf]

How long is a "while?"
If you can keep the battery charged, start the bike every couple of weeks, and keep the clutch plates unstuck, and keep the wheels clear of the ground, not much else needed for a few months layup. (Long layups can cause problems like the clutch sticking so badly it needs dismantling to free it.)

[Scalyback]

Papasmurf,



Please say more about keeping the wheels off the ground? I never knew this, just popped them on their centre stands.

[papasmurf]

Scalyback, when laying a bike up for a very long time, it is best to keep the wheels off of the ground, due to pressure on one point on the wheel bearings for a long time could cause problems, also, if the tyres go flat, and the sidewalls fold, the weight could eventually fubar the sidewall at that spot.

[Beezabryan]

I have left the Bullet for weeks on end, sometimes months, made no special preparations mainly because I never thought about it. The bike came to no harm.
However Jenks, you will be much less mobile for some time. I might say remove the battery & out it where you can, if necessary, check the voltage & do a trickle charge. I have one of those sealed intruder alarm type batteries that does not seem to mind being ignored, even the two wet cell 6v batteries in the Flash & a Box hold charge for quite a while.
Tyres? never had a problerm but if for peace of mind you would like to take the weight off them you could get someone help you put the centre stand on a bit of 4x2 ( or similar) and chock up the front end at the front downtube engine plates.
Right now due to unplanned hospital attention our Bullet has been idle for a few weeks & it will likely by another 2 months before i can consider a ride.
I wish you well Jenks, here's to a speedy recovery. And FFF do as you're told!

[Beezabryan]

Man fingers & meds strike again! It is FFS do as you're told not FFF whatever that means. And suggest putting the battery rather than outing it

[papasmurf]

It really does depend on the length of time. A full lay up means things like tying the clutch lever back to stop the clutch sticking closed and even putting the bike in a special cover.
But that for long layups not a few months.

[Beezabryan]

I do agree Papa but in this instance I do not think Jenks will be hors de combat for an indefinte time. In my current situation I am all too aware of the seasons moving on, I also know that there will be fine sunny days in November & December even January & February depending where we live, it is good for the soul to have a bike available

[apparently lucky eddie]

I was back in the saddle 3 weeks after my TKR op and I think it depends which side the kickstart is. Fortunately I had the left knee replaced and the Triumph starter is on the offside. Thing is with these joint replacements, as your physio will tell you, is to push it to the max and bend the buggers as far as you can before they seize up. good luck with the op. Jenks, it's going to hurt mate, and they won't tell you just how much it will hurt either, but the morphine is magic!

[Presto]

Can't give any 'comfort' about the op - but wish you all the best. As for the bike: Drain the carbs – and possibly the tank. Good preventative measure where ethanol is concerned. I’d not worry at all about tyres but leave them well inflated. Battery off the bike and trickled charged about once a fortnight. Very little else to do expect a generous spray anywhere you feel like it (certainly on electrical switches, points, chrome, etc) with an anti-corrosion spray, best use ACF50 (or WD40 at a push), lube the chain and grease around obvious points. That ought to do it for a few months.