Winter prep tips for your scooter

[Red Bull]

Winter is quickly approaching and eventually we will be storing our machines until good riding weather comes around again. Winter prep is fairly simple,yet very necessary. If you are going to store your machine in either cold or warm storage you should lift it off the floor. This gives the tires a rest and helps prevent tire flat spots and moisture driven corrosion to the wheels and metal. A decent lift can be bought for under a hundred dollars. DO NOT JACK UP TO THE MAX. This can cause your lift to lock in the up position (permanently) Prior to lifting the bike, place the recommended amount of fuel stabilizer in the fuel tank with at least a half tank of fuel. Be sure to turn off your fuel line, if carburated. It is strongly recommended that you give some attention to your battery. Either trickle charge for an hour every few weeks or buy an automatic trickle charger which only charges the battery when it needs it(e.g. Battery Tender). NOTE: if you have a gel battery you must use a prescribed gel battery charger. I have found it productive to place a coating of some type of flameless lubricant on the exaust pipe(s) to prevent corrosion which can occur while the machine is idle. You can always clean it off when you prep for a ride. Covering the bike can be construed two ways. If the cover doesn't breathe well the machine can be victim of some corrosion from moisture which will surely seep under the cover in a cold storage situation. I leave mine uncovered but wax it well before storage. I am sure there remains several other techniques available but I will leave you with what I view as the simple storage technique. A little care goes a long way to achieve longevity with TLC for your trusted steed. Here is hoping we can take at least one more ride in 05' before we finally store. Red Bull 03' Harley King.

[Doc Edkin]

Mouse-Off! Don't forget to place little bundles of mothballs in and around spaces where rodents can nest. There are numerous stories of folks preparing for their first spring ride only to discover nesting material under seats and even in pipes. And even of more concern, mice love to eat through wires! If your bike is in cold storage, a garage or barn, use Mouse-Off. I put a handful of mothballs in old socks and put the socks in all the crevices and nooks that I can find. . .on the bike.

[Top Gun]

With the thermometer barely nudging 32 today, the day after Thanksgiving, I guess some of us have to seriously look at winterizing or rides. One thing to remember, if you're using a Battery Tender, make sure you're using the proper one for your battery. If you're using a gel battery (you H-D guys will see these in a few years) make sure you're using the Battery Tender intended for gel battery use. The charge levels for these batteries are almost microscopically close in tolerance and you might harm your battery if you use the old one. There have been a lot of articles written on this subject with some saying you'll ruin the battery with the old tenders and others debunking that theory. Me? I'll err on the side of caution and use the intended tender for the gel.

Those who rode on the "lights out" run to the Maine Lobsterfestival, where Richie had a pricey lobster dinner, may recall that he had some meeses in the fairing that definitely liked the taste of wiring insulation! Wayne's on the mark with his notes!

Only 12 Dec 2005 17:00:00 until the Christmas Party. email Red Bul with your intentions!!