Winterize M50 - Motorcycle-Journal Forums

Jeeva · 09-07-2008, 04:25 PM

Its about time for store my m50 for the winter time. Like to know If its important to do the oil change before storing it? any other hints??? Please help...thanks in advance....

Iceman99 · 09-07-2008, 06:07 PM

Is it winter already in Chicago?

Easy Rider · 09-07-2008, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeeva

Its about time for store my m50 for the winter time. Like to know If its important to do the oil change before storing it? any other hints??? Please help...thanks in advance....

Hey yet another fellow Illini!

Lots of good discussions on here but no need to repeat the same one OVER AND OVER AND OVER......

Please do a search for "winter" or "storage" and then get back to us with questions. Part of the answer depends on where/how it will be stored and whether or not you want to take it out in January when/if the temp. hits 60.

I believe in K.I.S.S. Mine gets fresh oil, full tank of gas with Stabil and a shot of battery charger every 4 weeks or so. That's it.

ranger04 · 09-07-2008, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Easy Rider

Hey yet another fellow Illini!

Lots of good discussions on here but no need to repeat the same one OVER AND OVER AND OVER......

Please do a search for "winter" or "storage" and then get back to us with questions. Part of the answer depends on where/how it will be stored and whether or not you want to take it out in January when/if the temp. hits 60.

I believe in K.I.S.S. Mine gets fresh oil, full tank of gas with Stabil and a shot of battery charger every 4 weeks or so. That's it.

-but the bold print says it all-I personally hook mine up to battery tender, plug in and forget, but charger every couple weeks is fine as well

jmckell · 09-08-2008, 12:54 PM

I hope to ride for another couple of months before I think about storage. If I store it at all.

Mario · 09-08-2008, 12:59 PM

Man I am worried I think it may get down to 40 here in south Texas

.......don't have to store it we just don't stay cold for long.

karbyn · 09-08-2008, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mario

Man I am worried I think it may get down to 40 here in south Texas

.......don't have to store it we just don't stay cold for long.

Ya ya ya....ive seen high 30s already this year. Keep gloating why don't ya....

CJasper · 09-08-2008, 07:26 PM

This will be the first winter I have riden in a long time so I hope its not that cold this year here in Florida

GeorgiaRoller · 09-08-2008, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeeva

Its about time for store my m50 for the winter time. Like to know If its important to do the oil change before storing it? any other hints??? Please help...thanks in advance....

It's freaking September for the love of God!!!!!! Move south and ride year round. You'll never utter the term "winterize" again.

CJasper · 09-08-2008, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeorgiaRoller

It's freaking September for the love of God!!!!!! Move south and ride year round. You'll never utter the term "winterize" again.

LOL

Ray Nielsen · 09-08-2008, 08:40 PM

The owner's manual has good instructions for storage. If you don't have one, buy one, it's good stuff to read and there are helpful hints too.

An oil change gets rid of dirty oil with its crud and acids. Change the oil filter too while you're at it. This is a good time to change the rear drive fluid, brake fluid and have a good overall go over of the whole bike looking for looseness, corrosion, etc.

You should use a smart charger to keep the battery charged over the winter -- I can recommend Battery Tender, although there are others worth considering too. They can be left on all winter without damaging the battery.

Drape a bed sheet over the bike to keep dirt off -- it allows moisture to escape too. Don't use a plastic sheet, it traps moisture.

If you've done all this you'll be ready to ride when you get that first nice day, often in February or early March.

Ray Nielsen, in Minneapolis and with an even shorter riding season!

PerfectStranger · 10-01-2008, 08:10 AM

What about the 'tablespoon of oil' in each cylinder? Is that necessary? I have yet to take the tank off for anything. I'd rather not remove it at all if it can just be propped up and out of the way enough.

Also from what I read:
- fill crankcase with oil, to the top. I assume this leaves no interior surfaces for water to collect on.

Matt

PerfectStranger · 10-01-2008, 08:33 AM

Read a little more here. Seems most use the 'fogging' spray instead.

Matt

Easy Rider · 10-01-2008, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PerfectStranger

What about the 'tablespoon of oil' in each cylinder? Is that necessary?

- fill crankcase with oil, to the top.

How long are you planning to store the bike.....years ??
Where have you been reading this stuff ??

For a "normal" seasonal winter storage of 3-5 months, NEITHER of the above is necessary and can cause more harm than good. Only "Monk" would recommend either.

Apertureguy · 10-01-2008, 09:13 AM

I park mine in the garage & unhook the battery for the Winter. The only other thing I do is make sure the tank is full and mixed with fuel stabilizer.

Been working great for several years now.

cyclesinct · 10-01-2008, 09:20 AM

I put it in the garage, fill the tank with gas and some stabil and hook a battery tender up to the bike. Thats about it for me.

PerfectStranger · 10-01-2008, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Easy Rider

How long are you planning to store the bike.....years ??
Where have you been reading this stuff ??

Just storing for the winter (Nov - Mar). Read it in the owners manual of all places. Maybe they want me to ruin the engine so it would need servicing?

Matt

Danthedawgfan · 10-02-2008, 12:02 PM

I park mine in SW Louisiana, it gets so cold here. It'll be like 40 in Dec.

I guess we southerners shouldn't rub in our better weather. Oh well.

PerfectStranger · 10-02-2008, 12:23 PM

Most of the time you have it better down there but sometimes you don't. I sure envy your 'winter' but I also can't remember the last time a hurricane ravaged Ohio.

Danthedawgfan · 10-02-2008, 12:32 PM

Yeah some of our late summer weather is R rated. I moved here from Memphis TN and we had the best of both worlds. No snow, no hurricanes.

09-07-2008, 04:25 PM	#1 (permalink)
Jeeva Newbie Joined: Jul 2008 Bike: 2007 M50, Debaffled Location: Chitown Posts: 5	Winterize M50 Its about time for store my m50 for the winter time. Like to know If its important to do the oil change before storing it? any other hints??? Please help...thanks in advance....

09-07-2008, 06:07 PM	#2 (permalink)
Iceman99 Wants Better Weather Joined: Oct 2005 Bike: '05' M50 Black Location: Valencia , Ca. Posts: 660	Is it winter already in Chicago? __________________ Jardine 2:2 Taper Exhaust,C50 Air Box with K&N filter, Cobra EFI Fi2000, 32" Drag Bar, Custom Plate Mount,Custom made rear LED Blinkers, Foward control Kit, Kuryakyn pegs, grips and throttle boss, 3 inch lowering kit, Custom Pillion seat, De-badged and De-PAIRED, Pinstriped rims, Chromed drive shaft See my bike and accessories at www.CruiserCustomizing.com/iceman99

09-08-2008, 12:59 PM	#6 (permalink)
Mario Clunked into first gear Joined: Feb 2008 Bike: 06 Suzuki Boulevard M50 Location: Houston Tx Posts: 246	Man I am worried I think it may get down to 40 here in south Texas .......don't have to store it we just don't stay cold for long. __________________

10-01-2008, 08:10 AM	#12 (permalink)
PerfectStranger In Training Joined: Sep 2008 Bike: 2007 Suzuki M50 Location: Willoughby, OH Posts: 126	What about the 'tablespoon of oil' in each cylinder? Is that necessary? I have yet to take the tank off for anything. I'd rather not remove it at all if it can just be propped up and out of the way enough. Also from what I read: - fill crankcase with oil, to the top. I assume this leaves no interior surfaces for water to collect on. Matt __________________ Geography is where it's at.

10-01-2008, 08:33 AM	#13 (permalink)
PerfectStranger In Training Joined: Sep 2008 Bike: 2007 Suzuki M50 Location: Willoughby, OH Posts: 126	Read a little more here. Seems most use the 'fogging' spray instead. Matt __________________ Geography is where it's at.

09-08-2008, 12:54 PM	#5 (permalink)
jmckell Clunked into first gear Joined: Apr 2008 Bike: '05 Suzuki M50 Blk Location: DFW, TX Posts: 230	I hope to ride for another couple of months before I think about storage. If I store it at all.

09-08-2008, 07:26 PM	#8 (permalink)
CJasper Ditch Magnet Joined: Jul 2008 Bike: 2008 Black M50 Location: Tallahassee, Fl Posts: 175	This will be the first winter I have riden in a long time so I hope its not that cold this year here in Florida

09-08-2008, 08:40 PM	#11 (permalink)
Ray Nielsen In Training Joined: Jan 2008 Bike: 2005 Boulevard M50 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 139	The owner's manual has good instructions for storage. If you don't have one, buy one, it's good stuff to read and there are helpful hints too. An oil change gets rid of dirty oil with its crud and acids. Change the oil filter too while you're at it. This is a good time to change the rear drive fluid, brake fluid and have a good overall go over of the whole bike looking for looseness, corrosion, etc. You should use a smart charger to keep the battery charged over the winter -- I can recommend Battery Tender, although there are others worth considering too. They can be left on all winter without damaging the battery. Drape a bed sheet over the bike to keep dirt off -- it allows moisture to escape too. Don't use a plastic sheet, it traps moisture. If you've done all this you'll be ready to ride when you get that first nice day, often in February or early March. Ray Nielsen, in Minneapolis and with an even shorter riding season!

10-01-2008, 09:13 AM	#15 (permalink)
Apertureguy Throttle Jockey Joined: Jun 2006 Bike: 2006 Blue M50 Location: New York Posts: 3,269	I park mine in the garage & unhook the battery for the Winter. The only other thing I do is make sure the tank is full and mixed with fuel stabilizer. Been working great for several years now.

10-01-2008, 09:20 AM	#16 (permalink)
cyclesinct Fourth gear and illegal Joined: Feb 2007 Bike: Boulevard M50 Location: Connecticut Posts: 707	I put it in the garage, fill the tank with gas and some stabil and hook a battery tender up to the bike. Thats about it for me. __________________ '05 M50 black MAPAM backrest Corbin dual tour Highwayman Jumbo Straight Bags Johns Kit forward controls Debaffled exhaust

10-02-2008, 12:02 PM	#18 (permalink)
Danthedawgfan Wants Better Weather Joined: Jun 2008 Bike: 07 Suzuki M50 Black Location: N30.1666 W93.2426 Posts: 665	I park mine in SW Louisiana, it gets so cold here. It'll be like 40 in Dec. I guess we southerners shouldn't rub in our better weather. Oh well. __________________

10-02-2008, 12:23 PM	#19 (permalink)
PerfectStranger In Training Joined: Sep 2008 Bike: 2007 Suzuki M50 Location: Willoughby, OH Posts: 126	Most of the time you have it better down there but sometimes you don't. I sure envy your 'winter' but I also can't remember the last time a hurricane ravaged Ohio. __________________ Geography is where it's at.

10-02-2008, 12:32 PM	#20 (permalink)
Danthedawgfan Wants Better Weather Joined: Jun 2008 Bike: 07 Suzuki M50 Black Location: N30.1666 W93.2426 Posts: 665	Yeah some of our late summer weather is R rated. I moved here from Memphis TN and we had the best of both worlds. No snow, no hurricanes. __________________

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