The annual winter hibernation/winter hack thread (20/21)

[A500leroy]

Yes we do it every year!, how are you hibernation your bike this year?, when are you hibernating your bike this year?, Have you brought a winter hack to get through winter,or just prepping your normal bike with ACF50 (other products are available)?

[A500leroy]

Is a naked bike a better winter bike? Do fairing actually keep you clean/dry or just make it a pain to clean the bike?

[airsafari87]

I've probably had my last ride of the year on my big bike. I took it out this morning and its pretty much impossible keeping heat in the tyres, had a few heroic rear wheel slides cornering with patches of wet leaves on the road. Plus the gritters are starting to make an appearance around here as well.

So the S1000R will be going up on its paddock stands and hooked up to a trickle charger as of today and the little 125cc will be picking up the winter duties again.

[A500leroy]

What 125cc Airsafari87?

[airsafari87]

A500leroy said:

What 125cc Airsafari87?

This one. It will be its 3rd winters use this year.

[fastbikes76]

This thread appeared on the right day !

Went for a blast on the B-King with the wife this morning roads were wet and muddy, it was rather fresh and tbh not all that enjoyable wondering what greasy hazard is waiting round the next bend . Came home and pulled all the bikes out the garage, took them for a 3 mile blat and then parked them up under covers with batteries removed. GSXR and Bandit now sorn, B-King may get one last ride to bike night on Thursday if it’s dry but I really think that’s going to be it till March/April. I don’t need to ride all year round and I don’t enjoy it either. I keep my bikes immaculate and when riding in the wet/mud it gets feckin EVERYWHERE!


Last quick ride




And packed away for 6 months

[A500leroy]

Do you have a Suzuki fetish?

[fastbikes76]

A500leroy said:

Do you have a Suzuki fetish?

Seems that way... wife is looking at learning to ride and I suggested a little Honda Grom, she immediately pointed out the obvious, it needs to be a Suzuki, and black apparently

[A500leroy]

fastbikes76 said:

A500leroy said:

Do you have a Suzuki fetish?

Seems that way... wife is looking at learning to ride and I suggested a little Honda Grom, she immediately pointed out the obvious, it needs to be a Suzuki, and black apparently

VanVan?

[jjones]

No, africa twin and gsxr will be used on nice days. 3 hours on the twin today, probably done 500 miles in the last week just messing about.

[Iminquarantine]

fastbikes76 said:

I keep my bikes immaculate and when riding in the wet/mud it gets feckin EVERYWHERE!

You sound like the type of person I like to buy used bikes off, so I can get a top condition bike which someone else has eaten the depreciation on. Then I can ride it on salted wet roads without losing ££££. Thanks!

[jjones]

Iminquarantine said:

You sound like the type of person I like to buy used bikes off, so I can get a top condition bike which someone else has eaten the depreciation on. Then I can ride it on salted wet roads without losing ££££. Thanks!

Exactly

[fastbikes76]

jjones said:

Iminquarantine said:

You sound like the type of person I like to buy used bikes off, so I can get a top condition bike which someone else has eaten the depreciation on. Then I can ride it on salted wet roads without losing ££££. Thanks!

Exactly

Haha you will have to join the queue, I have friends creating waiting lists for my cars and bikes as I sell them. I’m yet to lose any significant money on any cars or bikes I own/sell, in fact I quite often manage to get more than I paid due to condition of them

[Donbot]

I didn't put the big bike on the road this year so it will continue sitting there.

Annoyingly I didn't acf the YBR last winter so it has gone a bit brown.

[Esceptico]

Sorry for sounding smug but just coming to the end of winter and the start of spring here in NZ. However I managed similar miles (about 3000) over the winter as I used to do in the summer in the UK as almost never too cold and they don’t salt the roads. Limiting factor over the past six months has been Covid as there were a couple of lockdown periods when we were not allowed to ride for fun.

[Lee540]

I love riding too much to go without until Spring. I’ll continue to use my ZX10R, just ACF’d and I’ll wash it again in Spring.

[pip t]

Nope - it'll still be on commuting duties (Or at least it will be if I ever get to commute again!) and the odd crisp winter afternoon potter around the lanes.

I can see the logic behind tucking bikes away for the winter, but I've never been one for it - I'd be kicking myself and digging it out on the first sunny Sunday that came along. And I'd have to use trains to commute....no ta.

[anonymous-user]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

I was planning to go out yesterday but the combo of greasy roads and an old sports bike doesn't appeal tbh. Do you run your bike regularly over winter? I've read it's a good idea to store with a full tank of fuel and make sure the tyres are on carpet or similar to prevent flat spots.

[SAS Tom]

I think I had my last ride of the year a few weeks ago. I won’t be riding through winter as I’ve got a 30 year old Suzuki, it dissolves if you just look at it.

I won’t be doing anything special either. I washed it after I last rode it then put it in the garage. When I want to ride again I’ll get it back out.

[fastbikes76]

ruprechtmonkeyboy said:

I've read it's a good idea to store with a full tank of fuel and make sure the tyres are on carpet or similar to prevent flat spots.

I Just stick mine on paddock stands under soft covers. I use battery maintainers and full the tanks prior to laying up. If the weather is decent and the roads are dry and not greasy, it’s all of 5 minutes to have the bike out the garage and ready to roll.