As the colder months are among us I am beginning to look in to winterizing my '05 1200 Custom Sportster. I would like to hear some of your opinions on winterizing and what you guys think is important to ensure that your bike is taken care of during the winter. I've had people tell me that I need to keep the bike hooked up to a battery tender all winter.. some say I don't. Some have said I should put a fuel additive in every once and a while.. some say to add nothing. With so many different opinions on this topic, i'm really looking forward to hearing everyones input.
Thanks in advance!

 

I added fuel stabilizer, filled the has tank, rode it 10 kms, and parked it in my garage, on a dolly, covered, with a battery tender. From what I read, use a tender all winter if you leave the battery on the bike, don't if you remove the battery. I may still change the oil this month but not 100% sure yet. I know I should. I will also roll the bike off the dolly, check tire pressure one a month just, so it doesn't sit on the same spot.

 

I follow Tim's sound advice. As for the battery, I charge it at least every 2 weeks (every week when the temps drop below freezing). I also run the thing for about 10 minutes every month or so.

 

I follow the time honored tradition of spraying everything down with WD-40: cylinders, intake, exhaust, fuel tank, cooling fins, seat, mirrors, tires, wife and kids, my own teeth, neighbor's dog... wait, what were we talking about?

Oh, I do like the others, full tank with Seafoam or Stabil, battery on tender, and ride when it gets warm enough and roads aren't salty.

 

The above suggestions are all good EXCEPT this.
Do not start the bike unless you can ride it for at least ~30 minutes. 30 minutes is long enough to get hot enough to evaporate moisture that accumulates in the oil. Cranking it up for a few minutes gets it warm enough for moisture to form in the the oil system as it cools, but not long enough and hot enough for it to evaporate off.

 

I ride mine unless it’s snowing or icy.

 

 

Here's how I winterize mine... A little Rebel I had a few years ago, (don't judge me, that little bike was a blast to ride).

 

I put wind deflectors on my forks and make sure my electric gloves and jacket still work.

 

How often do you guys add the stabilizer?