As I said the bike is stored in the shed for the winter. Battery tender on. Stabill in the full tank. My question is, how many actually go out and start it once or twice a month just to keep things lubricated? Is this a good idea or does it do more harm than good?

 

If your longing for the rumble of that mighty V-Twin crank her up I would.

 

After mine is in storage I never start it unless Im going to ride it. For extended storage I have pulled the spark plugs and squirted a teaspoon of oil in the cylinders and cranked it over a few seconds before putting the plugs back in. I also use stabil and a tender

 

Unless you're going to get it up to temperature for a while (30 minutes or so of running, not idling), you're doing more harm than good.

 

They are right leave it alone. Do not start it until you are going to ride. I have had mine on the tender. Jacked up in the air to get tires off the floor. Haven't been on it since October 10 th. It will be just fine in the spring.

 

Once its stored, set it and forget it until you plan to ride it again and get her up to operating tempature, just starting it in the garage does more harm than good. The trransmission and primary are sitting idle while its running, causes condesation (sp) set it and forget it dude and wait till its warm.

 

+1 on this. The engine needs to get up to operating temperature for an extended period (rule of thumb is 30 minutes but I prefer even longer depending on how cold it is) in order to evaporate the moisture collected by the oil. If you only warm it up a bit it attracts even more moisture. Good advice here.

 

That's right. It's best to resist the temptation to start a bike and let it run a short time.

I'll sometimes uncover my bike over winter and stare at it with a beer in hand. The wife doesn't get it.

 

the reason why the wife don't get it is because
They are the beauties and our bikes are
The beast.
It's a guy thing.
And LOL I do the same thing when I gave a cold
Guy in my hand.

 

I keep the heat in the garage at 50 degrees all winter, turn it up on the weekends to beer at it and putt around.
Ill wax it this week. Still looking for a wife who won't get it.