I definitely keep the battery charged with the battery tender but I am wondering how many of you start your bike and let it run for 10-15 minutes every few weeks while it sits all winter long? Is this good to do to keep things "lubricated well" and beneficial for the engine? Seems like a bike sitting for months with the engine never being cranked up would not be good. Thanks for your opinions. Winter sucks by the way. Come on spring.

 

Best to let it sit and not start it till your ready to ride for the season.

 

If your parked in a heated garage great but sitting in the cold especially this stinking winter I would never even think of starting my bike. 20/50wt. oil is a bit much to be cranking on.

 

I would not be worried about the bike sitting for 3 or 4 months without running it. I've heard it's worse to run it and not get it hot enough, because that will leave condensation in the system, e.g, that chocolate-milky-looking futz that collects around the dipstick.

Just change the oil after the winter, before starting up, and turn it over a few seconds without starting it before you fire it up in the Spring.

Alan

 

Strarting a bike like that without actually riding it 15 miles or so will allow the condensation build up. Just make sure it's hooked up to a tender and leave it alone until you are ready to actually ride it.

 

Thanks guys for the great info. All of your points make good sense and I didn't think about the condensation issue. This is my first winter with my 2009 Ultra Classic and unfortunately it has been a long winter for me as it has been for many. I will just let it sit until I can start riding. This is why I love this forum. Quick, good and helpful answers.

 

Condensation can even be a issue in the summer if you just take short trips and do not let the motor get to full operating temperature before shutting it down.

 

I crank my bikes almost daily just to hear them run. love that sound ………

I have let my bikes sit for over a year in storage while on deployments and have not had and issue (YET). I could just be lucky though…..

 

Change the oil before storage (oil gets acidic with use - you don't want old oil in her for storage) then run it to full operating temp and put it away for the winter - come spring, check tire pressure, suspension pressure fire her up and ride.
A few extras that I do in the spring before riding, siphon the old gas out of tank, into the container for the lawn mower, ride 1/2 mile to station and fill it up with fresh and, I remove my outer fairing and clean out mouse nest - ask me how I know to do this.

 

Yea not hearing that Procharger run might be a bit much to ask.