Greetings all. Still riding my 1199S, but I will be putting her into hibernation over the winter. I've read much conflicting advice, but wondered if there are any MUST DOs. I had a Desmo service not more than 2k miles ago. Bike says oil is still good for another 4250 miles on start up. Is it worth draining and changing the filter, and should I drain radiator fluid, clean chain and fill tank with some low/zero ethano? fuel? Or simply clean and walk away. Thanks for any advice.
You’re overthinking it, do as I do, prop it up against the lamppost and throw a tarp over it Jobs a good un.
IMO, it’s not worth doing an oil and filter change and most definitely not drain the coolant unless you are expecting a freeze of catastrophic climate change proportions. I tend to syphon out the petrol, some brim the tank and some put in an inhibitor additive. Do lubricate the chain and put the bike somewhere dry and not affected by sudden changes in temperature which can cause condensation to form. I prefer to cover mine, some don’t bother. Andy
Cheers for the advice. Got a garage and a cover, don't expect where I live in the UK to be regularly under zero figures for temps.
Definitely clean & polish your bike & clean & lube the chain. Depending upon if the bike is used at all during the winter months, (if it's nice & dry I will go out on mine so don't really bother with winterisation) you may want to give it a good run out before laying it up & depending upon how many miles is was since the last oil change you could change the oil & filter. Coolant, again I would only change it is it's been a while since it was last done & the same critera for the brake fluid. Sit it on paddock stands & don't leave the tyres sat on a bare concrete floor. If you do not have the luxury of both paddock stands a piece of carpet will suffice. Other than that, connect the trickel charger & chuck a few blankets/sheets/curtains over it. Switch the dumidifier on & walk away.
I make sure the bike is spotlessly clean and the chain is lubed. The battery is always on a trickle charger and the bike is off the floor on paddock stands front and rear. I don't bother brimming the tank, probably keep it 3/4 to 1/2 full. I keep it covered mainly to keep the dust off it. Every 2 to 4 weeks i start her up and leave her running for 15 to 20 minutes. Never had any issues with my bikes when storing over winter.
I think brimming the tank is important for steel tanks to stop internal condensation and rusting. I don't thijk this is an issue with plastic tanks so empty or full doesn't make any difference. Batteries, can be damaged by frost but keeping bit fully charged will protect it, although I bring mine in the house. I don't think there is any need to regularly start them especially if you go with the theory that its the first few minutes that cause the most wear. If you do start it up I would run it till the fan kicks in. Some will recommend sealing the exhaust and inlet to stop condensation getting into the bores. I like to do my up keep in winter to avoid any off road time in summer which includes cleaning the brake pistons to ensure theres no sticking binding brakes. Some switches can become sticky so a squirt with lube/water repellent should help. TB
Plastic tanks have a nasty habit of swelling and distorting if there is water in them. Condensation is an issue, as is the presence of ethanol in the petrol.
Was just coming on here to ask the same really. Going to store mine now until Spring gets here. My plan was to brim the tank and add some fuel stabiliser. I have to take my battery off as I keep my bike in a storage unit with no power. So, take the battery off and keep it trickle charged at home. Where I keep it, it is in a self storage shipping container. The 'warehouse' is temperature controlled so won't get cold. The floor is wooden and although I have paddock stands the unit isn't big enough for me to keep it up on them. Will the bike be okay on a wood floor or do I still need to use a piece of carpet? Sorry to hijack your thread!
I've got an 1199s that been through 4 damp winters in Cornwall. I do the following and (touch wood), she's always been sweet as a nut. My bike was kept in the house for two years but now doing its second year in the shed. Before winter: 1, Rear paddock stand and front tire on a rubber car mat. 2, Remove the battery - It goes inside the house until needed. I've found trickle chargers over-charged my old battery and killed it. I use an Optimate 4 every couple of months to keep it in good order. 3, Dust cover, and waterproof cover. 4, Fuel tank - I just leave it as I remove the tank and drain the lot when I'm riding again. 5, A good clean and spray with WD40/ACF50 type sprays. 6, I use Water Wetter so if the ambient temps are heading below zero (rare in Cornwall) I have a strip heater that goes under the bike/cover. It keeps the area around the bike up around 10c even when well below zero outside. Unless you plan to let the bike go through a few full heat cycles or ride it properly, I'd avoid starting it over the winter just to warm it up for a few minutes.
changed oil, clean and lubed the chain, took the battery out and put it on a trickle charger, filled the fuel tank with 94 and added fuel stabilizer, took the fairings off and cleaned all the hoses and wiring, engine, etc., checked anti freeze for handling -40 weather.
Fair weather rider, having only had Ducati for the last 20 years, so been putting Ducati's away for 20 winters. As mentioned very early on, don't over think it. Ideally, put the bike on stands, if not, at least on "something" like rubber garage tiles etc to keep the tyres off the cold concrete. I have power in the garage, so I use an optimate, but only over 1 weekend a month, as I have heard stories of over charging etc on batteries. I normally fill my tank, I've had issue with leaving part filled tanks. The fuel evaporates from around the fuel sensor and gums it up, causing a sticking fuel sender and faulty readings. I had this happen on a gen 2 Diavel, many owners have mentioned it happening after a lay up. I've never used a fuel stabiliser, at most the bike is laid up for 6 months, and fuel will stand for that long. OK, if you test 6 month old fuel under laboratory conditions, I'm sure its lost some of its octane etc, but in the real world, 6 month old fuel will start and run just fine. I do make a point of topping the tank up with fresh fuel once I've done the first 75 miles or so in spring, but this is more peace of mind than actually having problems. My garage is not heated, but it is an integral. So, I don't suffer condensation. I just use an indoor light weight cover, more to keep the dust and crap off it. I give it a decent clean before it goes away, and give any shiny / plated parts a wipe over with WD40 on a rag. Fingers crossed, not had a problem yet.
I put a greenhouse heater under mine - really low consumption and only comes on if temp falls below 5 degrees - she's connected to a trickle charger as well.
Yep, I am asking farther Christmas for one, along with the front raise too. But it will sit on wooden flooring until January then, just wondered if that was gonna be okay?
