maintenance on a bike that has sat in barn for 7 years

[Dayrider]

I have just recently bought (triad for 15 hr work on her house) a 2008 Suzuki GZ 250 (my first bike) I transfer the title and I am having keys made tomorrow The original owner put 96 miles on it and set it in the barn for seven years what maintenance or concerns should I address before attempting to start it

[blaine]

Welcome.Change oil & filter,Drain fuel & add new fuel & stabilizer.After sitting that long you will need new tires (dry rotted) Change/flush brake fluid,Change brake fluid & lube cables & pivot points. ;) :)

[alantf]

After sitting for seven years, looks like you're going to need a new battery. Make sure you charge it at a low rate, overnight, before you use it. Don't use a car battery charger or you'll fry the battery. A battery tender is a good buy with the battery, as it'll charge at the correct rate, and won't let the battery overcharge. ( even if the salesman says you don't need to charge it - charge it - we've learnt from experience that if you don't, then you'll be buying a new battery very shortly)

Also, the carb is the Achilles heel of the GZ, so make sure you add a carb cleaner to the first tankful of petrol, then every 3 or 4 fillups.

Also, you may need to buy an aerosol of contact cleaner, and blast it into the safety switches, i.e. red switch, starter button, clutch switch, and sidestand switch.

:tup:

[Dayrider]

Thank you both for the help :) should I be worried about the piston ring being set up

[raul10141964]

download the manual from hear and follow the new bike manten schedule

[Water Warrior 2]

Before trying to start the bike you should likely pull the plug and add a couple drops of oil to the cylinder. The rings will thank you. You might also jack up the rear tire and try turning the engine over by rotating the wheel in 5th gear. That should help to spread the oil around the cylinder before an actual start up.

Oh, before I forget. While you are doing the fuel system, install an inline fuel filter.

[Dayrider]

Thank you to everyone should be starting it tomorrow had to order the oil filter

[gz4me +]

Check the fuel lines. After sitting for seven yrs., they might be cracked. Lube anything that moves.

[Dayrider]

Gas lines and hoses look good but there are cracks in the dust boots on the forks

[blaine]

Gas lines and hoses look good but there are cracks in the dust boots on the forks
That won't hurt unless the forks start leaking.Than you can replace them with the seals. ;) :)

[Dayrider]

Started it !!! Sound great but as soon as I put it in first gear it stalls? it don't jump and it seams to shift good

[Water Warrior 2]

Did you raise the sidestand?? The bike will shut down if the sidestand is down when shifting into gear.

[Dayrider]

Yah ... Good to know �� I'll check that safety switch

[Water Warrior 2]

Yah ... Good to know �� I'll check that safety switch
You can easily see it from the right side of the bike when the bike is on the sidestand. Check the plunger on the switch for ease of movement and lube it with contact cleaner or WD-40. The switch lives in a harsh dirty environment down near the road and needs TLC with every regular servicing.

[Dayrider]

There was a problem with the safety switch bypass to the shifts in the gear now without stalling but the clutch still won't release going to start a new thread "clutch release camshaft"