Should you start bike in winter

Plavanchy · 01-16-2015, 06:38 PM

Hi guys,hope you all are doing ok. My question is should you periodically start your bike during the winter months? We had an unseasonably warm day today for January in Indiana(34 degrees) with warm sun. My bike sits in an unheated garage( it does have a full gas tank treated with berrymansb-12). I did crank it over and let it idle for a few minutes.

Water Warrior 2 · 01-16-2015, 07:51 PM

Just let the bike sit. Periodically starting the bike really won't be to your advantage. You can't really allow the engine to run long enough to dissipate any moisture in the gas or oil without overheating the bike. Also with the engine idling the battery will not charge up to replace the power used to start the bike. Leave it parked with a battery tender and call it a day.

alantf · 01-17-2015, 06:29 AM

Reproduced from Motorcycle Handbook by Kevin Maher and Ben Greisler......

Leaving it in storage..... Once you have put it in storage, LEAVE IT ALONE. You can drool on it (as long as you dry it afterwards). You can rub body parts against it (as long as you don't scratch it or remove too much wax). You can get in your leathers,sit on it and go "Vroom. . . Vroom" while spitting on yourself. But don't start it just to listen or to "warm the motor". Idling it won't warm the motor very much, probably will not charge the battery, definitely won't do anything for the drivetrain and will most likely leave some condensation in the exhaust to rust your precious pipes and mufflers. LEAVE IT ALONE UNTIL IT IS PROPERLY REMOVED FROM STORAGE.

(The capitals are theirs)

chromedome195 · 01-17-2015, 05:47 PM

Good advice.....all

5th_bike · 01-17-2015, 08:54 PM

If I start it in the winter, it's to take a ride on it. For at least ½ hour.

Indeed, just a little idling will do more harm than good.

Plavanchy · 01-17-2015, 11:09 PM

A lot warmer today(50) so I took it out for about an hour-ready for spring!

tml1138 · 02-13-2015, 08:37 AM

I leave it alone. Starting it up without a decent drive (like others said 1/2 hour min.), you'll just cause condensation and that will just help rust.

I also pull the battery out of mine and take it in the house where it sits on a trickle charger all winter. Since it has gotten super freezing cold here in NE Ohio the last few winters. (It's just the typical wet battery.)

01-16-2015, 06:38 PM	#1
Plavanchy Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Muncie, Indiana Posts: 128	Should you start bike in winter Hi guys,hope you all are doing ok. My question is should you periodically start your bike during the winter months? We had an unseasonably warm day today for January in Indiana(34 degrees) with warm sun. My bike sits in an unheated garage( it does have a full gas tank treated with berrymansb-12). I did crank it over and let it idle for a few minutes. Login or Register to Remove Ads
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01-17-2015, 06:29 AM	#3
alantf Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Tenerife (Spain) Posts: 3,719	Reproduced from Motorcycle Handbook by Kevin Maher and Ben Greisler...... Leaving it in storage..... Once you have put it in storage, LEAVE IT ALONE. You can drool on it (as long as you dry it afterwards). You can rub body parts against it (as long as you don't scratch it or remove too much wax). You can get in your leathers,sit on it and go "Vroom. . . Vroom" while spitting on yourself. But don't start it just to listen or to "warm the motor". Idling it won't warm the motor very much, probably will not charge the battery, definitely won't do anything for the drivetrain and will most likely leave some condensation in the exhaust to rust your precious pipes and mufflers. LEAVE IT ALONE UNTIL IT IS PROPERLY REMOVED FROM STORAGE. (The capitals are theirs) __________________ By birth an Englishman, by the grace of God a Yorkshireman. Login or Register to Remove Ads
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01-17-2015, 05:47 PM	#4
chromedome195 Senior Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 667	Good advice.....all __________________ Bike Progression: 1999 GZ250. 1990 Vulcan 500 2004 VStar 650 2006 Boulevard C50 (wife's) 2008 Boulevard C50
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01-17-2015, 08:54 PM	#5
5th_bike Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: HoCo, Maryland Posts: 1,349	If I start it in the winter, it's to take a ride on it. For at least ½ hour. Indeed, just a little idling will do more harm than good. __________________ 2005 "Saturn Black", stock + tach Login or Register to Remove Ads
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02-13-2015, 08:37 AM	#7
tml1138 Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: NE Ohio Posts: 18	I leave it alone. Starting it up without a decent drive (like others said 1/2 hour min.), you'll just cause condensation and that will just help rust. I also pull the battery out of mine and take it in the house where it sits on a trickle charger all winter. Since it has gotten super freezing cold here in NE Ohio the last few winters. (It's just the typical wet battery.) __________________ Troy 2003 Suzuki GZ250 1994 Kawasaki Vulcan EN500
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01-16-2015, 07:51 PM	#2
Water Warrior 2 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Squamish B.C Canada Posts: 11,409	Just let the bike sit. Periodically starting the bike really won't be to your advantage. You can't really allow the engine to run long enough to dissipate any moisture in the gas or oil without overheating the bike. Also with the engine idling the battery will not charge up to replace the power used to start the bike. Leave it parked with a battery tender and call it a day.
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01-17-2015, 11:09 PM	#6
Plavanchy Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Muncie, Indiana Posts: 128	A lot warmer today(50) so I took it out for about an hour-ready for spring!
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