Hi everyone! I got my beautiful 599 (first big bike and loving it) at the beginning of summer. Now that it is ending I'm planning to store it myself but I would like advice on what to do when storing it for long periods of time.

Ok here's what i'm going to do.

1. wax and meticulously clean the bike
2. either drain the tank or add gas stabilizer (which choice is the best?)
3. get a bike jack and lift it to take the weight off the tires
4. remove the battery
5. cover the 599

What else can i do? what about the rest of the fluids?

Too bad Summer in Vancouver is so short. There are great places for riding.

Victor

You have to add gas stabilizer (Stabil works great!), run around town for 15 minutes to get it into the carb bowls and put the battery on a Battery Tender (no need for battery removal).

You might want to cover it.

You certainly do not have to wax it, clean it, drain the gas tank or carb bowls, lift it up or do anything with any of the other fluids.

I wasn't aware summer was so short on the coast. I would think since Vancouver, WA is south of Seattle it would have an even longer riding season than Seattle's.... well, year-round season. Cowboy up and ride.

If you mean the great white north, get a hack and ride. :)

Thanks for the info Skier!


I shall eat my dessert first and ride every day before it gets really cold.

+1 on the battery tender and the Sta-Bil in the gas. I recommend draining the carbs, though, as its easy and it almost guarantees you won't have any carb drama come springtime. Just loosen the little screw on the bottom of each carb bowl, and tighten them back up when fuel stops peeing out the drain tubes onto the ground (into an approved container of course...).

I second the advice about draining the carbs. Sta-bil in the fuel helps them not gum up the carbs, but draining is even better as they're so small and sensitive to buildup as the gas sits in them for extended periods of time.

Cleaning the bike is always a good idea. Keeps your paint nice and shiny and clean. And covering it will ensure that you don't need to do it again in the Spring.

I've always just removed the battery. Saves money over buying a tender (which is a good idea, btw). Just don't sit it on concrete or anything as that will ruin it. Put it on a thick piece of wood or a shelf and it will be fine to go in the Spring.

Victor, I lived in Seattle most of my life. I'm familiar with Vancouver (both of them) as well.

There's NO reason you have to give up riding at all. Sure, if there's ice or snow on the road it's wise to park it, but cold weather itself is not a problem. Neither is rain. What you need is a good pair of winter gloves and an electric vest or jacket liner, as well as good rain gear, and you'll be set to ride year-round. Watch around you - you'll see that many other people will just keep riding up there! You can do it too, with a little planning, and it's a lot more fun that planning to park your bike!

Yea just ride year round. I add a little stabil in the winter because I'm not running as much. At the very least start her up and run it around the block a few times and get it nice and warm. Don't just let it idle in the driveway though...carbon build up.

Great info guys!
Thank You!

Im planning to ride it until the insurance expires (November). It costs a bomb here and the bigger the bike the more expensive it gets. I guess its the same over there right?

ill be looking into electric vests and better gloves. I saw a neat handle warmer on another 599 and thought that could be handy. I Will also definitely drain the carbs and add the fuel stab. I like the idea of being able to leave the battery in the bike so im up for the battery tender.

or you could just crank it now and again, let it run or even take it for a short ride and not have to do anything except cover it
:D

UG! I'm so confused!
I was about to buy a can of 'seafoam' and fill my tank.
Now I am thinking I should buy the seafoam & drain the carbs?
Fill the tank- crap I guess I gotta get out there it's already cold out!
I wish there were a video or good pics of the carb screws-do I have to lift the gas tank?

I'm newly single so I'm going to be doing it myself & I need all the help I can get!!

I have an underground garage in my condo. It's pretty secure so I'm going to take my chances with the bike there for the winter (no other option really). The garage is big enough where I could start her up and ride around the garage for a bit on weekly basis etc.

Would that do the trick rather than actually storing it?

I have decided to do this- Not everything, but it seems like a good check list.
I found 'Seafoam' at Advanced Auto.

www.clarity.net/~adam/winter-storage-content.html (http://www.clarity.net/~adam/winter-storage-content.html)

the best thing you can do.... which is what I do , is RIDE it :lol: :D Yep even in the cold I ride it ........ Love it

Mech is 100% right...But if you just cant... Just throw some Sta-Bil in it or if your worried about it you can drain the carbs etc... I've personally never had any kind of issue with storeing anything after adding Sta-Bil... so thats as far as I go...

Hey handagirl- good to see there's another 599 in CT ! As for the storage issue, All I've ever done is put in fuel stabilizer, fill the tank, run it for a while, and change the oil. Never had a problem. It's only being stored for a few months(indoors). Fog the engine if it's long term storage, Oh, and if we get a warm winter day, I take it out for a spin.

I wish there were a video or good pics of the carb screws-do I have to lift the gas tank?
Nope, the screws are accessible without lifting the tank. I can take a picture when I get home from work. You should think about a battery tender as well. I got mine for $20 from NAPA.

Thank you so much! I would really appreciate a picture- I'm guessing I'll need some sort of rubber tube also?
I have a battery tender all hooked up nice.
The bike is in another town, quite aways away from my new diggs.
This country girl is stuck in the city now.
Any help is much appreciated :)

*** What is "Fog the engine" ?****

The garage is unheated-- I used to keep my baby in the house for the winter!

"Fog the engine" is using storage oil, also known as "fogging oil". I use it every year to winterize my outboard motors. While the engine is running, a little fogging oil is sprayed into the carb throat(s) untill the engine starts smoking, the inside of the engine is coated with the oil, which clings to the metal protecting it from rust, ring sticking, etc. Probably not as important on a four stroke engine (599), as a two stroke. Again, I wouldn't bother for short term storage. I guess the term 'fog' refers to the MAJOR smoke screen created during the process. ??

OK, so I've been a little busy, but here are the pics. The red arrows show the screws, and the yellow arrows show where the fuel will come out. Hope this helps!

http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/5674/carbscrewsleftwg9.jpg

http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/9400/carbscrewsrightwp1.jpg

When you drain the carbs, what happens if you want to spark it up during the winter? Is it not possible? I'm not sure how that goes..

You can start it but you'll have to drain the carbs again should not be running it again for a while. And make sure you have stabil in your gas and you've run it dry.

When you drain the carbs, what happens if you want to spark it up during the winter? Is it not possible? I'm not sure how that goes..

After you've winterized the bike, do not start it again until you're able to get it up to full operating temperature.

And to get it started, you'll probably half to do a fair amount of cranking before she fires. Get that battery tender.

Sev's suggestion would be the wisest course...

Why would you fire it up in the middle of winter anyway? I did a basic motorcycle maintenance course and the instructor/mechanic said that you should not just fire up a bike for a short period of time... especially in the winter, because there can be a small amount of condensation that can occur which is not burnt off/evaporated by short runs. And this condensation can be evil... :evil:

:clap WOW!!! Fantastic pictures!!!
I thought the screws were in the ends of the tips.
I hope to get to it soon, gettin' cold!!

I was working outside & was attacked by a swarm of Yellow Jackets!!!!
Ironic eh?! :roll:

I was working outside & was attacked by a swarm of Yellow Jackets!!!!
Ironic eh?! :roll:

I was sitting at a red light the other day and a yellow jacket LANDED on my handlebars, turn signal switch. I almost shit in my jeans.

reminds me of the time I went mtbing up mission peak and 2/3 of the way up is a port-a-potty...went in did my thing and while wizzing away I noticed some hornets buzzying around, looked up and there was a nest right in the top corner of the port-a-potty. Finished up and just calmly walked out....don't think they even noticed me

Mississippi ain't got no winter storage. NA NA NA BOO BOO! NA NA NA BOO BOO! :twisted:

if you want to add sta-bil and it's too late to ride it around as there's already too much snow on the ground, you shouldnt just let it idle right?