Winter Bike Storage

Dan541
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Dan541
I am looking for some opinions,

I am storing my bike for the winter, in a shed for the first time, it's usually been in a heated basement. The weather can swing 10 below freezing, and the next day 10 above, so it changes quite a bit, so I am wondering if I should spray the outside of my bike with an oil or something to helps prevent rust and such, since the temperature swings will most likely create humidity on the bike, then maybe freeze. Any suggestions are appreciated,

Thanks.
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MudPup545
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MudPup545 11/29/2017 4:51pm
11/29/2017 4:51pm
Avoid WD-40. It is petroleum based and will eat rubber. I learned this the hard way on a KTM 250 one spring when discovering the fuel line/hose was full of holes.
Falcon
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Falcon 11/29/2017 5:22pm
11/29/2017 5:22pm
Drain your coolant and fuel. If you cannot completely drain the fuel (EFI bike,) run some fuel stabilizer and let the engine burn some of that so you know it is all the way through the fuel lines. EFI bikes don't tend to clog up the same way carb jets do, but bad gas can still be a problem.

Dan541
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Dan541 11/29/2017 5:43pm
11/29/2017 5:43pm
It's an older KDX, no EFI on it, still got the carb.
Rhino
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Rhino 11/29/2017 11:39pm
11/29/2017 11:39pm
Falcon wrote:
Drain your coolant and fuel. If you cannot completely drain the fuel (EFI bike,) run some fuel stabilizer and let the engine burn some of that...
Drain your coolant and fuel. If you cannot completely drain the fuel (EFI bike,) run some fuel stabilizer and let the engine burn some of that so you know it is all the way through the fuel lines. EFI bikes don't tend to clog up the same way carb jets do, but bad gas can still be a problem.

Why would he drain the coolant unless he's running pure water?

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rmoto003
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rmoto003 11/30/2017 1:20am
11/30/2017 1:20am
Rhino wrote:
Why would he drain the coolant unless he's running pure water?
Because in winter, the temperature goes down, so if he keeps his coolant in there, the bike will get even colder and possibly break. As we all know, coolant makes the bike colder.

Trust me, I took a science class once
Acidreamer
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Acidreamer 11/30/2017 3:14am
11/30/2017 3:14am
If you have coolant then you should be fine. Engine ice and a lot of oem coolant is good for -34F or something like that.

As far as the gas goes, leave your tank full and put stabilizer in it. Clean your carb and let it be till next year.

Top off the oil too.

Repack all your bearings with grease.
Mr Happy
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Mr Happy 11/30/2017 3:49am
11/30/2017 3:49am
Rhino wrote:
Why would he drain the coolant unless he's running pure water?
The coolant we use recommends a 50/50 mix and 60/40 if the temperature drops below a certain point. Never bothered with it though and it has never been a problem.

My bikes can be laid up for months and aside from the usual maintenance, clean filter, grease bearings, etc... I just drain the fuel out and wipe some used engine oil over the exposed bare steel. Bikes with a steel liner drop some oil in the cylinder through the plug hole. DON'T smear grease all over the brake discs, as a friend did once, and then ride the bike forgetting that you've covered the brake discs with grease.

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