Winterizing/storage tips and tricks?? Lets see what you got.

Vet Rider
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Vet Rider 10/21/2017 8:18pm
10/21/2017 8:18pm Edited Date/Time 10/24/2017 6:38pm
So its about time to retire my 2017 KTM SX-F for the winter. I'm changing the oil tomorrow. Then it will be to bed. Here is a list of things I plan on doing. Let me know what ones sound good and what ones are not necessary. Please feel free to add to this list.

1. Bike will be on rear stand
2. Change oil and filter
3. Drain gas, run out whats in lines
4. Lower tire pressures
5. Remove battery, put on tender
6. Remove air filter, put in wash cover
7. Bleed air from forks
8. Bleed out compression air from left fork
9. Put in muffler plug
10. Kiss goodnight


Thats about all I can think of. Does anyone else have any other tips?? Again this is for my 2017 KTM 250 SX-F.



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Mr. Sandman
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Mr. Sandman 10/21/2017 9:26pm
10/21/2017 9:26pm Edited Date/Time 10/21/2017 9:32pm
I’d also suggest draining the coolant, especially if the bike will be stored in an area where temperatures will drop below freezing.
Vet Rider
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Vet Rider 10/21/2017 9:47pm
10/21/2017 9:47pm
Mr. Sandman wrote:
I’d also suggest draining the coolant, especially if the bike will be stored in an area where temperatures will drop below freezing.
No the bike will be in a heated garage. Even during those times when it gets into the single digit temps, the inside of the garage is around 45*-50*. So not room temp, but not freezing.
RCF
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RCF 10/22/2017 3:38am
10/22/2017 3:38am
Buy a set of studded tires and keep riding.

lumpy790
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lumpy790 10/22/2017 7:54am
10/22/2017 7:54am
In my street bike I would put a cover over it and every couple weeks fire it up to charge battery and get gas circulating.

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imoto34
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imoto34 10/22/2017 8:13am
10/22/2017 8:13am
lumpy790 wrote:
In my street bike I would put a cover over it and every couple weeks fire it up to charge battery and get gas circulating.
I think that is a better choice then running the KTM out of fuel. I have seen those fuel pumps go bad after just a few times running it out of fuel.
ktm-5
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ktm-5 10/22/2017 2:53pm
10/22/2017 2:53pm
I would suggest to leave fuel in the tank to not dry out the pump or line, it's better to dump it out later
Mr. Sandman
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Mr. Sandman 10/23/2017 8:03am
10/23/2017 8:03am
ktm-5 wrote:
I would suggest to leave fuel in the tank to not dry out the pump or line, it's better to dump it out later
Not a bad idea but if you do leave fuel in it, add a little Sta-bil fuel stabilizer to it first and run it for a little while. It'll help keep the gas from gumming up the injection system. Come spring, dump the gas into your lawn mower and add fresh gas to the bike and you'll be good to go.
ktm-5
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ktm-5 10/23/2017 11:16am
10/23/2017 11:16am
ktm-5 wrote:
I would suggest to leave fuel in the tank to not dry out the pump or line, it's better to dump it out later
Mr. Sandman wrote:
Not a bad idea but if you do leave fuel in it, add a little Sta-bil fuel stabilizer to it first and run it for a...
Not a bad idea but if you do leave fuel in it, add a little Sta-bil fuel stabilizer to it first and run it for a little while. It'll help keep the gas from gumming up the injection system. Come spring, dump the gas into your lawn mower and add fresh gas to the bike and you'll be good to go.
I use non ethanol and haven't had an issue with any gumming yet well at least not last winter, with pump gas that would definitely be a good idea.
Acidreamer
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Acidreamer 10/23/2017 12:46pm
10/23/2017 12:46pm
Might be extreme but i always take my linkage and wheels off and re-grease all the bearings. Mostly for rust prevention but needs to be done for spring anyway
Vet Rider
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Vet Rider 10/23/2017 12:54pm
10/23/2017 12:54pm
Acidreamer wrote:
Might be extreme but i always take my linkage and wheels off and re-grease all the bearings. Mostly for rust prevention but needs to be done...
Might be extreme but i always take my linkage and wheels off and re-grease all the bearings. Mostly for rust prevention but needs to be done for spring anyway
Honestly I'll probably break my bike down and grease everything too. I want to retorque some stuff and Im going to be adding some parts too.
Whymee
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Whymee 10/24/2017 4:38pm
10/24/2017 4:38pm
I am surprised no one has mentioned fogging the cylinder...
CarlinoJoeVideo
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CarlinoJoeVideo 10/24/2017 6:38pm
10/24/2017 6:38pm
Whymee wrote:
I am surprised no one has mentioned fogging the cylinder...
I've fogged my cylinder on my snowmobile once. But it you start it once a month, this won't be needed.

The VP T4 will easily last all winter and doesn't eat away at your fuel line and o-rings. Just stay away from fuel with ethanol.

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