During The Winter ...

[Bristle Hound]

... lay up of your what do u do with the m/c ?

Do you leave it connected to the Optimate under the dust sheet and never let it see light of day until the spring ?
Or
Start it up once a month until the engine cooling fan comes on ?
Or
Ride it thro' all the salt & shite all over the roads & spend more time cleaning it than riding it ?

Some people say leave 'em alone others say start 'em up every month - Who's right :?

I personnally don't go for option 3, too fookin' cold & I ain't got that much time to spend cleaning a cacked up thats covered in salt !
So to all u lot that ride your 's all year round a big to u all

[BirdAddict]

Although I ride all year round It's not on the Blackie I go for option 1 for her, except for this year as in the new year she will be going through some cosmetic changes.

[bezzer]

I leave it connected to the Opitimate and get out on it whenever I can when it's dry.
They reckon it does more harm than good to keep starting it every month or whatever, if you don't intend to use it just leave it alone and connected to the Optimate.
If I was laying it up I would put some petrol stabiliser in the tank and run a bit through beforehand to stop it clogging up with stale fuel, make sure the chain is well lubed then give the exposed metal parts a spray of light oil or some of the specialised stuff then just leave it alone, if you were doing it properly you'd also take the plugs out so you could squirt some oil down the bores.
All in all more trouble than its worth might as well give it a run out every week or two then you can spend the non riding time cleaning it and thinking of next years decent riding

[jonah]

i use it all the time except for snow and ice

[TazCBR1100XX]

Bearing in mind that it cost me well over a ton in the early part of this year for new plugs which the dealer (yeah, that crap one) said was caused by starting it up but not going for a run on it (as if I'd do that), I wouldn't go for option 2. If I was sure I wasn't going to use it through the winter at all, I'd do as some of the others suggested and give it a good lick of protection (including inside the petrol tank as Bezzer suggested), then I'd disconnect the battery altogether and trickle charge it once a month - that will keep your battery up to full efficiency without causing undue damage to the plates. Personally I prefer to ride it, but do tend to steer clear of recently salted roads if I can and I don't go out when there's snow or ice on the road simply because I can't put my feet on the ground for stability if it gets too slippy I don't give it a full clean when I get back from a winter ride, but I do get rid of all the shite that the UK winter throws up with a jet washer leaving the polishing until I've thawed out a bit

Sorry, but I can't leave it sat in the garage if I've got enough money for petrol and the roads are reasonable - even if I do freeze my titz off

[XXAndy]

Top bloke Bezzer, the bike is for riding and when it gets all worn and knackered, buy another.
Now there has been lots of 'comments' on the reliability and stuff of the Camel, however, I am still riding it, it still looks like new (no BA, I am not talking pretty, but just no corrosion etc) and I bet I've done more miles than most since I got it in September.
I used to keep the bb connected to the Optimate if I didnt use it for a couple of days or when going away without I as the battery would go flat. I havent needed t connect the bus up yet, but put tat down to the busas battery being new and the bb's a couple of years old. I also bought some stuf from Scotoiler that yu spray on to vulnerable areas (it washes of in te wet so you have to keep reapplying it), which helps cut down on the alloy 'furring' etc.

[TazCBR1100XX]

which helps cut down on the alloy 'furring'

Fookin furring - you riding a bike or a fookin pussy

[Badger]

gotta be honest guys I have just been starting mine up and let it run on a high tickover untill the can gets too hot to touch , stops it rusting inside then , plus i filled her right to the brim to stop the petrol going stale.
i have been told that just letting them run with no drive takes all the oil from the top of the pot and increases engine wear but i would rather do that than get it covered in salt off the road.and it might be bolXXs anyway
also as an afterthought should you have it on the centre stand to take the weight off the tyres or doesnt it matter?

[bezzer]

Should leave it on the centre stand Dave not only to help the tyres but also to keep it level, leaving it on the sidestand drains all the oil away from the right side so if you are starting it every now and again it would get excess wear on that side as there is initially no oil there.

[Chrixx]

My is in Riyadh where the average relative humidity is probably less than 20%. It may rain but for not more than 1 week a year. The '99 model is in absolute showroom condition except for some dust in the odd corner. Not worth wasting precious water to clean it.

For the UK I keep an old 1977 GL1000 Goldwing on the road, all the year round. It has old fashioned mud guards including a wider bit at the bottom of the front guard. A quick rinse off afrter a salty winter run is good enough and the bike is still in relatively (as used regularlarly for the 19 years I have owned it) in good nick. Being only 80 BHP, it is gentle enough for the slippery roads, has a low C of G and being 26 years old (plus my old age) , qualifies as a "Classic" with Carol Nash, for cheap insurance. I pay less than 90 quid a year for the GL plus a 1926 Ariel!

For when I bring the home to the UK I will fit a Hugger but does anyone out there have any experience of the effectiness of the available front "Fender Extenders"? Do they affect the handling in any way?

[BirdAddict]

I have a fender extender on the front and it seems to be money well spent. It does a good job of keeping the front belly pan triangle clean.
You don't even see that its there after a short time as it looks like an original feature and I have found no difference in the way the bike handles,although saying that I'm a pretty slow and careful rider who hasn't explored the full potential of the Blackie other than on a straight run and the only time I'm likely to gt my knee down is if i do an impression of Taz or numb Bits.

[TazCBR1100XX]

the only time I'm likely to gt my knee down is if i do an impression of Taz or numb Bits.

C*nt

[Chrixx]

Thanks BA, I will get one on order soon.
The only time I can get my knee down is when I go to those places for Christenings, Weddings and Funerals.

[bov]

Up till last year I was riding the in ALL weathers. Then at xmas I moved house and had to get to London in heavy snow. Bolloxx. Couldn't even get the Blackie off the icy drive So decided it would be a good idea to by a shitter for when it's really bad ( that's 10 mnths of the year innit? :? ). Bought a '92 600 divvy from my bruvva. It was tatty with minor crash damage, ripped seat, mis-fire, bent mirrors etc but It was ideal for the winter hack. Or so I thought! Turns out the has spoilt me and i've spent about a grand doing it up so it feels a bit more sophisticated like the 'Bird . Wot a complete Tw*t I am. asshole

[numb bits]

I used to like you B.A.

[Bristle Hound]

Went out for a spin on the today
Only managed about 10 miles & had to come home as I was fookin' freezing
Had leathers on with thermals & thick sweatshirt, winter gloves, balaclava boots & was still cold
Big respect to all of you who ride thro' the winter

[Gruf]

went for a spin on the yesterday went down to Helmsley then accross to Scarbourgh it's was a great day. The roads were quite dry and the best bit was that they were quite, thanks to all the guys who take there bikes of the road for winter.
Done 206 miles only saw 1 copper and he was attending an RTA (cars only)