Winterizing for 5 weeks?

mrudich · June 13th, 2014, 01:13 AM

I'm going away for five weeks and I won't be able to take my motorcycle with me. I've never left it unused for this amount of time (I ride it all through winter) so I've never done any sort of "winterizing" or anything of that sort. So a couple questions:
Do I need to "winterize" it if I'll be gone for only five weeks?

If so, what does that entail?

Does it differ from what one would normally do if they were leaving their bike sitting for longer?

Also a friend of mine said Sea Foam works as a fuel stabilizer also in addition to its other purposes? Is he correct?

I have a cover and a battery tender already.

Thanks!

Mountain Dew · June 13th, 2014, 01:57 AM

Keep it on front and rear stands if you have. Fill up the tank all the way to the top, so rust doesn't form in the empty space.

IMO no need to put fuel stabilizer if it's only five weeks.

Ninjinsky · June 13th, 2014, 02:50 AM

I would drain the carb bowls because the high volatiles will evaporate off and whats left will be pretty dull, making starting a PITA when you get back to it.
Otherwise just disconnect the battery as a safety precaution and depending on its condition you may need to top up the charge when you get back.
but that's all I would do

InvisiBill · June 13th, 2014, 05:05 AM

This year, the extent of my winterizing was filling up the tank, turning off the petcock, letting the engine use up all the gas in the carbs, and removing the battery. It sat from November 15 to March 30, then fired right up in the spring. I do use TC-W3 oil as a fuel additive, but otherwise it was just regular 87 octane E10.

For 5 weeks, I agree with the others. It should be plenty to empty the bowls and unhook the battery.

CC Cowboy · June 13th, 2014, 05:13 AM

5 weeks! You better give it to a friend to ride. A bike that sits for that long will go south fast. You'll get problems only a doctor can cure. You won't recognize it when you get back.

Only kidding! All you really have to do is get a cell phone and place it on the tank so you can call and talk to it everyday. It will get lonely but the sound of your voice will put a smile on it's face and that way it won't be too pissed you left it.

June 13th, 2014, 01:13 AM	#1
mrudich ninjette.org member Name: Mateo Location: Mendocino County Join Date: Mar 2014 Motorcycle(s): 2005 Kawasaki Ninja 250 Posts: 82	Winterizing for 5 weeks? I'm going away for five weeks and I won't be able to take my motorcycle with me. I've never left it unused for this amount of time (I ride it all through winter) so I've never done any sort of "winterizing" or anything of that sort. So a couple questions: Do I need to "winterize" it if I'll be gone for only five weeks? If so, what does that entail? Does it differ from what one would normally do if they were leaving their bike sitting for longer? Also a friend of mine said Sea Foam works as a fuel stabilizer also in addition to its other purposes? Is he correct? I have a cover and a battery tender already. Thanks!

June 13th, 2014, 01:57 AM	#2
Mountain Dew Ambrosia. Name: Jaymie Location: Oahu, Hawaii Join Date: Aug 2011 Motorcycle(s): 1974 Honda CB550K0 W.I.P. Posts: A lot.	Keep it on front and rear stands if you have. Fill up the tank all the way to the top, so rust doesn't form in the empty space. IMO no need to put fuel stabilizer if it's only five weeks. __________________________________________________ Life's better on the Mountain.

June 13th, 2014, 05:05 AM	#4
InvisiBill EX500 full of EX250 parts Name: Bill Location: Grand Rapids-ish, MI Join Date: Jul 2012 Motorcycle(s): '18 Ninja 400 • '09 Ninja 500R (selling) • '98 VFR800 (project) • '85 Vulcan VN700 (sold) Posts: A lot. Blog Entries: 1 MOTM - Aug '15	This year, the extent of my winterizing was filling up the tank, turning off the petcock, letting the engine use up all the gas in the carbs, and removing the battery. It sat from November 15 to March 30, then fired right up in the spring. I do use TC-W3 oil as a fuel additive, but otherwise it was just regular 87 octane E10. For 5 weeks, I agree with the others. It should be plenty to empty the bowls and unhook the battery. __________________________________________________ * Unregistered, I'm not your mom and I'm not paying for your parts, so do whatever you want with your own bike. *

June 13th, 2014, 05:13 AM	#5
CC Cowboy ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Whodat Location: Ware Is.,MA Join Date: Jan 2009 Motorcycle(s): I pass the wind! Posts: A lot. MOTM - Mar '13, Jun '14	5 weeks! You better give it to a friend to ride. A bike that sits for that long will go south fast. You'll get problems only a doctor can cure. You won't recognize it when you get back. Only kidding! All you really have to do is get a cell phone and place it on the tank so you can call and talk to it everyday. It will get lonely but the sound of your voice will put a smile on it's face and that way it won't be too pissed you left it. __________________________________________________ If everything seems under control; you're just not going fast enough! Last futzed with by CC Cowboy; June 13th, 2014 at 07:33 AM.
	1 out of 1 members found this post helpful.

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June 13th, 2014, 02:50 AM	#3
Ninjinsky ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Paul Location: UK Join Date: Apr 2014 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250, Yamaha RS200 (classic) Posts: A lot.	I would drain the carb bowls because the high volatiles will evaporate off and whats left will be pretty dull, making starting a PITA when you get back to it. Otherwise just disconnect the battery as a safety precaution and depending on its condition you may need to top up the charge when you get back. but that's all I would do