So... I'm an idiot.

ryanG19 · February 3rd, 2012, 08:44 PM

Since it was in the upper 40's today in Ohio, I decided to un-winterize my bike and go for a ride. So, I get my bike out, check everything over, and am excited as hell to ride. I get my battery put in and turn the fuel dial to prime since I emptied my carbs. I give it a few seconds to fill up, hit the starter, and voila, she starts!!

Then I notice a gas smell, I look down and there's gas all over the garage and it's still pouring out. I kill it real quick and look for the problem. Guess who forgot to screw one of the carbs closed after he emptied them? This guy. How stupid do I feel on a scale of 1-10? At least a 9. What an idiot...

csmith12 · February 3rd, 2012, 08:48 PM

:\ bummer but at least your riding! Was a great day to ride too. Where in ohio are you at? Anywhere near Cincy or Dayton?

csmith12 · February 3rd, 2012, 08:53 PM

I see your from west central ohio. Maybe I will make it up there one day. :\

"A" · February 3rd, 2012, 08:55 PM

Mountain Dew · February 3rd, 2012, 09:18 PM

At least you didn't forget to connect the fuel lines before turning the fuel on :>

LoneRonin · February 3rd, 2012, 11:17 PM

thats why I don't even fool around with winterizing my bike, she's ready to go everytime...why would you drain the carbs on a brand new bike anyways, just run some stabilizer and you're good to go.

koenigcitizen · February 4th, 2012, 09:00 AM

Never got around to properly winterizing my bike, so I ride her. And she loves it

choneofakind · February 4th, 2012, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LoneRonin

thats why I don't even fool around with winterizing my bike, she's ready to go everytime...why would you drain the carbs on a brand new bike anyways, just run some stabilizer and you're good to go.

how does the age of a bike have anything to do with if draining the carbs is necessary? Even with stabilized gas, it's better to not just let gas sit in the carbs because stabilizer has been known to go bad sometimes too.

Ryan I'm so jealous that you got to go out for a ride today. Campus is 2:30 from my house, so riding is not an option except for breaks. Plus we have snow today

Jono · February 4th, 2012, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by choneofakind

Ryan I'm so jealous that you got to go out for a ride today. Campus is 2:30 from my house, so riding is not an option except for breaks. Plus we have snow today

I don't know how you survive man. I haven't ridden in a month and I am about to go crazy!!!!

ryanG19 · February 4th, 2012, 09:27 AM

That picture is exactly what I was thinking while I was riding. "Please, please, please don't light on fire" haha.

I winterized it because in Ohio winter usually lasts 2-3 months and sometimes all the way through mid march with snow on the ground. I'd rather be safe than sorry and it only takes a half hour to do.

And once again, it goes from 50's and sunny yesterday to 3 inches of snow, 30, and cloudy.

choneofakind · February 4th, 2012, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryanG19

And once again, it goes from 50's and sunny yesterday to 3 inches of snow, 30, and cloudy.

hahah I woke up and was like like fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu...

Slono · February 4th, 2012, 09:48 AM

We've been lucky here in Toronto. I've ridden my bike a bunch of times in December, a few times in January, and I just took my bike out again 2 days ago. It was super cold though, to the point where my fingers experienced sharp shooting pains after 30 minutes on the freeway. I still think its worth it

oreX · February 4th, 2012, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by "A"

Ok its horrible that this person is on fire, but after reading the story and seeing this pic I almost spat sunflower seeds all over my monitor.

"A" · February 4th, 2012, 08:34 PM

One or more of them on the line is thinking:

greenaero · February 4th, 2012, 09:42 PM

Hopefully you weren't smoking at the time... flame on !

NDspd · February 4th, 2012, 10:25 PM

Lol...at least you found out before it was too late.

ThFreakNRican · February 4th, 2012, 11:12 PM

Im not to far from you. I'm up in Detroit and the way this winter has been going Ive been thinking about Un-winterizing my bike as well. Ive been kinda worried that i maybe made the same mistake as you... if i did... at least ill know that I'm not the only one =]

SlowBoyRacing · February 4th, 2012, 11:18 PM

Not an idiot. I'll call you an idiot if you do it again though

LoneRonin · February 5th, 2012, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by choneofakind;435158[B

]how does the age of a bike have anything to do with if draining the carbs is necessary?[/B] Even with stabilized gas, it's better to not just let gas sit in the carbs because stabilizer has been known to go bad sometimes too.

Ryan I'm so jealous that you got to go out for a ride today. Campus is 2:30 from my house, so riding is not an option except for breaks. Plus we have snow today

dude seriously? An older bike is obviously gonna be more gunked up and full of ****. Also you want the stabilizer sitting in the fuel lines so it actually can do its job. Thats why after you put it in you run the bike for a few minutes so it can circulate. And I've never heard of stabilizer going bad unless its ancient stuff...

choneofakind · February 5th, 2012, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LoneRonin

An older bike is obviously gonna be more gunked up and full of ****.

Only if the bike is sitting for a long period of time. A bike that is run regularly will have clean carbs. Carbs get cruddy from sitting with gas in them. My bike is 13 years old, and I can assure you my carbs are spotless on the inside.

Quote:

Originally Posted by LoneRonin

Also you want the stabilizer sitting in the fuel lines so it actually can do its job. Thats why after you put it in you run the bike for a few minutes so it can circulate. And I've never heard of stabilizer going bad unless its ancient stuff...

No. Leave gas in the tank, and drain everything else. You're better to stabilize the gas a gas station (and fill the tank to keep the inside of the tank for rusting) and ride home. That mixes the stabilizer in with all the gas. Then when you get home, drain the bowls. This empties everything in the system that comes after the petcock, including the fuel lines and carbs, because it all runs down into the carb bowls when you drain them.

Stabilized gas has been known to go bad if it's just sitting there for a long time, say significantly longer than a year. Stabilizer doesn't make gas stay good indefinitely, it just makes the process of gas going bad take longer.

ForceofWill · February 5th, 2012, 03:56 PM

How often are you guys having gas go bad? I've never experianced it. My TT sat for 7 months while I was on deployment and started right up.

choneofakind · February 5th, 2012, 08:23 PM

I personally have never experienced it with treated gas. I've only read about cases where vehicles have sat for significantly longer than a year, and the gas has gone bad, even with stabilizer. It's possible, but not likely unless something is sitting there for a very long time.

Bigballsofpaint · February 5th, 2012, 08:57 PM

Ya i didnt winterize my bike, i just make sure to ride it for 10 or 15 min every 2 weeks to a month. Enough to get it nice and warmed up even though im freezing. I do the same to my gfs ninja too.

RaZeDaHeLL · February 6th, 2012, 07:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bigballsofpaint

Ya i didnt winterize my bike, i just make sure to ride it for 10 or 15 min every 2 weeks to a month. Enough to get it nice and warmed up even though im freezing. I do the same to my gfs ninja too.

I've been doing the same thing with mine, only I've been riding more/longer since its been a really warm winter. No need to winterize!

February 3rd, 2012, 08:44 PM	#1
ryanG19 ninjette.org member Name: Ryan Location: Ohio Join Date: Dec 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2012 Ninja 250r Candy Apple Lime Posts: 68	So... I'm an idiot. Since it was in the upper 40's today in Ohio, I decided to un-winterize my bike and go for a ride. So, I get my bike out, check everything over, and am excited as hell to ride. I get my battery put in and turn the fuel dial to prime since I emptied my carbs. I give it a few seconds to fill up, hit the starter, and voila, she starts!! Then I notice a gas smell, I look down and there's gas all over the garage and it's still pouring out. I kill it real quick and look for the problem. Guess who forgot to screw one of the carbs closed after he emptied them? This guy. How stupid do I feel on a scale of 1-10? At least a 9. What an idiot...

February 3rd, 2012, 08:48 PM	#2
csmith12 The Corner Whisperer Name: Chris (aka Reactor) Location: Northern KY Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2010 250 (track), 1992 250, 2006 R6 (street/track), 2008 R6 (track) Posts: Too much. MOTY 2015, MOTM - Nov '12, Nov '13	:\ bummer but at least your riding! Was a great day to ride too. Where in ohio are you at? Anywhere near Cincy or Dayton? __________________________________________________ Goal: Shake A Million Hands \| Look through the corners \| Track Day Prep \| Closest track? \| The Mid-Ohio School

February 3rd, 2012, 08:53 PM	#3
csmith12 The Corner Whisperer Name: Chris (aka Reactor) Location: Northern KY Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2010 250 (track), 1992 250, 2006 R6 (street/track), 2008 R6 (track) Posts: Too much. MOTY 2015, MOTM - Nov '12, Nov '13	I see your from west central ohio. Maybe I will make it up there one day. :\ __________________________________________________ Goal: Shake A Million Hands \| Look through the corners \| Track Day Prep \| Closest track? \| The Mid-Ohio School

February 3rd, 2012, 09:18 PM	#5
Mountain Dew Ambrosia. Name: Jaymie Location: Oahu, Hawaii Join Date: Aug 2011 Motorcycle(s): 1974 Honda CB550K0 W.I.P. Posts: A lot.	At least you didn't forget to connect the fuel lines before turning the fuel on :> __________________________________________________ Life's better on the Mountain.

February 4th, 2012, 09:00 AM	#7
koenigcitizen Russian Ninja :) Name: Andrei Location: Ocean City, MD Join Date: Oct 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2012 Triumph Street Triple R, 2009 Yamaha FZ6, 2010 Kawi 250r (sold) Posts: 335	Never got around to properly winterizing my bike, so I ride her. And she loves it __________________________________________________ 2009 Fazer (2009 Yamaha FZ6), 2012 Triumph Street Triple R

February 3rd, 2012, 08:55 PM	#4
"A" vampire Name: A Location: IT Join Date: Feb 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2 many 2 list Posts: A lot.

February 3rd, 2012, 11:17 PM	#6
LoneRonin ninjette.org sage Name: Jason Location: Mississauga Join Date: Mar 2011 Motorcycle(s): 09 Ninja 250r Posts: 634	thats why I don't even fool around with winterizing my bike, she's ready to go everytime...why would you drain the carbs on a brand new bike anyways, just run some stabilizer and you're good to go.

February 4th, 2012, 09:27 AM	#10
ryanG19 ninjette.org member Name: Ryan Location: Ohio Join Date: Dec 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2012 Ninja 250r Candy Apple Lime Posts: 68	That picture is exactly what I was thinking while I was riding. "Please, please, please don't light on fire" haha. I winterized it because in Ohio winter usually lasts 2-3 months and sometimes all the way through mid march with snow on the ground. I'd rather be safe than sorry and it only takes a half hour to do. And once again, it goes from 50's and sunny yesterday to 3 inches of snow, 30, and cloudy.

February 4th, 2012, 09:48 AM	#12
Slono ninjette.org guru Name: Solon Location: Toronto, Ontario Join Date: Jun 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2011 Kawasaki Ninja 250R (sold), 2007 SV650s (deer wrecked), 2010 Suzuki SV650S Posts: 334	We've been lucky here in Toronto. I've ridden my bike a bunch of times in December, a few times in January, and I just took my bike out again 2 days ago. It was super cold though, to the point where my fingers experienced sharp shooting pains after 30 minutes on the freeway. I still think its worth it

February 4th, 2012, 08:34 PM	#14
"A" vampire Name: A Location: IT Join Date: Feb 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2 many 2 list Posts: A lot.	One or more of them on the line is thinking:

February 4th, 2012, 09:42 PM	#15
greenaero Motorcycle Hypermiler Name: Vic Location: Livermore CA Join Date: Jan 2012 Motorcycle(s): 1999 & 2005 Kawasaki Ninja 250R's Posts: A lot.	Hopefully you weren't smoking at the time... flame on !

February 4th, 2012, 10:25 PM	#16
NDspd 1/4 English, 3/4 Kick Ass Name: Jeremy Location: Dayton, OH Join Date: Sep 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2002 Triumph Speed Triple 955i, '05 Suzuki SV650S(retired), '11 Ninja 250R(sold) Posts: A lot.	Lol...at least you found out before it was too late.

February 4th, 2012, 11:12 PM	#17
ThFreakNRican Yep, Im a n00b Name: Nelson Location: Ann Arbor, MI Join Date: Jan 2012 Motorcycle(s): Red 2010 Ninja 250 Posts: 12	Im not to far from you. I'm up in Detroit and the way this winter has been going Ive been thinking about Un-winterizing my bike as well. Ive been kinda worried that i maybe made the same mistake as you... if i did... at least ill know that I'm not the only one =]

February 4th, 2012, 11:18 PM	#18
SlowBoyRacing ninjette.org member Name: Mani Location: NY Join Date: Dec 2011 Motorcycle(s): ZX6-R and etc. Posts: 137	Not an idiot. I'll call you an idiot if you do it again though __________________________________________________ 90 Degree Angled Valve Stems - ONLY $26.95 - FREE SHIPPING - Click Here for Thread

February 5th, 2012, 03:56 PM	#21
ForceofWill Blind 250 Loving Whore Name: Tom Location: Chesapeake, VA Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2008 250R, 02 FZ1, '20 Fat Bob 114 Posts: A lot.	How often are you guys having gas go bad? I've never experianced it. My TT sat for 7 months while I was on deployment and started right up.

February 5th, 2012, 08:23 PM	#22
choneofakind ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: . Location: . Join Date: Feb 2011 Motorcycle(s): . Posts: Too much. MOTM - Feb '13, Feb '14	I personally have never experienced it with treated gas. I've only read about cases where vehicles have sat for significantly longer than a year, and the gas has gone bad, even with stabilizer. It's possible, but not likely unless something is sitting there for a very long time.

February 5th, 2012, 08:57 PM	#23
Bigballsofpaint ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Jay Location: CT Join Date: Apr 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2015 636 ABS - 69 Honda 305 Posts: A lot.	Ya i didnt winterize my bike, i just make sure to ride it for 10 or 15 min every 2 weeks to a month. Enough to get it nice and warmed up even though im freezing. I do the same to my gfs ninja too.

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