Leaving for a year, GS storage? Phone a friend? What to do?

[jnerges]

Hello all,

Getting ready to head to Iraq for a year, leaving in February. I don't know what do with the 2005 R12GS, my options are to leave it stored or ask a friend to stop over once a month and start her up.

Any thoughts? It will probably be a good 13 or 14 months before I can ride again.:usa

[26667]

just drop it off in Chicago and I'll be happy to ride it and keep it serviced and happy. :whistle

[bikerfish1100]

unless you're having your griend start it and take it for a lengthy ride, just starting and idling will do more harm than good.
while my kid was on tour in Iraq and later in Afghanistan, he gave his bike (Triumph SpeedTrip) to his dealer to store. Bike was on their "house" insurance, so he could drop his own coverage- what they charged him for the monthly was less than what he'd been paying to Progressive. you might want to check out a similar arrangement with your local.
Alternatively, if you have secure indoor storage (he did not)... do a full winterization (search here or google to find the specifics), slap the bike on a Battery Tender, and no worries.
Good luck, and come home not 1 day early (unless your entire squadron gets a reprieve from the "festivities")!

[Jfixit]

Carefully do everything the manual tells you to do for long term storage then leave, it will be fine. Please be safe so you can come home and see that my advice was good.

[jnerges]

just drop it off in Chicago and I'll be happy to ride it and keep it serviced and happy. :whistle

You know, its funny how many people have made the same offer.:thumb

Glad to read the part about pulling it off the road, I plan on getting the oil changed this week at the dealer and talk to them about it too. Its a great bike, too bad I can't take it with me. :dunno

John

[bikerfish1100]

unless you expect to either ring up 0 miles or several thousand miles in the next month, consider the benefit of delaying your oil change until you leave. you want the oil in the bike to be fully new before you go- so you'll be doing another oil/filter then as well. how many miles since the last change?

[jnerges]

unless you expect to either ring up 0 miles or several thousand miles in the next month, consider the benefit of delaying your oil change until you leave. you want the oil in the bike to be fully new before you go- so you'll be doing another oil/filter then as well. how many miles since the last change?

About 1800, I think you are suggesting that I get the oil changed and leave it, correct?

I will also see the dealer this week but I trust you guys a lot more. The wisdom of the group.

[AntonLargiader]

One year, in a climate-controlled facility, I wouldn't worry especially about the oil. Fill the tank (use some Stabil), have them charge the battery every now and then, have them do an annual service before, or during, or after storage (depending on what the current status is) and that's about all. A year isn't so bad if the bike is in a dry environment.

Interesting about the insurance. Sounds like a good deal.

[GlobalRider]

Fill the tank (use some Stabil)...

But don't just pour it in the gas tank. I put in the required amount of Sta-Bil at the gas station, top up with gas which mixes it up in the process, and then drive home those few miles which gets it to the injectors, etc.

[bikerfish1100]

About 1800, I think you are suggesting that I get the oil changed and leave it, correct?

I will also see the dealer this week but I trust you guys a lot more. The wisdom of the group.


once you're past the initial 600 mile change, there's NO reason (barring unusual stresses of racing or dirt ingestion) to go less than every 6K or 1x per year. more frequent is just a waste of $ and oil. use a good oil, close the door, and rest easy.

[FatBaxter]

You might also consider changing the brake fluid both immediately before and after storage. At least beforehand. Old fluid can corrode the system while in storage. Don't ask me how I know this.

[michaelrm69]

Hello all,

Getting ready to head to Iraq for a year, leaving in February. I don't know what do with the 2005 R12GS, my options are to leave it stored or ask a friend to stop over once a month and start her up.

Any thoughts? It will probably be a good 13 or 14 months before I can ride again.:usa

J,

Been in the same boat as you with my bike, as have friends of mine (1 currently). All I did was the manual recommended items, took the battery out and stored it in a garage that wasn't prone to rodents. My buddy currently has his ST1300 stored this way at a mini storage, and he put some nylons full of moth balls around the bike in the event that some mice get in there (I have heard that this helps, but who knows?). If you have such a place available, the bike will be fine. Mine was a 12gs at the time, and as I mentioned it was fine.

...of course, I would be more then happy to ride it for the year :)

[BMWRich58]

Hello all,

Getting ready to head to Iraq for a year, leaving in February. I don't know what do with the 2005 R12GS, my options are to leave it stored or ask a friend to stop over once a month and start her up.

Any thoughts? It will probably be a good 13 or 14 months before I can ride again.:usa

Make sure the surfaces are clean and protected (waxed) and then a good breathable cover added. Hookup a battery charger that only charges on demand or simply remove battery from the bike and store inside.
I don't like Stabil...had bad experience with it. Just install fresh gas and drain it when ya come home.

Having a friend exercise the bike once every few months is a good idea. I'm currently doing that for an Iraq deployed friend.

[r11rs94]

J,

Been in the same boat as you with my bike, as have friends of mine (1 currently). All I did was the manual recommended items, took the battery out and stored it in a garage that wasn't prone to rodents. My buddy currently has his ST1300 stored this way at a mini storage, and he put some nylons full of moth balls around the bike in the event that some mice get in there (I have heard that this helps, but who knows?). If you have such a place available, the bike will be fine. Mine was a 12gs at the time, and as I mentioned it was fine.

...of course, I would be more then happy to ride it for the year :)

I did more or less the same. when I returned I re-installed the battery, changed the fluids cleaned up, checked the tires, and was good to go. Good luck on your tour.

[bikerfish1100]

One year, in a climate-controlled facility, I wouldn't worry especially about the oil

Anton- can you share your thoughts on this? I've read (and heard) that one of the byproducts of combustion is acids, which then get "stored" in the oil. and that those acids can be corrosive to the bearings. which is a primary reason for storing a bike with new oil.

[nrpetersen]

Everytime an engine runs, the crankcase fills with combustion byproducts. These are mostly CO2 and H2O, along with some misc oxides (mostly from sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides). When the engine cools down the H2O condenses, and some will mix with those oxides to make acids (sulfuric and nitric), and that's what starts corrosion.

The CO2 eventually vents off & doesn't harm anything. Carbonic acid isn't very corrosive anyway.

When the engine is run again, the oil usually gets hot enough to boil off most of the H2O, but the acids stay behind since their boiling point is much higher. That's the reason we have to change oil regularly.

To summarize, it would be good to have a recent oil change in the engine before storage. Spraying some fogging oil into the air intake while running would also help.

[bikerfish1100]

yeah, that's pretty much what i've known. i'm still curious why Anton would say "don't bother changing oil before a 1 year storage".

[nhbmw]

About 1800, I think you are suggesting that I get the oil changed and leave it, correct?

I will also see the dealer this week but I trust you guys a lot more. The wisdom of the group.


I would definitely change the oil, maybe the filter, and ride until the engine is fully warmed up. Old oil has combustion waste in it. Sulphur combined with water from condensation is sulphuric acid, and you don't want that eating the bearings.

And, I'd remove the battery and sell it, even for short money. Better than dealing with an old one on your return -- that may be sulfated, or won't hold a charge. Batteries want to be loved and used, not left standing.

[bikerfish1100]

I would definitely change the oil, maybe the filter, and ride until the engine is fully warmed up. Old oil has combustion waste in it. Sulphur combined with water from condensation is sulphuric acid, and you don't want that eating the bearings.

And, I'd remove the battery and sell it, even for short money. Better than dealing with an old one on your return -- that may be sulfated, or won't hold a charge. Batteries want to be loved and used, not left standing.

i'd suspect the battery would do fine on a Tender, especially down in NC- not really subjected to cold temps there.

so if the oil is changed to remove acids before storage, why even bother to start the bike again? i'm sure it's not much acid build-up, but wouldn't none be superior to even a little?

[AZgman]

Have you thought about selling the bike and buying another when you return? Your bike is going to depreciate during a year of non-use (read: non-enjoyment), plus the cost of storage, extra maintenance, and insurance (if you go that route).

Just a thought...

[GlobalRider]

Hello all,

Getting ready to head to Iraq for a year, leaving in February. It will probably be a good 13 or 14 months before I can ride again.:usa

Take it from someone who has stored their motorcycle for 11 months every year, for the last 14 years.

Just before putting it away...


give it a thorough wash.
take it for a 10+ mile ride to warm up the fluids.
on the way back, put Sta-Bil in the gas tank while filling it at a nearby gas station.
change the engine oil and oil filter.
change the transmission oil.
change the final drive oil.
if you suspect the brake and clutch fluids, change those.
put a metal mesh pot scrubber in the air intake to keep rodents out.
cap off the exhaust with a plastic bag and tape.
either remove the battery or leave it in place. In both cases put a battery maintainer on it, eg. Optimate III.
cover the motorcycle with a breathable (cotton) cover if you want to.
store it in a dry cool place.

If there is any chance that the battery might freeze, remove it!

And after almost a year in storage, my GS fires up the instant I hit the starter button. I don't bother replacing the fluids after storage...there is nothing wrong with them.

Oh and by the way, worry more about yourself in the next 14 months than about your motorcycle.

[nhbmw]

i'd suspect the battery would do fine on a Tender, especially down in NC- not really subjected to cold temps there.

so if the oil is changed to remove acids before storage, why even bother to start the bike again? i'm sure it's not much acid build-up, but wouldn't none be superior to even a little?


You're probably right about the NC climate. I would disconnect the ground lead, though, just to avoid the drain of onboard electronics.

When I change oil, the engine is hot. 10 minutes later, after a refill and filter change, it is still hot. What I'm suggesting is: start the engine, let it idle for 30 seconds and switch off. That doesn't add a measurable amount of contamination, but it does circulate fresh oil everywhere and dilutes whatever contaminants are left.

[bikerfish1100]

You're probably right about the NC climate. I would disconnect the ground lead, though, just to avoid the drain of onboard electronics.

actually, i've read that a battery does best with a mild, steady drain placed upon it (like a clock), and a mild steady charge going into it (like that from a BatteryTender).

When I change oil, the engine is hot. 10 minutes later, after a refill and filter change, it is still hot. What I'm suggesting is: start the engine, let it idle for 30 seconds and switch off. That doesn't add a measurable amount of contamination, but it does circulate fresh oil everywhere and dilutes whatever contaminants are left.

i doubt that any upper end parts would be entirely stripped of all oil coatings from doing an oil drain, and i suspect that any contaminents that might be left over would be sitting at the very bottom of the oil pan with any undrained oil residues. running them through the engine would only distribute them around to moving parts. no likely benefit, but neither do i see any likely harm.
if it makes you feel good, it's probably no problem. i won't bother with the restart myself.

[jnerges]

Take it from someone who has stored their motorcycle for 11 months every year, for the last 14 years.

Just before putting it away...


give it a thorough wash.
take it for a 10+ mile ride to warm up the fluids.
on the way back, put Sta-Bil in the gas tank while filling it at a nearby gas station.
change the engine oil and oil filter.
change the transmission oil.
change the final drive oil.
if you suspect the brake and clutch fluids, change those.
put a metal mesh pot scrubber in the air intake to keep rodents out.
cap off the exhaust with a plastic bag and tape.
either remove the battery or leave it in place. In both cases put a battery maintainer on it, eg. Optimate III.
cover the motorcycle with a breathable (cotton) cover if you want to.
store it in a dry cool place.

If there is any chance that the battery might freeze, remove it!

And after almost a year in storage, my GS fires up the instant I hit the starter button. I don't bother replacing the fluids after storage...there is nothing wrong with them.

Oh and by the way, worry more about yourself in the next 14 months than about your motorcycle.

Thanks gents (and ladies if present) appreciate all the support. I am going to do the Stabil, remove the battery and get new tires when I get home. I will keep you all posted.

J

[bikerfish1100]

Our most heartfelt wishes are with you.