How do you winterize your NC?

[jtanner]

It's cold here in Utah! In fact just the other night, a record low October temperature of -43 F was recorded in the mountains 30 minutes from where I live.

Time to winterize!

Previously with my NC all I've done is put some STA-BIL in the fuel tank and pull the battery to store in the house. This year I'm wondering if there's more I should be doing.

Should I be changing the oil before storage? It's due for an oil change, but I'm not sure if doing it before or after winter is best.

Any other winterizing tips?

[TheIronWarrior]

I always change the oil before storing whether it's due or not. Is it necessary? Can't say for sure. But it's not that expensive a job, I enjoy doing it, and fresh oil and filter is almost always a good thing.

[melensdad]

I keep it in a heated workshop, bike connected up to a battery tender that has 4 ports to power multiple toys. No Sta-Bil or other winterizing for me, I try to get it out and ride it, even if only for a couple miles up and down the road, if the temps and sun cooperates.

[GregC]

In my unheated shed, connected to battery tender, and ride as much as I can (if there’s no snow or ice, or likelihood of ice on the road, I’ll ride).


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[670cc]

I question the wisdom of bringing the battery into a warm environment, unless there is no other way to keep it charged. It is my observation that heat ages batteries, and cold storage in the off season extends battery life, as long as the cold storage area provides a way to keep the battery on a maintenance charger. I might ride my bikes anytime of the year, so I don’t winterize them, but I do store the motorcycle with battery in an unheated building with conditions down to maybe -10*F. My NC still has it’s original battery, still going strong at 7.5 years old.

I do add Stabil to the tank for times of unexpected use of 2 months or more.

I don’t change the engine oil until it reaches 8000 miles of use, regardless of the change of seasons or storage status.

[jtanner]

I question the wisdom of bringing the battery into a warm environment, unless there is no other way to keep it charged. It is my observation that heat ages batteries, and cold storage in the off season extends battery life, as long as the cold storage area provides a way to keep the battery on a maintenance charger. I might ride my bikes anytime of the year, so I don’t winterize them, but I do store the motorcycle with battery in an unheated building with conditions down to maybe -10*F. My NC still has it’s original battery, still going strong at 7.5 years old.

I do add Stabil to the tank for times of unexpected use of 2 months or more.

I don’t change the engine oil until it reaches 8000 miles of use, regardless of the change of seasons or storage status.

Thank you for sharing your battery thoughts. Based on a few tips I read online I figured taking it inside was the best way to preserve its life, but I suppose that could be a myth.

[dduelin]

I take the Madstad winglets out of storage and attach them to the bike.

[TacomaJD]

I question the wisdom of bringing the battery into a warm environment, unless there is no other way to keep it charged. It is my observation that heat ages batteries, and cold storage in the off season extends battery life, as long as the cold storage area provides a way to keep the battery on a maintenance charger. I might ride my bikes anytime of the year, so I don’t winterize them, but I do store the motorcycle with battery in an unheated building with conditions down to maybe -10*F. My NC still has it’s original battery, still going strong at 7.5 years old.

I do add Stabil to the tank for times of unexpected use of 2 months or more.

I don’t change the engine oil until it reaches 8000 miles of use, regardless of the change of seasons or storage status.

I'm not sure the average room temp inside a house of 70°+/- is comparable to sitting in peak summer day heat or even worse when factoring in heat compounded from engine bay.

Wonder what preferred ambient temp would be for a battery to live life in? I've never really thought about this.

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[670cc]

I'm not sure the average room temp inside a house of 70°+/- is comparable to sitting in peak summer day heat or even worse when factoring in heat compounded from engine bay.

Wonder what preferred ambient temp would be for a battery to live life in? I've never really thought about this.

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I/we don't have specifics on actual temperatures and how battery life is affected. There was a forum member hot on this topic a few years ago who was attempting to collect data on user's battery life vs the climate where the user lived. I don't know what, if any, conclusions were reached.

Another informal data point came from members here who live in Arizona, and reported shorter battery life than what might be expected as the norm.

A simple question would be, assuming you have the capability of charging the battery wherever it might be, what is the point of removing it from the motorcycle?

Anyway, living where there are colder, but not extremely cold winters, I had a Goldwing battery last 11 years until I just decided to retire it. A friend had his Harley's battery last something like 12 years, until it began to fail, admittedly past due for proactive replacement.

[Red Rider]

I take the Madstad winglets out of storage and attach them to the bike.

Spoken like a true Floridian!