How do you winterize your NC?

[TacomaJD]

I just think of all the people in the world that ride for years and never do hardly any kind of maintenance and have little to no problems, makes me worry less. I would bet my 2006 Vulcan Nomad has never had brake fluid changed, fork oil changed, or clutch fluid (hydraulic) changed. Although I will likely do the brake and clutch semi soon just because. All still works fine. Maintenance is cool, but I think it's often over exaggerated. Probably 5% of riders, or less, change their fork oil every 2 years or so. I've never changed fork oil in anything I've ever owned lol. I'm not knocking doing it, just pointing out that this is rare maintenance to perform for most people.

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[670cc]

I just think of all the people in the world that ride for years and never do hardly any kind of maintenance and have little to no problems, makes me worry less. I would bet my 2006 Vulcan Nomad has never had brake fluid changed, fork oil changed, or clutch fluid (hydraulic) changed. Although I will likely do the brake and clutch semi soon just because. All still works fine. Maintenance is cool, but I think it's often over exaggerated. Probably 5% of riders, or less, change their fork oil every 2 years or so. I've never changed fork oil in anything I've ever owned lol. I'm not knocking doing it, just pointing out that this is rare maintenance to perform for most people.

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I do believe in changing brake fluid, but in thinking about the automobile world, how many cars do you think are out there that are two or three decades old and still using original brake fluid? A high number, I’m guessing, but somehow they’re still working adequately. On the other hand, oddly, it’s a popular practice to change engine oil way more often than necessary.

 

[showkey]

Think the other component in maintenance items and intervals............many enthusiasts like working on the bike as much or more than riding.

 

[thanosgp]

I do believe in changing brake fluid, but in thinking about the automobile world, how many cars do you think are out there that are two or three decades old and still using original brake fluid? A high number, I’m guessing, but somehow they’re still working adequately. On the other hand, oddly, it’s a popular practice to change engine oil way more often than necessary.

30 year old brake fluid is so watered down,it can't be working adequate. The owner just thinks it is,until on a long descent it boils and sends him to his grave.

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[1wiseguy2]

I used to think along the lines of Tacoma. That changed as a bike I have owned since 1985 started having brake problems 5 years ago. So much gunk in the system that the brakes started dragging. Opened up my CBR 1100XX clutch reservoir 4 yrs after I had changed it. Bottom was full of gunk. Sure you can get away without doing maintenance. Many do. I get that. I used to be one of them... until I started doing my own maintenance. That changed my perspective 180 degrees. I even started changing out my cars brake fluid too.
Sure if you put on less than 2000 miles in a year adjust as necessary but if you ride a lot, do the maintenance. When you ride and something goes wrong you don't have as much protection as in a car when the brakes go bad. Changing fork fluid is more about control and comfort. Get some aftermarket springs for your weight while you are at it instead of having springs for an average person (Whatever that is). Its about control and comfort.
I do agree that most people change their oil much to often. Better machining, liquid cooled and better oil technology has lengthened the overall oil change out periods.
Oh, you should change out your coolant every 5 years (Honda recommends every two years. Not hard at all to do. If you don't your coolant gets impurities in it and becomes conductive. So any dissimilar metals start electrolysis and will cause problems down the road.
Not important if you trade bikes all the time. But I tend to keep mine for years and years.
The first two photos are my CBR clutch reservoir after only 4 years.
The last photo is my daughters Rebel 250 after who knows how many years. I had had it for 6 yrs. Brakes were still working just fine. Found the same thing on my 84 wing's clutch reservoir too. Almost empty and all gunky. Clutch worked fine.

Food for thought!
Guy

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[ld_rider]

^^^^^ You have motivated me to get off the couch and go change the brake fluid (I've done it once in the last five years!).

Thanks for the pics!!

 

[1wiseguy2]

^^^^^ You have motivated me to get off the couch and go change the brake fluid (I've done it once in the last five years!).

Thanks for the pics!!

Let us know what you find!

Most people don't understand that brake fluid absorbs moisture. Seals don't seal 100% against moisture. If the brakes get hot this moisture flashes to steam... and bye, bye to your brakes!
Your clutch on hydraulic clutch bikes same thing. Absorbs moisture as it is brake fluid.

I use AmsOil synthetic fluid. After spilling some on my paint twice I have found that it doesn't seem to eat paint on contact!

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[jtanner]

I just had to do the math. Even if Stabil was 100% alcohol (which it’s not), the recommended storage dose of 1 ounce per 2.5 gallons of gasoline would result in the gasoline’s alcohol content being 0.3%, a far cry from a typical 10% ethanol blend.


I do use Stabil, but the funny thing is, I’ve never seen an independent test that shows that it actually does anything. It seems that I just blindly believe the marketing claim, which is a bit unusual for me. Not only that, but the public must be convinced it’s the real deal. Like Seafoam, Stabil’s asking price has risen significantly in recent years.

I've personally been convinced of Stabil's effectiveness rather recently. For the last couple years I've run a small engine repair business out of my garage as a bit of a side hustle (mowers, snowblowers, etc.). I’ve fixed maybe 60-80 machines since I started. As you would expect, 90% of the time when someone brings me a small engine to fix, the issue is a clogged carburetor, which usually seems to be the result of leaving fuel that contains ethanol in the tank over the length of a season or two. In all of these cases, the customers said they didn’t treat the fuel with anything (or at least not regularly during every off-season).

There was a farmer this past summer who brought me an old irrigation wheel-line engine to repair, and when I opened up the carb it was absolutely spotless with no varnish build-up at all. Even the brass jets looked shiny and new. When I asked him if he treated the fuel he said he always added Stabil.

Not an official study by any means, and I know that there could be a correlation I missed. But since seeing that carb my belief in the stuff has been firmed up quite a bit.

 

[670cc]

This is outside the scope of NC maintenance, but while we’re on the subject, my practice with carburetors is to never leave fuel in the carb bowl at all during storage. All 4 of my carbureted two wheel machines as well as generators, chain saws, pressure washer, etc currently have empty bowls. With fuel in the bowl, it will eventually evaporate out, leaving residue whether it’s treated or not. And if the fuel is gravity fed and the fuel valve is open, that process will continue though out the storage period.

I rely on Stabil for fuel injected systems but for carbs I just drain ‘em.

 

[jtanner]

I agree that draining carbs is the #1 choice for storage. But most average lawn equipment owners aren't interested in that sort of effort

 

[DTMWAP]

Just did this today (winterize). No hopes of suitable weather for riding in the near future. So clean the bike, stabil before a full tank of gas, fresh oil and new filter. Bike on its center stand in the shed with a piece of screen over the tip of muffler to avoid mice getting in. Battery in the basement so I can put it on slow charge each month during winter. This recipe made my 2 previous batteries last 8 years.

 

[mblue240]

I just ride everyday. Most days my commute is only 10 minutes each day. Then I do a 5 hour round trip at least 3 times a month. I only park the bike when ice and snow seems imminent. Couple times last year I checked the weather at home and work, forgot that my long commute took me over a hill and I rode home in snow twice.

 

[TigerDude]

Should be: plug in the battery tender.

Is: I forget, kill my battery, order a cheap new lead acid one, watch it die in a few months, order a Shorai Lithium.

 

[TigerDude]

I agree that draining carbs is the #1 choice for storage. But most average lawn equipment owners aren't interested in that sort of effort

I have a Honda mower and it just doesn't care.

 

[dduelin]

If owners fall in the group that neglects maintenance then they wouldn’t know the difference in brakes or suspension maintained with fresh fluids. The degradation of performance is so gradual it’s simply not noticed by them until something just wears out or fails. Another group is casual riders that don’t ride enough to raise their skill level or familiarity with a machine to the point where they could notice the difference regular maintenance makes.

 

[mzflorida]

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

Stole my thunder, Dave!

 

[TheIronWarrior]

Gotta do this soon, show in the forecast for the end of this week.
Typical process for me is:
Oil Change
Fuel Stabilizer
Into the (heated and dry) basement on a battery tender
Sulk for several months until the snow (and road salt) go away
Occasionally pull her out for a spin if the weather cooperates