Winterising

Okay, so winter is here.

Google doesn't seem to show much for how to prep the bike to carry on
riding it through the winter. Essentially just a divided opinion on
using WD40 versus Silkolen. Oh, and something about WD 40 being "War
Department Formula 40".

What's the current combined UKRM wisdom on things to do to ensure that
the minimum damage is done over the next four months, bearing in mind
Kawasaki's legendary metallurgy and paintwork prowess?

Cheers

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, pete boyall

Ride it. Wash it. Ride it. Wash it, etc, etc, etc...

 

Only cold water to wash it during winter, hose it down when you get
home.

Keep the chain, and shiny bits oily if you can.

Then, put it in the garage and use a car on all but the nicest days.

 

On Fri, 31 Oct 2003 22:50:50 +0000 (UTC), the infinite monkeys with
infinite typewriters employed by
pboyall.spamblock@_nospam_.IHATESPAM.lineone.co.uk (pete boyall)
spewed forth:

Scottoiler FS365 spray. Hose down after riding in the really shitty
weather. Or, get a car.

 

pete boyall wrote

Ride regular and clean often.

 

Ha! Thanks. I have to use it for commuting. No chance of using the
car.

So, everyone reckons either a) Just use the car or b) Wash it after
every ride.

Guess I'm screwed then. Some weeks it will get ridden to client site
on Monday and not e cleaned until the Saturday.

Ah well.

 

In that case just keep everything (but the brake disks) oily using
engine oil and an old rag. The bike will look filthy, all the shit will
stick to it, but the oil should stop it corroding during the week.

 

On Sat, 1 Nov 2003 10:57:24 +0000 (UTC), the infinite monkeys with
infinite typewriters employed by
pboyall.spamblock@_nospam_.IHATESPAM.lineone.co.uk (pete boyall)
spewed forth:

It should only take a couple of minutes to chuck some cold, clean
water over the bike to get any salt off. This will be enough in
between regular cleaning.

 

Brings back memories of my T100A. Apart from the disks. And the old rag
wasn't needed.

 

I waxoiled by Bandit last winter and then left it (apart from rinsing
down the exhaust).

That seemed to work well.



--
John

SV650
Black it is
and naked

 

Cool, cheers.

 

Still got the cold, though?

 

FS365 by Scottoil, mate. The modern clean(er) alternative to engine
oil, if a bit pricier. Anti-corrosion spray, comes in a nice handy
squirty bottle too.

 

Eh?

--
John

SV650
Black it is
and naked

 

|
Tsk. Too subtle by half for you lot ;-)

 

<blush> got it now. Funny how you read what you expect to read, and not
what's really there.

And yes, I have got a cold, or remnants of flu, thanks. I was just so
taken aback you were asking.


--
John

SV650
Black it is
and naked

 

Makes impressive clouds of smoke when it burns off too.

 

Probably better then Suzuki's...

That said, the only thing to go rusty last year was the chain, and that was
superficial.

That was a no-wash, Scottoiler FS365 after every ride regime. Washing the
bike is a bit of a waste of time IMO - wash the brakes maybe, but otherwise
you're just washing off whatever protective stuff you put on.

Scottoiler sell 5l bottles of the stuff which lasts ages.

 

Ta. That's cheaper than the chain degreaser I bought today, so not
that pricey either!

 

pete boyall wibbled like a little girl....

Hein Gericke were doing FS365 in a "buy 1 get 1 free" deal, at least
they were when I was managing one of their shops.

--
Lozzo
ZZR1100D, GPZ500S, CB250RS x3.
BOTAFOT#57/70a, BOTAFOF#57, two#49, MIB#22, TCP#7, BONY#9,
ANORAK#9, DIAABTCOD#14, UKRMT5BB, IBW#013, MIRTTH#15a/16,
BotToS#8, GP#2, SBS#10, SH#3, DFV#14, KoBV#3.
Url for ukrm newbies : http://www.ukrm.net/faq/ukrmscbt.html
www.mjkleathers.com