Outdoor storage | GTAMotorcycle.com

Outdoor storage

bigpoppa

Well-known member
Im thinking of getting a track only bike but I dont really have room in the garage, so im thinking i'll put it in a shed out back(it will still be secure) but apart from the shed, and a cover, it wont have much else in terms of protection, the battery ill keep inside on a tender, and im wondering what problems will arise from this? (Short term and long term)

What(if any) extra care/precautions will this require?

Thanks
 
ethanol free gas is the number one suggestion I have
fuel stabilizer of course run through the system
get the tires up from the cold ground
a light coat of WD40 on not painted metal parts
change the air in the tires in spring time
 

This ^ Cover the exhaust and air inlets, and maybe even remove fairings so there is less places for them to get into and make a home.
 
now your being silly, there's no turn signals on a track bike.

Your track bike has no indicators? How do you let people know your overtaking or making a turn? Seems a little dangerous to me.
 
Here's how I 'barn store' bikes:

1) Make sure the fuel system has stabilized ethanol free gas - run the bike to be sure stabilized gas makes its way thru the fuel system. If you leave the tank on the bike, make sure it's filled to prevent inside corrosion.
2) Remove seat, battery, and if possible fuel tank and bring them inside where they are protected from critters and freezing.
3) -40 antifreeze is a must if it's LC.
4) Do an LOF before storage, contaminated lubricants can lead to some internal corrosion and seal degradation (I'm changing an oil pan on a 06 Dodge Ram today, it sat for 3 years with old oil and rusted from the inside out!).
5) Duct tape off the intake snorkel to keep critters from nesting in your intake
6) No cover. A nice coating of dust is better than a comfy blanket for mice and chipmunks.
7) Drop tire pressure to 15PSI.
 
It wasn't that long ago some idiot showed up at Daytona on his street R1, taped up the lights and took 2nd.
 
Here's how I 'barn store' bikes:

1) Make sure the fuel system has stabilized ethanol free gas - run the bike to be sure stabilized gas makes its way thru the fuel system. If you leave the tank on the bike, make sure it's filled to prevent inside corrosion.
2) Remove seat, battery, and if possible fuel tank and bring them inside where they are protected from critters and freezing.
3) -40 antifreeze is a must if it's LC.
4) Do an LOF before storage, contaminated lubricants can lead to some internal corrosion and seal degradation (I'm changing an oil pan on a 06 Dodge Ram today, it sat for 3 years with old oil and rusted from the inside out!).
5) Duct tape off the intake snorkel to keep critters from nesting in your intake
6) No cover. A nice coating of dust is better than a comfy blanket for mice and chipmunks.
7) Drop tire pressure to 15PSI.

I've never heard of dropping the tire pressure for storage. What is the benefit of doing that?
 
I've never heard of dropping the tire pressure for storage. What is the benefit of doing that?
Reduces stresses on rubber (crazing/cracking). It's generally a tire manufacturer recommendation for any tires that won't be rolling for a while.
 
Reduces stresses on rubber (crazing/cracking). It's generally a tire manufacturer recommendation for any tires that won't be rolling for a while.
Really? Been storing a car every winter for 15 years. I increase the pressure to 55psi to prevent flat spotting. Never an issue.
 
Re long term storage ... If the bike has a center-stand, put it up on the center-stand. Otherwise, put it up on paddock stands front and rear to get the weight off the tires. Failing that, and it's just sitting on the side stand ... check on it now and again, and top up the tire pressures. You don't want a slow leak to lead to the tires going completely flat.
 
You are not suppose to store new race tires in the freezing cold, for fairly obvious reasons. You don't want the rubber to dry out and go hard, so you certainly don't want to freeze it solid.

Soft compound tires are as fragile as porcelain when they are at about minus 22C
Rolling them with weight on them when they are that cold will destroy them.
Storing them with weight on them in that cold will not be much better.
 

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