4 month bike storage question.

[freefall109]

I will be heading overseas or four months and leaving my triumph tiger in northern Jersey in an unheated garage. My question is, do you think it would be better left sitting after prepped or having my someone start and run it for a period if time every week? If the latter, how long and often should it be done?

Thanks.

[PoundSand]

4 months is nothing. full tank, some fuel stabilizer and call it good.

Edit - and if I were feeling motivated, I'd disconnect the battery.

[LuciferMutt]

Don't start it unless it's going to be ridden for long enough to get the oil good and hot to burn off acids and condensation. Otherwise, you're doing more harm than good.

Four months is fine for fuel injected bike. Fill the tank completely full, add some stabilizer, ride the bike around enough to get the treated fuel through the system, and park it. You may also want to use a battery tender.

[nwcycle]

We use SeaFoam, way better than StaBil, If its fuel injected you should have no worry's, but make sure you fill the tank, no rust will start if its full, I usually air up the tires more to eliminate flat spots, maybe put on wood, dont know if it helps or not but always did that.....................

[Cataract2]

Stabil in gas and battery maintainer and you should be just fine.

[sieg]

Originally Posted by PoundSand

4 months is nothing. full tank, some fuel stabilizer and call it good.

True

[Boon Booni]

I'll ride your bike for you, just drop it by.

[concours]

No worries, Sta-Bil, run it in 10 miles, top up the battery every few weeks.

[Grinnin]

Originally Posted by LuciferMutt

Don't start it unless it's going to be ridden for long enough to get the oil good and hot to burn off acids and condensation. Otherwise, you're doing more harm than good.

++

I was amazed at how much water condenses in a muffler.

I was building baffles and testing various configurations. One time I started the bike and it was immediately apparent that it was far too loud so I shut it off after just 10 or 20 seconds and removed the baffles. The baffles were covered with water droplets although not quite dripping.

It takes a while for the entire exhaust system to heat up enough to clear the condensation out. If you add condensation every week or so you'll be looking for new mufflers far sooner.

[Dave in Wi]

Originally Posted by Grinnin

++

It takes a while for the entire exhaust system to heat up enough to clear the condensation out. If you add condensation every week or so you'll be looking for new mufflers far sooner.

Just a bit of trivia, that is one of the reasons old Honda 4 into 4 exhausts rusted out so quickly. With only one cylinder going into each ( pretty large) muffler, it took quite a few miles to warm them up enough to get rid of the condensation. As a consequence, they just didn't last.

As everyone else mentioned, add stabil or sea foam, fill it completely, hook up a battery tender if you have one, and let it sit.

[freefall109]

Thanks, stabil added, trickle charger on and muffler sprayed with wd40 and stuffed closed. Appreciate the help!

[concours]

Originally Posted by freefall109

Thanks, stabil added, trickle charger on and muffler sprayed with wd40 and stuffed closed. Appreciate the help!

And you RODE it a few MILES to get the fuel stabilizer in the fuel system?

[freefall109]

I started it and let it run for about five minutes which was the best I could do with snow and ice on the roads.

[Flashmo]

Originally Posted by freefall109

I started it and let it run for about five minutes which was the best I could do with snow and ice on the roads.

So you generated a bunch of moisture in the crankcase and exhaust system, and are going to leave it that way for 4 months.

You would have been better off avoiding the fuel stabilizer and leaving the whole thing alone.

[freefall109]

Yes, Flashmo. Thank you for the feedback.