Winterizing my 1250

[jamala00]

I am in WI and it is about that time of the year. I was just curious what other do to their 1250 Bandits for getting them
set to sit for the winter?

I have an older bike, that I drain the float bowls, add stable to the gas, remove the battery and put on a maintainer, and then just cover it up..

What is suggested with the maintenance free battery, and fuel injected bikes...?

Thanks,
Jay

[Red01]

Put Sta-Bil or Seafoam in the gas and run it for a few minutes to get the mixture to the FI nozzles.  Treat the battery the same as you did in the past.  You can leave it in and just disconnect it from the bike when you hook it up to the battery tender, if you prefer.

[jamala00]

So you would suggest hooking the battery to a maintainer? First year with this bike, but I think the battery in it is a gel maintenance free...? Guess I never really looked. The battery in my other bike is a lead acid.. It is not maintenance free. That is why I have always put the other one on a maintainer.

[salvate]

Living in VA we usualy dont get to cold down here so I just add the stabil. However I tend to ride my bike here and there when it gets over 40 degrees, so the battery still gets a decent workout from time to time. Like I said though, unless it is one of those freakish years it tends only to get really cold in spells and they are short lived.

[jamala00]

Ya, I ride my bike at 40 and above, however; not lucky enough to see that mid Nov - March..
I will put the stable in and throw a tender on the battery.. Thanks all for the input...!!

[pmackie]

This was a pretty good thread from a couple of years ago...

http://forums.banditalley.net/index.php?topic=3391.msg25089#msg25089

[jamala00]

Ya, that is a good thread. I can put the bike on the center stand, but my other bike 1998 1100 shadow spirit. No center stand, and no way to get it in the air. I have always just made sure the tires are aired and parked it covered. After the stable, draining the float bowls, and removing the battery.

That is the first I have heard about changing the oil before storing though. I have never done this, I always change it in the spring. But that tread makes sense. I have changed the oil in the spring for anything I have ever stored. Lawn mower, car, bike..etc.. I have never worried about starting, or turning over the vehilcles either.

All good tips and Ideas..!!

[ippo]

Hey,we always change oil before winter here in Finland.