anyone put up their cycles for the winter season yet?

[cookiedough]

Just got done with 2 of the 5 I have and put up in trailer right before dark.  I left the 2 Valks and big scooter out in garage 'just in case' since it looks like extended forecast next 2 weekends has some 45 degree high days still and possibly sunny, but that could change as each of next 2 weekends get closer and closer.    Usually next weekend Thanksgiving time I put up the cycles though since usually within the next week or so we get snow a falling and actually sticking to the roads by 1st week in December.   I think Tuesday's forecast coming up calls for up to 2 inches of snow but doubt will stick much to the roads been too warm but will collect in grass.

I probably should though call it quits for the year since still have to get on the roof and get leaves out of eastrophes and also all the leaves all over the front of my house on the ground.        PLus,  that 45 degree days for highs now is ONLY around only from noon to 3 p.m. so short window of 45 degrees each day since will start off at 32 degrees in the morning for temps way too cold for me and those few days should be spent cleaning up around the house and putting stuff up like patio furniture in shed, etc.    If ONLY I was retired would solve all my problems right wishing for it to come NOW but am sure not too many fully retire at only age 50, or do they? 

[scooperhsd]

I don't ever put it up with no intention about riding until spring - if we have a nice day / weekend - I just might grab a ride.

[cookiedough]

I don't ever put it up with no intention about riding until spring - if we have a nice day / weekend - I just might grab a ride.

I believe, although never been there,  Kansas is different winter temps than upper midwest winters in northern IL,  IA, MN, MI, and WI as well as ND.    If you take out any cycle if into 40's or possibly low 50's again in those states January or February be prepared to have the road salt eat away all that nice chrome in short order.   I took my all metal ATV framed out once on salty roads and I tried to even wash it down next day with HOT soapy water in my garage and still had a lot of extra rust come spring on the ATV. 

[Avanti]

Still riding daily!

[klb]

I am fortunate to live in an area I can ride all year.
I ride one for a few months then swap to the other.

[Bighead]

Never
Cookie all that road salt is just another reason to NOT live in the North

[Ken aka Oil Burner]

The Valkyrie is pickled for the winter, as is the wife's Vulcan (which she never even rode this season). I try to do the winterizing while the weather isn't too cold. Makes working in the unheated garage a little more palatable. I pack those bikes into the back of the garage. I still change the oil in the V-strom and run treated fuel, but I keep it easily accessible for riding right up to the salted road season, and also for those warm-ish winter days.

[six2go #152]

Put the F6B away on Friday. It was a nice day to work in the garage with the overhead door open. When I recorded my oil change stats I noticed that I had only ridden 1634 miles since last October. Today was cold with about 2" of snow this morning so I'm glad I got it done.

[Hook#3287]

I've got a "under" garage with double doors into my basement.

That's were my girls hibernate. Once a year I clean the basement prior to the move, so that took the morning.

Put the 2 Tourers "up" yesterday and left the I/S and Bobber in the garage.

"Up" means putting them on jacks and pulling the batteries.

Calling for clear sky and mid 50's this Friday though Sunday.

[cookiedough]

Put the F6B away on Friday. It was a nice day to work in the garage with the overhead door open. When I recorded my oil change stats I noticed that I had only ridden 1634 miles since last October. Today was cold with about 2" of snow this morning so I'm glad I got it done.

same here easily under 1000 miles on both my valks this season and also under that on my 2 scoots.  Not even going to change the oil on 3 of 4 of them.    Pandemic not driving into work all summer on cycle dipped my mileage down quite a bit.   I got 2 cycles put up though in trailer cleaned up near spotless, only 3 more to go.  I agree,  upper to mid 40's and NO wind is NOT bad at all in garage with the garage door open to see the bike better.  I have in past years cleaned them up at night in the dark in garage with the propane heater going and is not as much fun when into the 30's doing it.    Something about unnatural lighting with just the overhead garage door opener 100watt light bulbs doing most of the lighting does not do well inspecting/looking at the cycles cleaning them up at night.
Heard 2 inches of snow is comign tomorrow morning but rain following it so snow will be gone and 47 for high on Thursday with day off so will see about one last ride?????????  Really should stay home and clean up the leaves in yard and put patio furniture up and get on roof and get leaves out of eastrophes vs. one last cycle ride.   My neighbors, mostly retired or hire someone to do the yardwork,  must not like me since am sure my big oak tree messes up their manicured lawn....

[cookiedough]

I've got a "under" garage with double doors into my basement.

That's were my girls hibernate. Once a year I clean the basement prior to the move, so that took the morning.

Put the 2 Tourers "up" yesterday and left the I/S and Bobber in the garage.

"Up" means putting them on jacks and pulling the batteries.

Calling for clear sky and mid 50's this Friday though Sunday.

why do  you put the cycles on jack stands?  I never have in over 30 years but I do put thicker cardboard down under the rear tire on concrete floor doubt it does much good though.

[Bret SD]

Living in the belly of the Beast has its advantages, here in San Diego I can ride year round, though I don't like riding in the rain.

Yesterday I got 120 miles wind therapy, I stopped in front of the Lake Henshaw Cafe to adjust something on my bike and another Valkyrie came by and beeped.. Looks like it was a standard but when I rode through the street by The Hideout I didn't spot any Valkyries in with all the bikes parked there.

[Fazer]

I don't put the Valk away to the point it can't be ridden.  I have it backed into a "cubby hole" in my garage.  Marine Stabil in a full tank, petcock off, but bowls not drained, covered and on a battery tender.  We will get some decent days in Jan/Feb and I will bring her out for a bit of exercise.  In the mean time, I have the 650 Burgman to run around on.  With heated gloves/vest, I plan to ride to work as long as no snow/ice on road.  No chrome to ruin.

[Chrisj CMA]

Every year about this time it seems so sad to hear about putting the Valkyries up for the winter. I’m actually hoping for colder weather so I can get a real test on the hand shields I bought from a member here to keep the wind off my hands in the cold. I guess some of us may take for granted that we ride year round. Something to be thankful for I suppose.

[..]

Here in NE GA there are good riding days all through the "off season".

Heated jacket liner and gloves along with heated grips do help.

[scooperhsd]

About the only thing that has ever stopped me from riding year round is snow and ice - I've ridden (at 20 MPH) in 0 F on campus, I've done highway rides of 200+ miles in 40 F, but any more - I really don't like riding in cold for any distance.

[0leman]

Don't put Valk away for the Winter here in southern OR.   Do pick my days when to ride.  Need bright sun shine and temps above 40 degrees and no ice on the roads.  did ride for two hours last week, only 90 miles (lots of slow enjoyable miles) with the temp setting at 42 degrees.   No electric heat clothes, just layers.   AND OR doesn't use road salt on most of its roads, 90% of them  are salt free

Chris, I do have hand protectors like you have on your bike.  They do help deflect some of the wind that the fairing doesn't.   I did have to replace one of them this summer, seems like they do seem to breakup after 8 years.

[Oss]

If I put all the bikes away I would never get my New Years Day ride in

Only a couple of years I could not do that

Try to ride each of them a bit on every weekend

Now that it is dark around 415pm I am not riding the bmw to work unless I will be leaving before 4pm

Rode Friday, it was a nice blustery day and the heated grips and adjustable windshield/fairing are great for commuting.  An accident closed the road but I "might have" saved more than a half hour just moseying between 2 lanes and moved almost 4 miles before coming to the scene of the off the road crash near Gman's exit  Can not do that on the Valk not enough room between the cars

New Year ride last year


Gman can tell the story of our ride to Danbury one winter sunday it was 18 degrees when we left  He does not have any electrics     We were doing around 75 on 684 for a dozen miles and the same on 84
He was not a happy Valk rider for sure

[Hook#3287]

I've got a "under" garage with double doors into my basement.

That's were my girls hibernate. Once a year I clean the basement prior to the move, so that took the morning.

Put the 2 Tourers "up" yesterday and left the I/S and Bobber in the garage.

"Up" means putting them on jacks and pulling the batteries.

Calling for clear sky and mid 50's this Friday though Sunday.

why do  you put the cycles on jack stands?  I never have in over 30 years but I do put thicker cardboard down under the rear tire on concrete floor doubt it does much good though.

Three reasons;
1 So the tires aren't sitting on one spot for 3-5 months.
2 Oil in motor is level. Pretty sure this doesn't matter, but feels right anyway.
3 Main reason, the girls take up less room standing straight up.

[The emperor has no clothes]

It’s just now getting good. Took Brayden out for 250 miles today.

(He still struggles with the helmet strap)

[old2soon]

       Even when I lived in-sigh-northern illinois I NEVER learned to store a M/C for winter. Nor do I care to learn how to store a M/C for winter. You git a warm day in winter I iz Ready ta RIDE!  But I might unnerstan winter and the 4th of July!    RIDE SAFE.

[Hook#3287]

It’s just now getting good. Took Brayden out for 250 miles today.

(He still struggles with the helmet strap)

Hey Rob, the coat Brayden's wearing looks familiar.
Pretty soon he'll be looking at that Standard you've been ignoring, unless you move it north.

[The emperor has no clothes]

  those were my pants too ! He had been over helping me varnish the cabinets in the motorhome. He only had shorts on. He's really turning in to a fine young man.