Winter fitness regime

Dave G

Dave G

New member
The combination of work and kids means its unlikely I'll be out on my bike much in the coming months,indeed they've sat for while already without being used.The monsters on sorn so that cant go out anyway,if I take the SC out I just wont get the time to clean it properly afterwards so unless that changes it'll also sit unused for a bit.
Many of the scare stories about Ducati reliability come from bikes that have sat unused for months on end and then being ragged until something gives.
With that in mind what would be a suggested interval when I can at least wheel them out of the garage and run the engines for a bit,will this static running be of any use at all or is that just keeping me happy by listening to them.
How long to run them?, just until warm or longer?
Any other tasks to do while they outside?
 
Your better just totally leaving them,just starting and running at idle will only cause condensation in exhausts etc.....not getting hot enough to burn it away.There's a link somewhere for putting your bike into hibernation.Brimming tank,fresh oil in etc....just done it myself then decided its going back on the road ,good days only obviously

Blaady hell, sound as if i ken whit i'm on about....those that know more will be along shortly
 
I would suggest starting the bike up for a quick warm up and "turning it over" is a bad idea.
You would be better to put an optimate or similar on the battery to look after that but unless the engine and oil gets hot rather than warm all that will happen is you will build up condensation on and in the bike.
As CJK says fill the tank to stop condensation forming in there, put fresh oil in the bike and leave it would be my suggestion.
Stick a question on in the technical side perhaps to get other opinions or just send a PM to Derek for a quick and sensible reply. :lol2:
 
be careful on leaving the tank partly full, fuel now contains ethanol ( uk is only low, us worst) but ethanol absorbs water so its theoretically possible for it to corrode although studies seem to suggest it needs a high percent of ethanol to do so.

If you can be bothered draining the tank, spaying inside with a light oil mist and flushing before you use it, or fill to the top for winter and consider throwing fuel away but that shouldn't be needed and there is conflicting advice on whether the fuel still absorbs water :( its not a problem on the SC though Dave :)

All the storing advice i've seen says don't start the bike, give it a good run out before putting it away, drain oil and replace with clean and keep battery charged. Storing in too warm a place can also cause corrosion if bike is put away with any salt on it so wash well ( once its cooled down) i also coat bolts and exposed bits in acf50 as my garage does get condensation and i've seen them "fur" over winter, mind that was at the old house where they were in the barn :)
 
Leave mine on optimate with fresh oil in it.
When it is run, maybe 3 times over winter, I have it on paddock stand with a fan in front of it and let it clock up maybe 10~15 miles.
Biggest problem is noise - any suggestions for deadening it a bit?
 
I can only re-iterate what Colin, Stewart and Michael have said above.
Don't run the bike at all. It will never get up to a proper running temperature and will only create condensation in the exhausts and in the engine which won't do the bearings any good.
Drain the oil when you lay it up, fit a new filter and refill it with new oil - ready to go in the spring.
Either fill the tank to the brim and add a fuel stabiliser or better still, drain the tank completely, give it's insides a squirt of an anti-corrosive spray and store it somewhere safe, dry and well ventilated - mine spends winter in the attic. Come to think of it the SC has a plastic tank! I'd just drain it.
Take out the plugs and add a squirt of light oil down each plug hole then turn it over a few times and put the plugs back in. Unfortunately on new-fangled bikes you can't easily turn them over without starting them. Either put it in top gear and turn the back wheel or remove the fuse(s) for the ignition and fuel and thumb the starter button for a second or two.
Take the battery off the bike and either keep it on an optimate or give it a trickle charge once a month.
Lubricate all moving parts and apply WD40 or anti-corrosive spray of your choice to all the metal parts except the brakes.
Make sure the tyres are up to pressure and better still get both wheels off the ground with front and rear stands.
At least once a month turn the engine over so that the belts don't get a "set" to them.
Come the spring, fill up the tank with fresh fuel, re-fit the fully charged battery, check the tyre pressures and away you go :)
 
...Drain all fluids and stick it in the lounge - that's my advise!!!! :p

mind you, I'm banned from doing that this year coz Rose doesn't like yellow bikes and now I've insulated my garage to the gunnels, carpeted it and heated it, I'm banned from even bringing the Imola in the house. I never start the things in the winter, I do thumb the starters everyso often to turn the belts.
Seeings as my Imola runs (according so some members on this forum) a 'total loss' oil system, I don't need to change my oil for fresh stuff!!!! :p
 
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