K11 Owners Group

Ernie-NH · Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2011 11:36 am Post subject: "K" bike winter layup ??

Hello all...

Just want to compare notes with other "K" bike owners as to how they prepare their "K" for winter layup. Here in NH its a min of 5 months and sometimes longer as many of you know, BUT I imagine in similar northern states, provinces, and climates we all have to do the same. For me, since the tank is aluminum, I simply run the tank down to about 1/4 full, add a full can of Seafoam, run the engine for about 5 minutes, and then top the tank to full. Then I place blocking under the engine to lift the front tire off the ground, remove the battery, and cover her until April. What do the rest of you do that face these long frozen layups like me ?? ( My BMW Airheads, and V-Twins take a bit more attention to carburetor bowls and prevention of tank rusting..., but all are blocked up off the tires. )

Very best regards all, and see you at HMSP-V right ?......// Ernie in NH
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AMA,, American Deaf Bikers
Airhead Beemers Club
'11 G650gs
'95 K1100LT
'76 R100/7

Phil Marvin · Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2011 12:22 pm Post subject:

Hi, Ernie,
You can come for a visit and not have to do any of that crap. Put it on a battery tender and ride it when you want!
_________________
Ride Safe,
Phil Marvin in El Paso, TX
'94 K75A/3
'95 K75RTP

Ernie-NH · Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2011 12:35 pm Post subject:

!!

Hi Phil....

REALLY glad to see that you're "up and at'em",,and that your sense of humor has not diminished one iota !! Offers like that however may find a host of riders at your door all wanting to bask in the El Paso sunshine for several months. Are you really up to that ??

Get well my friend,,, as Insector Dreyfus ( ie: Pink Panther) said, "Every day, better and better in every way!"

Very best regards....// Ernie in NH
_________________
AMA,, American Deaf Bikers
Airhead Beemers Club
'11 G650gs
'95 K1100LT
'76 R100/7

malcolmt · Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2011 3:52 pm Post subject:

Ernie,

Much like Phil we ride all year round in Joburg. But some years ago while working out of the country for up to 9 months i'd just connect the battery tender without diconnecting the battery. Put fresh oil, cooland and brake fluid in a few weeks before leaving.

She was ready to roll the day I got back.

Malcolm (t)
Joburg, South Africa
_________________
******************************
A Bike on the road is worth two
in the shed
******************************

Ernie-NH · Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2011 5:15 pm Post subject:

Hi Malcomb...

Many of us envy your ability to ride year-round, and it seems the older I get the greater that envy grows! Here in NH however, in the unheated barn, temps can get down to -20+ degF or often lower, and the batteries are stored away in a "warmer" area on their individual Battery Tenders.. I'm sure in other clims like Finland or Norway, as well as further north of me in the Provinces, some of us are faced with the same conditions. I was just curious as to what others in like conditions do, in comparison with what I must do..

Enjoy your rides this winter ( or summer for you ) and remember us frigid folks from time to time with a 'malted beverage' or two !

Best regards.........// Ernie in NH
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AMA,, American Deaf Bikers
Airhead Beemers Club
'11 G650gs
'95 K1100LT
'76 R100/7

SugarHillCTD · Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2011 9:03 pm Post subject:

Ernie,

Fortunately I have heated space for the 3 bikes. Very Happy

So I'll move the charger around and give each battery a few hour's charge every month or so.
Start the $#@!&%## winter with full fuel tanks and a list of maintenance items for each one.

John
_________________
John & Cathy

'92 K100RS4V Pearl White SOLD
'04 K1200GT
IBA Several-SS1k, BBG, 50CC NYC to S.F.

Ernie-NH · Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2011 9:59 pm Post subject:

Hi John....

Re: "" $#@!&%## winter!"" .. my sentiments exactly ! Maybe a relocation to JoBurg or similar would solve the problem ! (?)

Best regards....// Ernie in NH

ps: How about some 'off season' Barley Therapy and "Co-miseration" one weekend soon ?????
_________________
AMA,, American Deaf Bikers
Airhead Beemers Club
'11 G650gs
'95 K1100LT
'76 R100/7

BobZ(IL) · Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2011 10:13 pm Post subject:

Ernie, do you empty the /7 float bowls or keep them full with help from Sea Foam?

Bob
_________________
'93 K1100LT
'78 R100S
'05 R1200GS
BMWMOA, CRBMWOA, ABC, K11OG #997

Live well, do good work, enjoy the ride.

Phil Marvin · Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2011 10:18 pm Post subject:

Hi, Ernie,
In a sense, I'm not kidding. I have a house in El Paso, not the greatest, but with an extra bedroom, and 2 bikes, a K75A/3 and a K75RTP. If I'm stuck there (can't go back to work for whatever reason), I don't mind company and bikes can be ridden almost every day. Some may be cold, but we don't usually have too much moisture - rain or snow.
_________________
Ride Safe,
Phil Marvin in El Paso, TX
'94 K75A/3
'95 K75RTP

Ernie-NH · Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2011 10:59 pm Post subject:

Hi Bob...

I used to empty them and leave them dry... but now I empty them first and then allow the "seafoam rich" gas to flood back into them and I then leave them that way until Spring if/when that ever arrives. I do worry about the interior of the tank(s) however and I'm sure that its topped up completely to prevent rusting.. On the "R" bikes and the V-Twins, I also remove the sparkplugs and put in about a tablespoon of Mystery oil in each cylinder, then run the engine dry without plugs for a few strokes, replace the plugs, cover the bikes, and whisper 'bye bye' until Spring. So far this has worked for me, and my "R" bikes start and perform wonderfully when called on again..

Good luck with yours....// Ernie in NH
_________________
AMA,, American Deaf Bikers
Airhead Beemers Club
'11 G650gs
'95 K1100LT
'76 R100/7

Jim · Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2011 11:32 pm Post subject:

Ernie - you don't have to worry about rust - the tanks are aluminum - you have to worry about corrosion. I guess the Sea Foam takes care of that, though.

The only other thing I can think of that I would probably do is inflate the tires to at least sidewall max - maybe a little more. Not sure why, but I'd probably do that.
_________________
Jim
1997 K1100LTSE 94,000 - still has gremlins!
1995 R100RT Classic 16,650 crashed - repaired!
1992 K75RTP 46,000

"We shall not all die, but we shall all be changed."

Ernie-NH · Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2011 6:32 am Post subject:

Good morning Jim...

Hope you escaped the "Halloween Snow Disaster", but I see that many in the upper VA region did not!

On the "rust" issue, its only my old "R" bikes ( ie: Airheads ) and V-Twins with the steel tanks that I worry about rust, but even though the "K" bike is aluminum I still top it up as far as possible. I have absolutely no idea what to do, or how to attack potential corrosion issues with the Aluminum tank, so maybe someone out there knows what to do on that front ???? Good point !

Very best regards......// Ernie in NH
_________________
AMA,, American Deaf Bikers
Airhead Beemers Club
'11 G650gs
'95 K1100LT
'76 R100/7

miKeinWIs · Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2011 9:06 am Post subject:

Hi Ernie,
Will be holding off final storage mode here on the tundra for a while yet hoping for one more "nice" day. Plus this year's over-winter project is the dreaded spline lube!!
Only thing I can add is swearing off 10% ethynol gas. You didn't specify but you can still find it around here for a price. Or is that a midwest corn growers union thing?? The present concoctions are getting pretty crappy for "older" systems. Had all kinds of problems with over winter ethynol gas in the outboards. None so far with non-eth and Stabil. Several shops have said the ethynol as mixed now won't last 2 months even with green Stabil.
And when they go to 15% ethynol even may 2000 car will be screwed.
Have a good winter.
Mike
_________________
'97 K1100LT
Bought 6/30/09 w/26,750 miles

Ernie-NH · Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2011 6:28 pm Post subject:

Hi Mike...

Unfortunately here in New England we dont have the option of access to non-ethanol fuel, unless you are a member of an Air Club and have a plane !
However, I use 10% ethanol gas in my snowblower etc and they stand idle all summer, but when needed in Fall they seem to start right up with no problems. I use Seafoam when in these when parking them for the summer also.. I have heard the "2 month" theoryre: ethanol gas also but have no way of verifying whether it's true or not..

Hope you get a few more days/weeks of 'ride time' out there on the tundra!

Very best regards...........// Ernie in NH
_________________
AMA,, American Deaf Bikers
Airhead Beemers Club
'11 G650gs
'95 K1100LT
'76 R100/7

drikko · Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2011 7:03 pm Post subject:

Wots a 'winter layup'? Never heard of one here.....
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Laverda RGS 1000 '84
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DISCLAIMER:- Anything I say may have been when I was drunk so please don't take it personally.

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SugarHillCTD · Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2011 7:58 pm Post subject:

nickw · Posted: Thu Nov 03, 2011 8:58 pm Post subject: Vt layup system

Ernie;
I have been laying up my summer vehicles for lots of years, but have adapted to the ethanol gas situation with (more)Stabil and a full tank at layup.

My K-bike is on its second year with me and I've done the same with it and added a Battery tender.

My vehicles/equipment with steel tanks get a little "Top Oil" and a run up and fuel shut-off, run to exhaustion of fuel in carb bowls where possible.

I still have some issues with gumming up on the small engine equipment, two this year required carburectomies for gummy residue even with stabil.

Very interested in the Sea Foam, what is its claim to fame?

Thanks for the discussion point.
_________________
"It's not what people know, it's that they know so much that just ain't so!" (Apologies to Will Rogers)
93 K1100LT
(2) 79 Suzuki GS850's (In limbo)
65 Triumph TR6S/C ( sold)
2009 Suzuki SV650
2009 Suzuki DL650

552255 · Posted: Thu Nov 03, 2011 10:24 pm Post subject: -seafoam-

I use seafoam in all small engines, boats, bikes, cars...its a stabilizer and cleaner, light oil lube? for upper internals. (so it says)

I've done nothing in any, for years to winterize, just add seafoam to gas and run engine. Learned about it from the boating community...they take 'winterizing' pretty serious. (for carbs, cylinders etc.) 2-cans per full tank(car) will clean out carbon deposits on upper cylinders.

My mower starts on first pull, never even pulled plug yet, over 10 years use...
_________________
1997 K1100LT-SE
1996 K1100RS-SE
"Black & Silver Duo"
Lincoln, NE

Ernie-NH · Posted: Sat Nov 05, 2011 7:35 am Post subject:

Good morning Nebraska...

Cold and snowy to the west of you, hope you've got the shovel ready ! I agree with you on the use of SeaFoam obviously, and first got my tip on its use by boaters here in the Lakes Region of NH. My V-Twins dont know what life is like without it in the gas, and my BMWs have learned how to remain 'clean' ( or at least I think they're clean ) since I use 4oz at every 4th fillup and a concentrated dose at "layup" time. Like you, I even use it in my lawnmower, snowblower and winter emergency generator. I'm sure other products like Techron (concentrate) are just as good. Here, I can buy SeaFoam on NAPA frequent special at $5.49 per can, and I buy all I can get when I can get it !!

Good luck in Nebraska and THINK Spring !!........// Ernie in NH
_________________
AMA,, American Deaf Bikers
Airhead Beemers Club
'11 G650gs
'95 K1100LT
'76 R100/7

malcolmt · Posted: Sat Nov 05, 2011 8:09 am Post subject:

Since this thread started its looking like I could be heading off to the middle east for a year or two.

We dont have seafoam in South Africa.
Does anyone have suggestions what could be done with the fuel system if similar products arnt available ?/

Malcolm (t)
Joburg, Souf Efrica
_________________
******************************
A Bike on the road is worth two
in the shed
******************************