putting the bike to bed for winter !

I haven't but know a lot of people that have... a group of LondonBikers got him to do a group deal whereby they all took their bikes to the Ace and he spent the day cleaning them - prearranged time slots so people didn't have to hang around all day.

I was thinking about seeing if there was interest in this group doing something similar. If so I'll contact Mo and see if he'll come down.

 

If there's more interest that would be a great idea, just had to delay having it done anyway.

 

and bearings.......
also pressure washers force water behind the seals of brake calipers and start to corrode the seals, not good.....

 

the ninja is now wintered away, well in my garage so i can play with it, and the gs500 has come out of storage ready for the crappy weather.

 

Not quite 'to bed for the winter' but the Sportster is now in its reserved winter parking spot. Ill still be riding all through winter but mainly on the CB1000R

 

The 'Busa has gone to bed, but the Bandit is still doing it, until the salt appears anyway.........
been there and done all that winter thing for years, freezing my whatsits off and damn near crying with the pain of frozen mitts defrosting.....
all weathers be it wet or dry, hot or freezing cold, foot or two of snow or flooded roads, and the bikes getting buggered with the salt, and it isn't a great thing to have to keep washing the bikes all the time over the winter months to beat the corrosive action of the bloody salt, so when that gets put about with total abandon then its the car......I 'Kin hate winter!!!!

 

The problem with pressure washers is that of the amount of pressure. At a distance of less than an inch mine can cut through concrete, but at 6ft it's the same as a hose.

So the first rule is don't jet the chain, bearings etc. Secondly you need to determine the amount of pressure required to get the grit and muck out of your little places, without causing damage. To do this:
1. Stand the wife naked in the garden (or in undies if it's the front garden).
2. Stand about 10ft away and jet the wife, asking her to rate the pain out of 10.
3. Gradually decrease the distance until a few inches away, asking for a new rating each time.
4. Repeat the process as she probably got to 10 far too early at the first attempt.
5. Determine the approximate distance for a pain rating of 4, and use this to jet the bike.
Simples!

 

When is she free to measure mine, Jim?

 

Mmm I couldn't get my bike in the house easily enough, so has to sit in the garage all winter now!

 

Ooooooh errrrrrr................

Must be on the wrong forum again......

 

Nice one Kev, I have one in the spare bedroom, but will see the lounge at a later date......like you do.....

 

mine is away Deep Cleaned and Locked Up and De Taxed as Normall - The Heaters in the Shed come on 3 times in the night and alos in day so things dont become damp and Rusty - ...

 

That's tosh, Dave

If the pressure of a jet washer could force fluid past a brake caliper seal, the brake being applied would force the fluid out!
Not to mention the amazing angle you'd have to be at to directly apply the stream to the caliper seals which are hiding behind the pads, which themselves are up against the disc.

Pressure washers do need to be used with caution for sure, but if you can spray water past your caliper seals you have far bigger concerns at hand.

 

Thats what i was informed by a chap in the know.......
But then it all depends on the pressure used, i've seen a pratt knock his bike clean over with one!

Anyway, apart from a serious moto crosser that strips his bike regularly I don't really see the need for a pressure washer on a bike if looked after regularly, wouldn't use one on a car let alone a bike......
Seen decals stripped off, paint stripped, or the start of lifting paint or getting water forced into switch gear and important connectors......
a shade over the top these pressure washers......

 

Use my PW all the time on the cars and bikes, never had any issues I think most of the problems stem from the person controlling the washer!

 

Dl650 out all year for commute, acf50 used with a wash down now and again and reapplyed.kept warm with heated grips and exo heated jacket. Gixer away until salt has come and gone.

 

The S1000RR is off the road for the winter or at least she will be when i have picked her up. Got a peachy little ER5 A1 for the winter hack and general commuting duties done 25k miles and she's still going strong the old girl and even managed to embarrass an 80k Merc off the lights on the way to work the other morning. Already had one off so far this winter about 2 weeks ago low sided at 40mph on a diesel spill and my wrist still hurts think I might get the docs to check that one out. Still have repaired the crash damage to her and will be soldiering on this winter no point in stopping for me as BastidEasternRail sorry I mean South Eastern Rail are planning to put fares up by another 13% in January so will be sticking to the bike even if Death is riding my pillion....

 

This is my 22nd Winter riding a bike and I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO IT!
Always always always on the bike unless it is physically impossible because of Snow. The SV is tucked up in the workshop/shed still waiting for a last clean before being put to bed proper as I may use it next week to go to Somerset to see Mum and Dad. Meanwhile I have been riding the winter Hack GS 500, which is just as well cos I've dropped the bugger twice in the last two weeks, snapped the bloody front brake lever this morning, thanks God I wasn't on the SV!
Winter riding does have a certain appeal to me, a kinda Man and Machine against the elements thing I suppose and I'm stupidly (I suppose) proud of riding my bike all year round.

 

Even my car gets tucked up for winter but I still use the Bandit and my trusty van all year round for work and stuff. It's quite nice when the air is crisp as it makes the bike perform better too.