|
Post by LUKE on Nov 19, 2010 22:11:49 GMT -6
Ahhh yes, autumn! Leaves are turning, the air is cool, crisp and invigorating, and some of the best riding weather of the year is here for us to enjoy. But as the weeks progress, the brisk clear breezes become a cold biting wind. Those colorful leaves are now matting on the road, wet and slippery, making the possibility of unexpected skids a real threat. Numbness nips at our fingers and toes, and no matter how many layers we throw on, it’s just cold and miserable for riding. At this point, you begin to think about tucking your scooter away for the winter, until the weather once again allows you to enjoy your rides. It’s time to winterize. Is there one absolute way of winterizing? Probably not, but here are some suggested tips that will point you in the right direction. * Fill your gas tank (this will help prevent condensation from building up in the tank). * Add a fuel stabilizing product such as Stabil to your cold gas tank, using the manufacturer’s recommended measurement. * Ride your scooter for 10-15 minutes, to allow the gas mixture to circulate throughout the carburetor and prevent gumming. Again, top off the gas tank. * Now for the question of whether to remove the battery. Check with your dealer to see what his recommendation is. We have never removed the battery, but we always attach a trickle charger (such as Battery Tender Jr) to the battery. This device will deliver a slow charge to your battery, and it's smart enough to know how much the battery needs to maintain a charge. It will NOT however, recharge a totally dead battery. We always use the Battery Tender Jr and never had a problem with the scooters starting right up in the spring. * Make sure your tires are at the manufacturer’s recommended maximum pressure. This will help to prevent “flat spots” in your tires. Some scooterists recommend that you raise the tire(s) touching the ground off the floor on blocks. If the scooter is going to be stored outside for any length of time, this may be a good suggestion. * There is a school of thought that every week or two the scooter should be started up and allowed to run for 5-10 minutes. Again, this is a debatable subject --- some say there is no benefit to running it for a short period of time (others say it just feels good to hear that engine running again!). * Give your scooter a good cleaning, removing any road grease, bug remains, etc. * Cover your scooter. There are several brands of scooter covers available (check eBay if your dealer doesn’t carry them). Walmart also sells motorcycle covers that may work for your scooter. Us? We just throw on a clean sheet! * Go out and give your scooter a pat and a “hello” every now and then, just to let it know it’s still loved!
|
|
|
Post by LUKE on Nov 20, 2010 7:38:51 GMT -6
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!!
|
|
|
Post by Bashan on Nov 20, 2010 8:29:36 GMT -6
How about this winterizing plan, ride the scooters when it's warm during in the winter. That would be, oh let's see, about three to four times a month here in the deep south. Why do you people live up there? I've always wondered why when the settlers were moving across this country they set up shop in the north. I can just see it, old Jeb looked around and said "Martha, this looks like a place where I can freeze my balls off and the kids can starve in the winter; yep, this is where we stake our claim!" Rich
|
|
|
Post by speedracer on Nov 20, 2010 10:50:49 GMT -6
Reply #2 us Yankees up north had coal and steel, much higher paying jobs, workers rights, and the best schools. Sounds better then living in the hot humid summers with no AC. Now us Yankees can retire sell our high priced homes move south since they now have AC. Pay cash for a home and collect a real retirement check.
|
|
Senior Clinician
Currently Offline
Click to donate!
Posts: 122
Likes: 0
Joined: Apr 7, 2010 15:25:45 GMT -6
|
Post by fubar05 on Nov 20, 2010 11:17:44 GMT -6
ouch speedracer...ouch! lol well hello all i am still here and just wanted to say hi, i am happy to say i pulled my scoot out today and fabed a temp exhost to crank her up, and ran the crap out of her , i have a honda 250 rebel that has ben getting all my attention latley, but man that scoot is still a blast ,and with the windshield i have it don't matter how cold it is, i still ride!
|
|
Senior Clinician
Currently Offline
Click to donate!
Posts: 122
Likes: 0
Joined: Apr 7, 2010 15:25:45 GMT -6
|
Post by fubar05 on Nov 20, 2010 11:24:01 GMT -6
here is the reb new bag's , new windshield ,new front sprocket,
|
|
Senior Clinician
Currently Offline
Petrolhead, tinkler, but I love to mess around in my garage.
Posts: 119
Likes: 0
Joined: Apr 15, 2010 8:39:00 GMT -6
|
Post by scootaway on Nov 20, 2010 11:46:14 GMT -6
You know here in sunny South Africa (denying all other troubles) we sometimes use the word 'shame" in a different context as you people in the US. So if someone's car gets stolen or a child falls from a bicycle we will say shame did that hurt etc. Now i believe you people in the states use the word "shame" for something that really is a shame, like a scandal.
So my point is that I want to say to ya all now that it is getting winter "shame". Actually here in SA we don't hang scooters et al up for winter, we keep on riding them albeit with some layers of clothing in winter. In johannesburg it does not rain in winter so the roads are always dry. Having said that I will be making my way to the US (Arlington VA) in three weeks time. So I hope to experience the reason why you have to "hang up" the scooter. Maybe then I will understand.
|
|
|
Post by speedracer on Nov 20, 2010 12:14:46 GMT -6
Fubar05 I had to stick up for us Yankees on here. Hell we played golf with the temps in the low 30's so riding a scooter in the south during the winter is a piece of cake. Fubar05 how are those Viper tires?
|
|
|
Post by Alleyoop on Nov 20, 2010 20:26:38 GMT -6
WINTERIZING WHATS THAT!!! No Way!! Just dress for the occasion, notice the Half Mask goes under my chin and half way up my nose. As long as the streets are dry I ride ;D Alleyoop
|
|
Senior Clinician
Currently Offline
Petrolhead, tinkler, but I love to mess around in my garage.
Posts: 119
Likes: 0
Joined: Apr 15, 2010 8:39:00 GMT -6
|
Post by scootaway on Nov 21, 2010 8:45:40 GMT -6
What's that white stuff, could that be the reason you guys hang the scooters up? Alleyoop I like your attitude.
|
|
|
Post by madcollie on Nov 21, 2010 10:59:30 GMT -6
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!! AAAHHH!!! Luke, at his best. ;D How about this winterizing plan, ride the scooters when it's warm during in the winter. That would be, oh let's see, about three to four times a month here in the deep south. Why do you people live up there? I've always wondered why when the settlers were moving across this country they set up shop in the north. I can just see it, old Jeb looked around and said "Martha, this looks like a place where I can freeze my balls off and the kids can starve in the winter; yep, this is where we stake our claim!" Rich It take brass balls to live here and brass doesn't freeze easily. What's that white stuff, could that be the reason you guys hang the scooters up? Alleyoop I like your attitude. scootaway, try coming a little further north and experience over 120" of the "white stuff" every winter. Believe me it's no fun.
|
|
|
Post by speedracer on Nov 21, 2010 11:26:47 GMT -6
Doc going back to "Father knows best" days. My Mom never worked a day in her life except during WW II putting wings on planes. Now greed runs our country and with it went the good paying jobs. My wife stayed home with the kids and they turned out better because of it. Now both my kids are married and their wife's work. A fact of life now.
|
|
|
Post by ccprof on Nov 21, 2010 16:04:31 GMT -6
M/C and Al - please don't get JR started. Little Arkie kids doing trick or treat in a foot of snow? Man - they have colder winters than we do. The next you know, JR will be telling us that he had to wear plastic grocery bags over his bare feet when he did it. Of course, he is WAY older than plastic bags. He'll also tell us about the powder in his flintlock squirrel gun freezing up next.
I'm afraid that our southern friends have blood that's too thin to stay warm in the winter.
|
|
Senior Clinician
Currently Offline
Click to donate!
Posts: 122
Likes: 0
Joined: Apr 7, 2010 15:25:45 GMT -6
|
Post by fubar05 on Nov 21, 2010 16:29:05 GMT -6
speedracer those avons are the best! they make the ride so much smoother and safer!, i came up on some trash in the highway and i know if i had the stock ones on there still i would have hit it, but the avons give me a much more manooverible<<<? feel to them , well worth the money
|
|
Clinician
Currently Offline
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Joined: Nov 22, 2010 18:51:05 GMT -6
|
Post by vader1701 on Nov 22, 2010 20:04:31 GMT -6
Awesome thread, I UNFORTUNATELY here in Michigan had to put mine away for the winter also. I am discuss ted with myself, when I did this the next weekend it got up to 70 degrees. "Dad gone it", I really planned that well, anyways, I only ride for the pleasure so riding in in-climate weather is not important to me but as I sit here reading the stuff on this site and looking at the pics I am having with drawls. Hurry summer I need to ride....
Enjoy the ride, it's freedom at it's best...
|
|