Riding through winter... minimum riding frequency to keep her healthy?

UltraMax said:

Thanks guys for the input!

TeeTee what's ur opinion on the frequency?

If I say I am planning to ride it at least once a week, is it a practical plan? I've been living here a long time but I never pay attention to the weather until I started riding this year... how's Vancouver like through December and January?

Click to expand...

I deleted my previous post 'cause Tee Tee covered it very well. I do ride about once a week through winter, and you can usually find a nice break in the weather every week or so. Dec through Jan may be the worst months, but it hasn't been that cold the last couple of years. Forecasts for this winter are warmer and drier than usual.

Tee Tee mentions a battery tender, but I have never used one (or needed one). I get the bike out regularly and never an issue - bike is now 5 years old w/ the original battery and never a problem starting - ever. Always fires first try.

I think what you want to avoid is just starting the bike, and idling it for a while and then turning it off. I remember reading that it is not good for the bike (condensation etc??) but I will defer to Tee Tee for the 'gospel truth according to Tee Tee' :laughing .

If you can make it out once a week or more for at least 1/2 an hour at a time then you'll probably get away without a battery tender. But when it sits for longer times the battery will self discharge and hitting it with the massive workloads that a starter requires from cold isn't going to help it to have a long life. Hence the suggestion of the tender or charger/timer just to help keep it topped up.

Frequency doesn't really matter. It'll be fine if it even sits for 3 to 6 weeks between rides. But I'm guessing that you'll be boiling over before that long anyhow...

The only thing is that we tend to get a lot of moisture in the air and lots of condensation as a result. For that reason I'd suggest that unless you're riding on a twice a week or more basis that you just make sure you fill the tank at the end of your ride so there's little or no room for any chance of condensation while it's waiting for the next chance to get out.