[Spike]

If you're parking your bike for 6 months or less, filling the tank to the top with the normal octane, and then draining your carbs (if you have them) will do just as good as putting fuel stabilizer in.

For riders in Vancouver, fuel stabilizer is a waste of $$$, IMHO. It doesn't get cold enough, and we don't park our bikes long enough, to warrant it.

Fuel goes bad because of the oxygen in the tank. If you fill the tank to the brim, you minimize the oxygen, and reduce the ability for the fuel to go bad over winter. Our winters aren't that long here, nor are they that cold. Your bike will be fine without it.

Now, if there's a chance you'll leave it for more than 6 months, or if you really aren't sure at this point, then I agree that putting stabilizer in might be a good idea. But better yet would be to drain the tank, remove it, and store it in a warm, dry, closet or basement until spring. put cloth over the openings to keep bugs out, but let it breathe.

 

[Spike]

From the first paragraph:

The same molecules that make up the best parts of gasoline can react with oxygen and other elements in the environment and form new molecules that build up to form gummy residues or varnish-like films that can clog up passages in fuel lines, carburetors, and injectors.

Hence, fill the tank up, and there's very little oxygen to react with. Very little oxygen = very little reaction = very little chemical activity. Long term, maybe. Storing over Winter in Vancouver, no.

 

[Spike]

Well said! It's been easy, effective and cheap way to store the bike for long period of time. I let the bike run for 5 minutes or so every 2-3 weeks, it was fine.

This is one of the worst things you can do for your engine. If you store your bike, store your bike. Running it for a few minutes once every few weeks just traps more moisture in the oil, which is then distributed through the engine. Moisture = corrosion and rust wherever its trapped against your engine's metal parts.

Before you put your bike away, you should take it for a nice long ride (at least a half an hour) to cook out the moisture. Once you've done that, fill the tank with gas, and then drive it no more than 5 minutes to whereever you're parking it. Add Stabilizer if you're parking for more than 6 months, less than that you don't need it. Drain carbs when you get it parked, and you're good to leave it.

Of course, there are dozens of other things you should do in preparation for storage too, but those are beyond the scope of this discussion. For a very, very good list, look on the Wiki, there is a great link to a "storing your motorcycle for winter" article that covers absolutely everything.