696 after long term storage

[Amlethae]

Hi all,

I've got a 2008 696 that's been sitting in climate controlled storage since 2010, moved around but not ridden.  What do we think are the important things to do to get it back up and running?  My wife is getting her license soon and it will be hers.  It only has about 3k miles on it.  Battery's charged, I'll change the oil et al when I get it out of the garage, but I do need to ride it about 20 miles home.  Things I should worry about?  Bad idea to ride it at all?

Thanks for the thoughts!

[Raux]

belts.. more than 3 years old

[Amlethae]

Are the belts easy to change yourself?  I can get the software that uses the microphone for tensioning, but other than that?  And is it safe enough to ride 20 miles to get it home to work on it?

[Slide Panda]

Belts are pretty easy - just need to ensure you've got a way to move the crank to the proper position.

Oil and belts before you ride.

Overall -
Oil replace
Belt replace
Replace brake and clutch fluids
new rubber shoes (tires)
new fork oil
close inspection of stuff like the chain for locked up links
Perhaps an extra dose of techron in the first couple tanks

[Speeddog]

If it's had gasoline sitting in it for that long, get that crap out before you ride it.

[kokis]

belts may require exhaust pipe remove or even take out engine from frame.
Also tire change and probably battery is needed for you.

[alibaba]

I have changed belts on my 696 without removing the exhaust much less the engine.
However, watching speeddog do it, next time i would probably remove the exhaust.
Makes the job a lot easier.

[Slide Panda]

belts may require exhaust pipe remove or even take out engine from frame.

Take the engine from the frame for the timing belts? No.

[kokis]

Why no?
My tension adjusters were on red loctite- no way to unscrew with small tool, and frame with exhaust leave no room to use proper tool.

[Slide Panda]

Red? They should not be. Red is 'permanent' - only broken down with heat, before mechanical force is applied.

Dropping the engine for a timing belt seems along the lines of removing a wheel to add air to me.