Will be leaving soon...

[LayneK]

I'm pretty new to the forum, and I will be leaving soon, but not for good. In September I will be going on an 11 month mission trip around the world, so needless to say I will be leaving the duc behind. I can't bring myself to sell it, so i'm left with leaving it with someone to ride and maintain, or to put it in storage for a year. I can't think of anyone immediate that I trust enough to take good care of it, so i'm leaning toward storing it. Thats where i'm looking for some help from the good members here.

I've never had to leave a bike sitting for any long period of time, let alone a full year. So my question is what is the best way to keep it stored? Put it on a stand or a chock? My guess would be there is a better way to leave it with less stress on things.

What storage preparations should I do? draining fluids or things of that nature.

I've never had to leave anything sitting so I figured why not use the best resource out there to try and get some help.
Any tips are much appreciated, it's been a pleasure using the boards here. Thanks!

[Howie]

The bike on stands so the tires are off the floor is a good idea if possible.

Fuel treated with Stabil or similar product, run through fuel system and topped off.  If the fuel contains ethanol, marine Stabil or equivalent.

Fog cylinders.

Battery removed from bike and placed on a charger with a "float" mode.

If you cover the bike make sure the cover is breathable.

If there are small rodents around close off intake and exhaust orifices. 


About all I can think of now, I'm sure others will add more.

[speedknot]

If you don't intend on draining every bit of gas out of the tank and carbs, then I would highly suggest treating the fuel with Stabil Marine.  Its got great corrosion resistance and one of the best treatments for ethanol fuels.  Fill your tank with the treated fuel and run it through your system.  Before you fill the tank though be sure to put your battery on a tender.  Its not advisable to lift a full tank to get to the battery.  Puts too much stress on the tank hinge.  

11 months is a long time but not too long to do any damage to the suspension if it sits as is.  You might get a small flat spot on the tires but that usually goes away with riding it.  I've seen bikes sit on the showroom floor in the same spot for over a year.  

Give yourself an oil change with some fresh, inexpensive oil.  Old oil has a tendency to be somewhat corrosive and is known to attract moisture quicker.  Fill the crank case with some fresh stuff.  I say not to get expensive oil because you will want to drain that out when you get back and fill it up with your favorite brand.  

Keep the bike covered too.  Use a blanket or some breathable cover.  I hope you intend on storing it out of the elements.
If you have someone you can trust to take it out every few weeks then that's a great option as well.

[ducatiz]

1.  Fog the cylinders and intakes.  This is easy to do, take the sparkplugs wires off and spray it into the intake horns while the starter is pressed (efi models).    Take the plugs out and spray into the plug hole and manually turn the engine to spread the oil around the cylinder and onto the rings.  Easiest way to turn the engine is to put the rear on a stand and put it into gear, turn wheel in the correct direction for drive.  foggiing oil burns easy so just fill it up.

2.  Change the oil and over fill it.  Yup.  Put enough oil in so that it's coming out the top.  DO NOT START IT until you drain it down later on.  This prevents retained moisture from sticking to the walls and puts an anaerobic cover on everything.  ***You do NOT need to use good oil for this.  I buy a cheap couple of gallons of straight 30w.  I do not start the engine ever with that crap in it, but it does the job.  I think on a typical M900 you will need to put in about 7 quarts to fill the crankcase completely.  I've managed to get it coming out the crank vent.  I actually have drained a bike after storage, put the oil back into the jugs and reused it later.  You are just using it to keep the inside air and moisture free.  Make sure to drain completely before refilling with proper oil.  I let mine sit overnight or longer to drip out.  Toss the oil filter.  You don't want much cheap oil in there, but a small amount will mix no problem.

3.  Drain and change the brake and hydraulic fluid.  You will have lots of moisture in there and it will eat up your system while it sits.

4.  Get some anticorrosion spray or EEZOX.    The former is just a barrier coating, the latter is a dry film lubricant with the best anticorrosive formulation known to man.  Spray liberally one everything metal, and use a cloth to spread it.  Not your brakes of course.  Both are good for all wiring surfaces too.  

5.  For vermin, get some moth balls and put them under the cover.  You don't need to pour them out.  If you cover the bike, just put a box under the cover with the bike with the top off.  Mice hate it like the plague.  Alternatively, use peppermint oil but a box of mothballs is cheaper.  They hate both.

6.  Just take the battery out.  Plan to buy a new one when you get back.  Leave it on a tender?  No thanks.  Too much risk.  Just toss it or give it to a friend.

7.  Drain the tank.  Not much you can do about the fuel in the lines, so do what others have said -- startron or marine stabil in the gas (don't follow the directions, use about 10x as much as they say).. run it thru until the tank is down and then drain off the rest.  ***I absolutely do not recommend using Stabil or Startron anymore.  Both are simply kersosene, naptha and mineral spirits.  K100 seems to be the best thing going with a minimum of alcohol

8.  Raise the bike -- stands.. will save the tires.  

thats about all I do.  I have half a dozen bikes in storage for various reasons....

[DanTheMan]

Just left mine for 16 months and it started no problem

1. Bike on stands

2. Covered and in a shed

3. Stabil in the gas and top it off, make sure its run through the FI

4. Battery out of bike and occasionally topped off with a tender every month. The full time for the last week before i returned.

5. If registration is up and you canceled your insurance, register it Non-OP. Otherwise youll have to have/pay for insurance to register (This was in Ca)

6. when you get back, charge battery, change oil. Mine started up after a few cranks like the day i left.

I dont have a problem with rodents, but keep them out of there is you do. It sucks to chase down chewed wires. Happened to my truck


Where you going?

[zooom]

adding on to DTM...I would at least keep some form of comp insurance on it in case of tornado, act of god, theft,etc....it is a cheaper way to protect yourself than you think...most insurance companies understand deployments and have clauses for protection in these situations...

also, what temperature/climate controlled kinds of places do you have available for said storage? fluctuating temps can make a difference in storage in regards to many and all aspects...

I don't think it has been said yet...but perhaps a couple of small raquet balls or some other type of softer round device for insertion into the exhaust cans for to keep rodents or other things from developing any kind of home in your exhaust cans....dirt bike shops do generally have plugs for the cans, but I am not sure what is most convenient for you...I have seen a wasps nest get fired out of a can after a storage start-up in the summer stages and it wasn't pretty...not only was there a nice THWAPP of that nest against the wall, but then the ensuing chase of a few wasps who were also less than thrilled at the forcable ejection of their home....

[Cloner]

Forget about your imaginary friend in the sky and skip the "mission."  Then you can spend 11 months riding rather than atoning for nonexistent "sins" and spreading your particular flavor of self-delusion.

Ducati is my religion.  Riding is the only required sacrament.  Fuel up and come worship!!!   

[2-Skinny]

Forget about your imaginary friend in the sky and skip the "mission."  Then you can spend 11 months riding rather than atoning for nonexistent "sins" and spreading your particular flavor of self-delusion.

Ducati is my religion.  Riding is the only required sacrament.  Fuel up and come worship!!!   

+1

[Meerkat]

Forget about your imaginary friend in the sky and skip the "mission."  Then you can spend 11 months riding rather than atoning for nonexistent "sins" and spreading your particular flavor of self-delusion.

Ducati is my religion.  Riding is the only required sacrament.  Fuel up and come worship!!!   

+111ty billion!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1!

[2-Skinny]

Unless you are teaching under privledged kids in Uganda how to ride...

[ute]

as above others have said

but use steel wool in exhaust openings and air box opening to keep rodents out ..the more fogging the better


And go do your calling and enjoy life  your Duc will be ready willing and waiting for you when you come back .

[LayneK]

Much thanks to everyone who left some tips. Not sure exactly what the climate will be like where i will store it, will be looking into places when I get back home to Austin. Still considering letting someone keep it and ride it every once in a while if I find someone.

Just left mine for 16 months and it started no problem

Where you going?

I will be going to Ukraine, Romania, Nepal, India, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Thailand, Cambodia, Asia, and Malaysia

Forget about your imaginary friend in the sky and skip the "mission."  Then you can spend 11 months riding rather than atoning for nonexistent "sins" and spreading your particular flavor of self-delusion.

Ducati is my religion.  Riding is the only required sacrament.  Fuel up and come worship!!!   

My friend said he loves you, be safe out there riding!