Winter storage

[toolmanbmw]

Hi everyone. I have a monster 1100 evo up here in Canada. The bike is parked now and I ran it till the light came on and 20 more km or so. Is it wise to open the gas tank and let it dry up for the winter? Any negative effects I have to watch out for? I do have staibil in the gas but I am worry about seals drying up and possible residue from the gas drying?

[ute]

I am in Canada as well , with my Monster and Kawi ( both plastic tanks ..half full with stabil )( not sure if you have plastic tank )

Steel tanks ( do you have a steel tank ? ) My  RD and Gixxer , Spree ( all steel tanks ) all get drained completely and left with there caps off either in the Garage or in the basement .

Moister is your enemy here ...also fog your cylinders with engine storage oil ( get it from crappy tire ) I also spray the outside of the whole engine as well .

Battery inside on a tender

You could also drain carbs( do you have carbs ? ) ...but you did run stabil through so should be good

[the_Journeyman]

Another option is to treat the fuel with stabilizer, run for a few minutes to pull the stabilizer into the whole fuel system.  Then, top the tank with fuel.  A tank full of treated gas shouldn't rust.

JM

[toolmanbmw]

Hey guys. Yeah I have the plastic tank. Am worry about the tank swelling from gas collecting water. Think if I let the gas evaporate that any bad will come of it?

[the_Journeyman]

Evaporating gas can lead to varnish buildup.

JM

[Curmudgeon]

Hey guys. Yeah I have the plastic tank. Am worry about the tank swelling from gas collecting water. Think if I let the gas evaporate that any bad will come of it?

Since you're in Canada, fill the tank to the brim with non-ethanol stabilized fuel. Run the bike for a few minutes or go for a ride if you can and put a heat cycle through it on the stabilized fuel and then top it up. The stabilizer will take care of the injectors, etc. You won't get moisture in the tank if there is no air space left in the tank.

Been doing this for 40+ years with no ill effects after 4 - 5 months of storage in a partially insulated garage. My $0.02...

[red baron]

Send your bikes to me for winter storage.

[toolmanbmw]

Non-ethanol gas is so tough to find. I belive shell vpower is the only gas that is pure. And I am still not 100% sure that it's true. I will try to find some good gas.

Red Baron you can ride year round where you are?

[Bishamon]

Non-ethanol gas is so tough to find. I belive shell vpower is the only gas that is pure. And I am still not 100% sure that it's true. I will try to find some good gas.

It was still ethanol free the last time I tested it, though that was about a year ago.  I used to test it every time I filled my Sport 1000, but I'm not quite as obsessive with my Monster.  The pump still says 0% ethanol in V-Power; it's the only gas I have used in any of my vehicles for the past six years.

[toolmanbmw]

It was still ethanol free the last time I tested it, though that was about a year ago.  I used to test it every time I filled my Sport 1000, but I'm not quite as obsessive with my Monster.  The pump still says 0% ethanol in V-Power; it's the only gas I have used in any of my vehicles for the past six years.

Great info! Thanks man.

[polivo]

I also have been doing the stabil option. Put in stabil, run for 15 mins. Fill up tank. put on tender, or take battery out.  I have been doing this for 10 years. ALWAYS starts right up.  Never had a problem.  On the other hand, I have seen some have trouble with gunk in the carbs or injectors when they tried the "empty my tank route.  I guess they didnt get it out of the fuel line.. and it gunked up there.