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Its been off the road since mid November. I've replaced the brake fluid, changed the engine oil, cleaned and regreased the steering head bearings, replaced the cam belts and pulled out the swingarm to clean and regrease the swingarm linkage bearings. What to you lot do with your machines during the dark winter months?
Note: I do this maintenance every year (except belt replacement) and from first ride (mid March) to the last one (mid November) I have done about 1600 miles.

I have rebuild one 907IE quite totally (engine didint need to open, only adjusted front sylinder exhaust valve clearances and washed engine oil system from dirt), but near all other parts are checked, fixed, od changed to new. Also some electrical mods done, M1R totally rebuild with new seals & oils. New belts, new chain, new sprockets,new spark plugs, polished headers, painted rear part of frame, painted valve adjusting covers(Ducati red surely), new filters, fuel filter changed to outside, new fuel pump, new better looking rear mudguard, dashboard totally rebuild with all new bulbs, all palces lubricated, "loctited", cleaned, electrics cleaned, fixed, regulator wires welded, heat protection put to rear schock, swingarm rebuild with new seals/bearings ok, but washed and regreased, ... still some things to do... ...like change all liquids, expect oils, what have changed already.....

Antti,
you don't service your bikes, you rebuild them .
Ciao

Whats more being Jan 1st today its a good 2 1/2 to 3 months before I ride again. Last year during March the weather was improving and I was climbing the walls waiting for a good weather slot.

I rode 200 miles on 1/1/2009. 8th year in a row that I rolled a bike out and put significant miles on, on New Years. It was 15 degrees F (-9C) when I left the garage and 20F (-6C) on return. It was a brisk and fun day on the road. Don't put them away for the winter. Ride on nice days and enjoy!!

But, Jon, which bike did you ride? The 'Wing?!

No, the Multi. The wing isn't registered yet and still runs a bit crappy due to the carbs being gunked up.

I had to plow 8" of snow out of the driveway before I could push the bike out of the barn!

I thought of keeping the Monster on the road for the winter, having invested in heated gear, but decided against riding the salted roads. When the temp rises close to 40F, then I can tinker in the unheated garage at least.

(As to the GW, check out lots of good service info at http://www.nakedgoldwings.com/ including step-by-step on getting long-sitting bikes running.)

jcslocum wrote:I rode 200 miles on 1/1/2009. 8th year in a row that I rolled a bike out and put significant miles on, on New Years. It was 15 degrees F (-9C) when I left the garage and 20F (-6C) on return.

I had it a little better than you. My wife and I rode Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and yesterday for more than 1000 miles total. The lowest temp we had to deal with was 36-degrees F and the highest (yesterday) was 65-degrees F.

Desmo_Demon wrote: I had it a little better than you. My wife and I rode Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and yesterday for more than 1000 miles total. The lowest temp we had to deal with was 36-degrees F and the highest (yesterday) was 65-degrees F.

How 'bout summer? Friends in Georgia tell me it gets too darned hot to ride.

Kurt wrote:

Desmo_Demon wrote:How 'bout summer? Friends in Georgia tell me it gets too darned hot to ride.

I live 17 miles from the mountains, so the days that it is over 90-degrees, we usually head straight for the mountains. The Blue Ridge Parkway is a good place to go cruise on the really hot days (100+ in the low country). Heck, my wife and I wore full leathers while doing a SaddleSore 1000 on a day where Richmond, VA hit 100-degrees (we rode through Richmond on the route). Around here, the humidity will get to you before the heat.

jcslocum wrote:I rode 200 miles on 1/1/2009. 8th year in a row that I rolled a bike out and put significant miles on, on New Years. It was 15 degrees F (-9C) when I left the garage and 20F (-6C) on return. It was a brisk and fun day on the road. Don't put them away for the winter. Ride on nice days and enjoy!!

No I'm really bothered about the fact that salt used used for de-icing of roads. I mean that I don't dispute that the roads must be kept useable for the emergency services. But salt is a corrosive chemical and its constituents are trouble enough (Sodium & Chlorine). There is a chemical process known as reduction which can take place within an oxygen free enviroment, whereby compounds can be reduced to primary constituents. Now do you ever see rear brake discs that have exceptional grooving done to them? You never see this on race bikes and this grooving looks to me like acidic erosion. The only acid that could be present is Hydrochloric acid - not possible I hear you type - but if reduction is taking place, principaly between the brake pad, disc and salt water dragged in between the two there is a high temperature and pressure oxygen free enviroment where salt could be reduced to sodium and chlorine and both these elements would be capable of attacking the steel brake disc. The Chlorine can mix with water to form HCl and the Sodium could form an alloy with the steel disc to greatly soften the metal. There's your grooving.
Whats more salt can be drawn into the engine by induction to contaminate the engine oil and the previously mentioned process of reduction and recombination can feasibly take place. The outcome being softening of the cylinder walls, gears, crankshaft bearings etc. A 2 litre engine will induct 66litres of air per second at 4000rpm (full throttle) and because salt is pulverised almost to a vapour by heavy road vehicles I would not expect the air filter to stop the induction of salt vapour into the engine. So I do not use my machine when any salt is present because I am sure this rapidly degrades cycle components.

got coils, got wires, got a battery,fixed a clock,got a clean swing arm all I need is the time............................and weather that is not sub freezing

higgy wrote:got coils, got wires, got a battery,fixed a clock,got a clean swing arm all I need is the time............................and weather that is not sub freezing

how long are the wires Higgy ?

ha ha ha , got one wire it is 120 cm long looks like when all is said and done they will be somewhere around 30cm after the coils get mounted. Stock is around 45cm
Waiting for my garage heater to show up as it has been below freezing here for weeks.