Time to put the bikes away....[:(]

[tooclose racing]

Yesterday was kinda bittersweet.  With the Honey-Do list screaming at me "Get garage organized for Winter", I put the 125 and 250 down for a long sleep. In my one door garage that is actually about 1.75 cars wide, that means the bikes go into my trailer along with a multitude of other garage items - air compressor, power-washer, generator (that sees little to no use but ya never know...), various storage bins and bike stuff. Oh..and the lawn mower. The trailer goes on the side of the garage where - by late December - it could have a couple of feet of snow against it.

The MC-5 was more work than the Six Day.  Since I had not raced the Sixxer at the very muddy Grand Prix of Wales (see Broome Tioga under Penton Racing), I knew that it was basically good-to-go.  Pulled the MX tank off and drained it, also drained the carb.  A squirt of WD in the cylinder and on the Motoplat, left that cover loose for the winter.  Liberal doses of WD (actually I grabbed the Liquid Plumber version of silicone spray - it was on sale!) everywhere else and into the trailer she went.  

After pulling the seat/fender, tank, and side covers on the MC-5, I knew I had a little more work to do.  I had applied lots of power-wash and WD after Broome, but nothing else. More wipe-down/washing was definitely in order.  Also pulled both wheels for ritual brake drum/pads cleaning after hitting the hubs with the power washer (I don't aim directly at the backing plate/hub interface, but water always get in.  Always.).
Tank drained, carb drained, same drill with silicone as the Six Day for cylinder and Motoplat and all exposed surfaces.  

Put the tanks in the basement/work bench area for possible winter projects (get the Jackpiner tank sprayed Six Day green, new stickies for the MC-5?) and just because they seem like such precious cargo in the scheme of things.

Did I miss anything, POGGERS?    

And now..I have all winter long to think about other upgrades and opportunities, along with keeping my eyes open for Santa suggestions to my wife.

Now what was next on the Honey-Do list.....

[skiracer]

Miss anything? You sure did!!!!  This was a great weekend for riding!  I had my MC5 out yesterday, and my modern KTM out today.  Besides getting whipped in the nose with a branch, I had a great time.  I figure I have another couple of weeks of riding left before I think about winter storage.  James

[thrownchain]

How about lubing cables, repacking those bearings, fork oil change, motor oil change??

[tooclose racing]

Oh sure Dan...lay the guilt trip on why don't ya...[}:)]

I figured I would do gearbox oils in Spring along with forks - although I believe there is a school of thought that suggests getting rid of the old stuff and put in clean/fresh stuff as part of the lay-up effort.  And I'm not a big cable lube guy, but it's a good habit that I  should adopt.  I even have a shiny new cable lube "thingy" in the tool box that I pick up quite often and look at and think "neat!"... then I set it down again.  [^]

Bearings....hmmm...there were some "wet" races this year.

BTW Dan..thanks again for bringing along one of your old heat shields for my Six Day pipe...yet another winter project for me to work on.

[thrownchain]

Bob, it's like the "Fram" commercial, "you can pay me now, or pay me later". Might better do it right, and it won't come back at ya later. That way too, in the spring you'll have less to do to be race ready...[]

[Kip Kern]

55 and sunny, the track and trails are just golden!  Can't decide which bike to ride, the "08" Husky TE 250 or the "76" GS Penton 400.  Heck, I guess I'll just ride them both[]

[Doug Bridges]

Has anyone ever tried useing engine fogger like they use on outboard motors when you put the bikes up for winter? I live in Pacific NW and it gets very wet and cold thru the winter months, I am considering useing some fogger on my bikes. I did go for a nice little ride yesterday, but I know the time is comeing.

Doug Bridges
73 Jackpiner

[Ernie Phillips]

Bob wrote:

quote:...along with keeping my eyes open for Santa suggestions to my wife.

Neck Brace!!!!  -EP

Ernie P.
Chattanooga, TN

[socalmx]

In California, we don't put our bikes up for the winter. It's the best time to go riding.....

[Lloyd Boland]

It was very tough this weekend in SoCal, high 70s and low 80s.  Miserable riding weather.

[tooclose racing]

quote:Originally posted by Ernie Phillips

Bob wrote:

quote:...along with keeping my eyes open for Santa suggestions to my wife.

Neck Brace!!!!  -EP

Ernie P.
Chattanooga, TN

You're way ahead of me, Ernie. Not ahead of my wife mind you-she already has a catalog with the item circled.

[cubfan1968]

Dear Mr. Tooclose Racing

Where do you live, Siberia? If it hits 30 degrees and theres not much snow on the ground I'm hitting the trails. This whole summer we in the mid west have been living in a rain forest so if the ground is good I'm riding this winter. Cold is all in the mind.

Rod Whitman
Omaha, Nebraska
1972 Six Day (Rider)
1972 Six Day (Project)

[thrownchain]

I know you guys think Bob is acting too early in the season to put the bikes away. But Bob lives in the cross hairs of the famous "Lake Effect machine". In this area we can go from 50 and sunny and then overnight to 20s and 3+ feet of snow. And sometimes it can happen and even surprise the weatherman. I live a few miles south of Bob, but I've seen it happen more than once, better safe than sorry. Don't worry, I'm sure Bob will file his race reports next year and keep us all up to date on his racing exploits... [xx(]