Show Bike Storage

[Mick Milakovic]

Hi All, how do you store a show bike?  In other words, what do you do to a bike you no longer intend to ride, but would like to keep all engine, tank, and carb internals in good working order JUST IN CASE YOU SOMEDAY CHANGE YOUR MIND!?  I've got a 1978 Husky I bought brand new and now I just show it.  Thanks in advance,

Mick

[SouthRider]

Mick,

I have stopped racing, and keep my bikes stored with a small amount of fuel in the tank with Sta-Bil in them. Probably not a good idea though, as I don't crank them often enough. End result is that every couple years I have to clean out the fuel system...

Ideally they should be brought up to operating temperature about once a month, but who can keep up with that?

Alternatively you could drain the fuel & carb, crank them, and let them run out of gas at idle, using the kill switch just as they start to go lean & rev up. Then pull the plug, spray a small amount of thin lubricant in the hole (and through the carb or exhaust port), and rotate the engine through by hand several times to re-lubricate the engine. I don't like that approach much - which is probably why I just let them gum up.....

It's also best to have them on a stand if possible with the tires & suspension unloaded, and air pressure should be maintained in the tires.

All in all - mechanical equipment stores much better if it is occasionally run as intended. It NEVER likes just sitting still.

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"We the willing, led by the unknowing, are doing the impossible, for the ungrateful. We have done so much, for so long, with so little, that we are now qualified to do almost anything, with nothing."

1972 Penton Berkshire 100
1983 Husqvarna 250 XC
2011 Jayco 31.5 RLDS
2009 Chevy 2500 HD Duramax