My beautiful new Swing is almost ready for its first oil change/service (the 700 mile). The mid-west is almost ready to be a bad place to ride for a few months. Today is fantastic (75 degrees and no clouds), but I know what is coming.

I'm almost ready to put the cover on the bike in the garage and attach the battery tender, but I'd like to know if it makes a difference if I have the service done now (before I put it to bed) and let it sit for the winter or should I wait for spring and do the service then?

Do it after you have your last ride for the season .Oil builds up nasty things that are bad for bearings to be left sitting in . Don't wait for spring .

Re: ethanol, it all depends on what state and even what gas station you're at. Where I'm at in Philly, ALL gas, no matter what grade it is, has ethanol. I'd definitely put some fuel stabilizer, make sure you put the trickle charger on, and run the engine every now and then so you don't gum anything up.

There was one state I was in, Iowa methinks, where the regular was more expensive than premium because the premium had ethanol whereas the regular didn't. REALLY boggles the braincase.

Guys,
I haven't considered this problem. I'm in FL, so its a moot point, but as I read through the posts, it got me to thinking about my boats up north. We went through a winterizing process; changing oil, putting in antifreeze etc. The last thing we did with the motors, inboard and outboard was what they called fogging. A light oil, I forget exactly what it was but it was along the lines of liquid wrench, was sprayed into the air intake until the motor stalled. This would coat the inards of the engine for the winter. Is something like this ever done on motorcycles?

Bill

Bill, you're right, most owners of marine engines do fog the cylinders. My only concern would be over-fogging on an engine equipped with a catalyzer in the exhaust system. Excessive unburned hydrocarbons might cause overheating and damage to the cat. The smoke may also damage the O2 sensor. I figure that many motorcycles sit in distributor and dealer storage for years before being sold. If the oil coating on the cylinders is OK for years, I don't have to fog my Swing for 4 months of inactivity.

I had an issue with taxes once. I didn't want to pay them.

Hi ya Woody! I say.......service now......and then service in the spring! Cause......with the excellent wind and weather protection offered by your Silverwing, and the spot on fuel injection, other than snow or ice or 25 degrees or lower..........I say Ride That Rascal! [That was not an endorsement for a power chair from the Scooter store], altho I'm gonna get one when the time comes, and look out!!
C'mon Woody........there's gonna be lot of good weather, especially if you hibernate your new SW.......its Karma. Tarp and tender.......and it will be 50 every other day from Dec thru Feb. And why the garage? If you have a 32in exterior door, a left right twist and your pride and joy shares the laundry room with you and the Mrs. If you have a cat, she'll keep the seat warm till you're ready to brave the Iowa winter. I'm from Quincy Ill, so I'm kind of in the same geographic challenge as you.
So..........get er serviced.........take the wifey poo out once a week to balance out the puddles in the laundry room........flip old man winter the bird........and enjoy those frosty cheeks..........and then get 'er serviced in the spring. Jeff

WINTERIZE??!!??

Down here we only consider winter service because the shops don't have anything better to do!!

Change the oil, drop a couple teaspoons of Stabil in the tank, hit the tupperware with some Bike Spirits & wait out the storm!! SNOW???? PUHLEEZ -- took MSF ERC in a snow storm!!

Don't know about the laundry room or you may be sharing a bed with the cat!! Just go to the big box store & get a 8x15 piece of carpet, electric space heater & your ready to work on your baby in any weather!!

Be careful about talking to her while you rub her down, the wife's get jealous!!

8 by 15 carpet??........now your talking! But....... Take the pickup and the Mastercard, because a recliner with heat and massage is in order. Thats a lot of carpet! I would personally use the box that the recliner came in to make a club house.....or maybe cut out the upper front for a window, and a side door and pretend I was a truck driver. " Yes Honey, I'm making this for the grandkids"........The what????.....oh yes, I'll bring the Silverwing in...uh.....later." "Yes, I see it's snowing." Hmmmm....What could I use for a stick shift?

i just gotmy scotter in the spring and was wondering what i should do when i put her away. i live up north so alot of snow,lol do i take battery out or put on a tricle charger what about gas and oil
ty in advance