To Winterize or NOT to Winterize?

If those are the cons I'm almost positive my tach is off. This is my first s360 (smaller bike in general) and with the idle set at my 2k, its not loud. Its not even as loud as yours in your video, but pretty close.

weird. wonder how that happen.
 
Hey Robin,

that's cool, didn't know those existed, not so sure i want to buy something to fix this just yet.

BUT i just realized something. i've almost noticed on my tachometer that mileage calculator is always way off as well. one time i rode maybe 2 miles and it read 10 miles. Which leads me to believe maybe the previous owner put new wheels on my bike.

photo attached, this isn't a stock wheel is it?
 

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If your speedo and tach don't appear to be right it is often they need to be run a bit. the old grease inside gets hard after setting a few years. Once you get a bike up and running it may take a few miles before the grease softens up enough for the meters to read right.
You can speed this process by removing, disassembling the meters, cleaning the old grease out, regreasing, reassembly.
It may also be the cables. they can be removed taken apart, cleaned and regreased.
Leo
 
Hey Leo,

where exactly would grease need to go? i'm going to replace the entire gauge anyways. But if its in the cable, i just need to know where to put it.
 
Grease isn't in the cable, although off topic those can/should be lubricated from time to time. The grease belongs in the components that the cables connect to. If you're replacing the gauges, cool but you'll want to clean and lubricate the system that's downstairs by the front axle.
 
Hey Robin,

that's cool, didn't know those existed, not so sure i want to buy something to fix this just yet.

BUT i just realized something. i've almost noticed on my tachometer that mileage calculator is always way off as well. one time i rode maybe 2 miles and it read 10 miles. Which leads me to believe maybe the previous owner put new wheels on my bike.

photo attached, this isn't a stock wheel is it?

The wheel looks factory but the tire looks big. Stock is 90/90-18. If it is a larger tire the speedo will read slower than what you are actually doing.
 
Remove the cables, pull out the inner core, Clean the core and housing. Use a light grease. I use a grease called Super Lube. I get it at Harbor Freight, grey tube, synthetic grease
A thin coat on the inner core Leave the upper few inches clean, don't want any excess migrating up into the meters.
Look how the inner was in the housing, put it back the same way, with any washers where they were.
Leo
 
I know I'm bringing this back from the dead, but better to jump on this than new thread I think?

I read multiple things in winter storage. (First carbed bike) for maxim 400

My winter storage I assume will be about 3 months, I'm a semi-heated attached garage.

I filled tank up to tippy top and put stabilizer in it and gave it a good ride to mix up well,

Should I drain the carb bowls for this time? Our fuel here is the 10% ethanol blend.

How long if bike is sitting is it recommended to drain carbs in general?
 
I ride year round, so I have never had to "Winterize" a bike! I agree with the others who ride during the winter months, though. Never use your bike for short trips, (less than 30 - 40 mins duration) just to get rid of the condensation, and to get your oil up to working temp. Make sure you keep an eye on your tire pressurs/condition, as the cold will have adverse affects on your riding technique, if your not careful! Also keep your exhaust pipes clean, and road salt, loves eating chrome, and you will quickly find that you have "Sky Pilot, exhausts" (Holy Silencers(Mufflers))
One or two other things, wrap up warmly,(many thin layers of clothing) and ride like your a figher pilot, in enemy territory! And think 500 yards ahead of your normal driving distances!
I know that the winters are milder here in the UK, but with a bit of thought, and care, riding in the US, and Canada, shouldn't be that much different?

Ride Free, Ride Safely, Ride Everyday!

Merlin
 
I store all my bikes in a heated and dry basement. But even then I drain all the gas from the bikes and fog the motor and gas tank.
 
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So I started draining the bowls today and one had a lot of fuel come out, the other side was only a few drops but looks like alot of buildup in there,

How bad does this look from here ? Not sure how previous owner stored it. But bike runs very good. (I did make sure to throw stabil in and get it circulated even though I drained the bowls

All we have is the ethanol blend crap here in NYC nowhere really within riding range to get pure gasoline
 
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This is really helpful! I am brand new to motorcycles so I jumped in and bought a 78 Yamaha xs400. I am in the Midwest and was trying to figure out how to winterize my bike. So here is my plan
1) run stabil through with a full tank of ethanol free high octane gas.
2) drain the two float bowls
3) change the oil
4) fog the engine -take off the oil filter, run the bike and spray yamalube efi engine fogging oil into the space where the oil filter is (?????-hope that is right)
5) unscrew spark plugs spray digging oil into the holes where the plugs were and then put them back ( you can't run the bike without plugs in right?)
6) wash and wax the bike
7 ) clean the battery and top it off with distilled water then put it on a tender
8) spray the chain with wd40

Does that seem ok? I haven't winterized anything before including my mower-- I love this bike and I really want her to start this spring.-- She has a kickstart and sometimes it takes quite a while to get her to turn over.
Thanks for any help!
-Rachel
 

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@trife86 That looks pretty nasty. Might be worth taking the carbs off in the spring to clean them out a bit. I'd be worried about one side having more fuel than the other.

@Rachel W. If you did all that you should be in good shape come spring. That's more than I usually do for my bikes.
 
Rachael:
Pretty much exactly what I do successfully.
I take the added precaution of not trusting the full tank of stabilized fuel in the spring. I always siphon it out and add it to a nearly full tank of gas in my car, then fill the bike tank with fresh gas.
I bought one of these at a boat show, and I have to say it was a terrific investment:
A much better way to transfer fuel than with pour spouts and funnels.

Also, I assume you are simply using WD40 to coat the chain for the winter and that you will put proper oil on it before riding in the spring.
Welcome!
 
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