Drain and store or run it?

[azcycle]

As you all know, the transmission splines went out on my bike.  Well, I should say I'm 95% sure they're the culprit but the fact is, my bike is a no-go until I can get it fixed.

This may take a while as I save up the cash to repair, which leaves me with the question: Should I drain the gas and "store" it until I can get it fixed, or should I just roll it out of the garage once a week and let her idle for a bit?  I already added some Sta-bil to the fuel.

At some point (as soon as I buy $100 worth of tools to pull the transmission, replace the clutch, and fix the main seal) it won't be able to be run at all, so maybe the best bet is to prep it for "winter" (term used loosely here in Tucson) storage.

What say ye all?

[Barry]

Can you use the fuel in another vehicle?

I wouldn't start it and let it idle once a week. Better to start it much less frequently and get the oil  properly warmed  up or not at all.

I may be facing the same storage problem for a while as I've just had an accident at work which cut a little bit off the end of my thumb and ripped the nail clean out.   Ouch !!

I'll know better if I am going to be able to ride through the winter when the stitches are out.

If not I'll use the fuel in the car, change the oil and maybe the brake fluid and put it to bed for 3 months.

On the other hand my brother uses stabil in a sports car that he stores 6 months every winter and says it works fine.

[Bob_Roller]

Drain the fuel put it into another vehicle .

Place the tank outside in the hot Arizona sun with the fuel tap and fuel cap off and let everything in the tank evaporate .

Then put the parts back on and don't put fuel into it until you are ready to ride it again .

Don't run the engine without riding it, you'll just get condensation in the exhaust, not doing it any good .

[nhmaf]

+1 with Bob's suggestions, given that you may also be in the dry part of Aridzona.   IF you were in a moist area or anywhere near the ocean, I'd say 'fog' the inside of the tank with a spray can of engine fog or light oil of your choice to keep corrosion at bay.
With the ethanol in the fuel these days, it traps more water in the tank than ever, and Stabil can only help so much.   It take a good 15-20 minutes of running, not just idling, to fully dry the exhaust system out after starting an engine, and it also isn't good to let the airhead sit perfectly still and idle for that length of time.   You're better off to just make the commitment to let her sleep through the winter until you've got all the parts back together.   Put the fuel in another vehicle and use it - this 10% ethanol stuff doesn't seem to do well even sitting for ~1 month, much less 3-4.  Stabil has even come up with a new version of the product that is supposed to help with the ethanol blend fuel - just in time for the EPA to approve the gasoline companies to increase the blend to 15%.   It might have some environmental benefits, but I think that the drawbacks are presetnly outweighing them..

[azcycle]

Good thoughts, thanks!  Guess I'll take Sunday to run the carbs dry, drain the fuel and dry out the tank. Lots on the "to-do" list while she's down:  

• Replace the fuses with modern bladed types
• Drain/flush/bleed the front brakes (might even splurge on stainless lines)
• Recoat tank if it needs it
• Fix the leaky main seal/oil cover
• Fix oil breather to reed-type.
• Fix bad oil pan gasket
• Paint the valve covers and fix their leaks