MOTORCYCLE CARE AND STORAGE
7-2
7 with mild detergent, alkaline
products and a soft brush may
be used.
Do not use any harsh chemical
products on plastic parts or the
mufflers. Be sure to avoid using
cloths or sponges which have
been in contact with strong or
abrasive cleaning products, sol-
vent or thinner, fuel (gasoline),
rust removers or inhibitors,
brake fluid, antifreeze or electro-
lyte.
Do not use high-pressure wash-
ers or steam-jet cleaners since
they cause water seepage and
deterioration in the following ar-
eas: seals (of wheel and swing-
arm bearings, fork and brakes),
storage compartments, electric
components (couplers, connec-
tors, instruments, switches and
lights), breather hoses and
vents.
For motorcycles equipped with
a windshield: Do not use strong
cleaners or hard sponges as
they will cause dulling or
scratching. Some cleaning com-pounds for plastic may leave
scratches on the windshield.
Test the product on a small hid-
den part of the windshield to
make sure that it does not leave
any marks. If the windshield is
scratched, use a quality plastic
polishing compound after
washing.
After normal use
Remove dirt with warm water, a mild
detergent, and a soft, clean sponge,
and then rinse thoroughly with clean
water. Use a toothbrush or bottlebrush
for hard-to-reach areas. Stubborn dirt
and insects will come off more easily if
the area is covered with a wet cloth for
a few minutes before cleaning.
After riding in the rain, near the sea oron salt-sprayed roadsSince sea salt or salt sprayed on roads
during winter are extremely corrosive in
combination with water, carry out the
following steps after each ride in the
rain, near the sea or on salt-sprayed
roads.
NOTE:Salt sprayed on roads in the winter mayremain well into spring.
1. Clean the motorcycle with cold wa-
ter and a mild detergent, after the
engine has cooled down.CAUTION:
ECA10790
Do not use warm water since it in-
creases the corrosive action of thesalt.
2. After drying the motorcycle, apply
a corrosion protection spray on all
metal, including chrome- and nick-
el-plated, surfaces (except the tita-
nium mufflers) to prevent
corrosion.
Cleaning the titanium mufflersThis model is equipped with titanium
mufflers, which require the following
special care.
Use only a soft, clean cloth or
sponge with mild detergent and
water to clean the titanium muf-
flers. However, if the mufflers can-
U4C8E1E0.book Page 2 Wednesday, June 13, 2007 9:24 AM
MOTORCYCLE CARE AND STORAGE
7-4
7
EAU26201
Storage Short-term
Always store your motorcycle in a cool,
dry place and, if necessary, protect it
against dust with a porous cover.CAUTION:
ECA10810
Storing the motorcycle in a
poorly ventilated room or cover-
ing it with a tarp, while it is still
wet, will allow water and humid-
ity to seep in and cause rust.
To prevent corrosion, avoid
damp cellars, stables (because
of the presence of ammonia)
and areas where strong chemi-cals are stored.
Long-term
Before storing your motorcycle for sev-
eral months:
1. Follow all the instructions in the
“Care” section of this chapter.
2. Fill up the fuel tank and add fuel
stabilizer (if available) to prevent
the fuel tank from rusting and the
fuel from deteriorating.3. Perform the following steps to pro-
tect the cylinders, piston rings, etc.
from corrosion.
a. Remove the spark plug caps
and spark plugs.
b. Pour a teaspoonful of engine oil
into each spark plug bore.
c. Install the spark plug caps onto
the spark plugs, and then place
the spark plugs on the cylinder
head so that the electrodes are
grounded. (This will limit spark-
ing during the next step.)
d. Turn the engine over several
times with the starter. (This will
coat the cylinder walls with oil.)
e. Remove the spark plug caps
from the spark plugs, and then
install the spark plugs and the
spark plug caps.
WARNING
EWA10950
To prevent damage or injury from
sparking, make sure to ground the
spark plug electrodes while turningthe engine over.4. Lubricate all control cables and the
pivoting points of all levers and
pedals as well as of the side-
stand/centerstand.
5. Check and, if necessary, correct
the tire air pressure, and then lift
the motorcycle so that both of its
wheels are off the ground. Alterna-
tively, turn the wheels a little every
month in order to prevent the tires
from becoming degraded in one
spot.
6. Cover the muffler outlets with plas-
tic bags to prevent moisture from
entering them.
7. Remove the battery and fully
charge it. Store it in a cool, dry
place and charge it once a month.
Do not store the battery in an ex-
cessively cold or warm place [less
than 0 °C (30 °F) or more than 30
°C (90 °F)]. For more information
on storing the battery, see page
6-31.
NOTE:Make any necessary repairs beforestoring the motorcycle.
U4C8E1E0.book Page 4 Wednesday, June 13, 2007 9:24 AM
