MOTORCYCLE CARE AND STORAGE
7-2
7off any d
etergent resi due usin g
plenty of water, as it is harmful
to plastic parts.
Do not use any harsh chemical
prod ucts on plastic parts. Be
sure to avoi d using cloths or
spon ges which have been in
contact with stron g or a brasive
cleanin g prod ucts, solvent or
thinner, fuel ( gasoline), rust re-
movers or inhi bitors, brake flui d,
antifreeze or electrolyte.
Do not use hi gh-pressure wash-
ers or steam-jet cleaners since
they cause water seepa ge an d
d eterioration in the followin g ar-
eas: seals (of wheel an d swin g-
arm bearin gs, fork an d b rakes),
electric components (couplers,
connectors, instruments,
switches an d lig hts), breather
hoses an d vents.
For motorcycles equippe d with
a win dshield : Do not use stron g
cleaners or har d spon ges as
they will cause dullin g
or
scrat
ching . Some cleanin g
compoun ds for plastic may
leave scratches on the win d- shield
. Test the pro duct on a
small hidden part of the win d-
shield to make sure that it does
not leave any marks. If the win d-
shield is scratche d, use a quality
plastic polishin g compoun d af-
ter washin g.
After normal useRemove 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.
TIPSalt sprayed on roads in the winter
may remain well into spring.1. Clean the motorcycle with cold
water and a mild detergent, after
the engine has cooled down.
NOTICE: Do not use warm wa-
ter since it increases the corro-
sive action of the salt.
[ECA10792]
2. After drying the motorcycle, apply a corrosion protection spray on all
metal, including chrome- and
nickel-plated, surfaces (except the
titanium mufflers) to prevent cor-
rosion.
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-
not be thoroughly cleaned with
mild detergent, alkaline products
and a soft brush may be used.
U2CEE0E0.book Page 2 Wednesday, August 27, 2014 11:11 AM
MOTORCYCLE CARE AND STORAGE
7-4
7
EAU26244
StorageShort-term
Always store your motorcycle in a cool,
dry place and, if necessary, protect it
against dust with a porous cover. Be
sure the engine and the exhaust sys-
tem are cool before covering the mo-
torcycle.NOTICE
ECA10811
Storin g the motorcycle in a
poorly ventilate d room or cover-
in g it with a tarp, while it is still
wet, will allow water an d humi d-
ity to seep in an d cause rust.
To prevent corrosion, avoi d
d amp cellars, sta bles ( because
of the presence of ammonia)
an d areas where stron g 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 protect 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 elec-
trodes are grounded. (This will
limit sparking during the next
step.)
d. Turn the engine over several times with the starter. (This will
coat the cylinder walls with oil.)
WARNING! To prevent d am-
a g e or injury from sparkin g,
make sure to groun d the
spark plu g electro des while
turnin g the en gine over.
[EWA10952]
e. Remove the spark plug caps
from the spark plugs, and then
install the spark plugs and the
spark plug caps.
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 plastic 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.
U2CEE0E0.book Page 4 Wednesday, August 27, 2014 11:11 AM
