Motorcycle care and stora ge
7-2
7 structe
d. Also, thorou ghly rinse
the area off with water, imme di-
ately dry it, an d then apply a cor-
rosion protection spray.
Improper cleanin g can d amage
plastic parts (such as cowlin gs,
panels, win dshield s, head light
lenses, meter lenses, etc.) an d
the mufflers. Use only a soft,
clean cloth or spon ge with wa-
ter to clean plastic. However, if
the plastic parts cannot be thor-
ou ghly cleaned with water, di-
lute d mil d d eter gent with water
may be used . Be sure to rinse
off 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 (g asoline), rust re-
movers or inhi bito
rs, 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
scratchin g. Some cleanin gcompoun
ds for plastic may
leave scratches on the win d-
shield . Test the pro duct on a
small hi dden part of the win d-
shield to make sure that it d oes
not leave any marks. If the win d-
shield is scratche d, use a quality
plastic polishin g compoun d af-
te r
washin g.
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 or
on salt-sprayed roads
Since 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.
TIP
Salt 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]
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Motorcycle care and stora ge
7-4
7
EAU26244
Stora ge
Short-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 ventilated 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 and 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 pla-
ce the spark plugs on the cylin- der head so that the electrodes
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 char- ge it. Store it in a cool, dry place
and charge it once a month. Do
not store the battery in an exces-
sively 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
6-32.
UB96E0E0.book Page 4 Wednesday, November 4, 2015 5:01 PM
