Triumphrat

CATUCK · 03-01-2007

After more than 30 years of motorcycling, I have been involved in an accident (my own fault.) that has taken me off the road, with my right wrist in 20 pieces. This was a low speed spill on my TTR, it would appear that following a rear wheel skid, when I released the brake, I high sided and on landing must have put my hands out to break the fall!

I now have about three months when I will not be able to ride while my wrist repairs itself. Is it okay for me just to leave the Tiger on the battery optimiser, or do I need to consider some sort of special "laying it up" routine?

Arrybash · 03-01-2007

To much power in the TTR!!!
At least you are OK.

I leave my ZX10 on the optimate all winter and a lot of the summer without firing it up (its only done 7,500 miles from new).

The only problem I have ever had was the acid evaporating out of the battery. Over a period of about 4 months it would loose about one third of the acid. Eventually the optimate red light would come on and would not go out. A top up sorted it.

It was an old battery and the replacement does not appear to do this as often.

I think the Tiger battery is sealed, hence it cannot be topped up anyway.

There was an old story that unleaded petrol goes like jelly after a while and can damage O rings but I can't say I have ever experienced this. Unfortunately you cannot turn the petrol of on a tiger like I can on the TTR and ZX10.

I also keep a boat outside which has a 90HP 4 cylinder outboard. It does not run all winter. I do not winterise it (You are supposed to remove the plugs and spray 'stuff' down the bores for the winter but I do not bother) and its not on an optimate. A quick charge and it fires up in the spring.

As long as the Tiger is in the dry I don't see a problem. I would not run it unless you are going to get the engine up to running temperature. The condensation produced from just a start up is likely to cause far more damage than doing nothing.

Hope you recover soon.

Chris

JohnRimmer · 03-01-2007

For 3 months you don't need to do much.If the petrol tank is nearly empty just put a fresh gallon in before you fire it up. If nearly full it might be worth addingMotorex fuel stabiliser,costs about £6. The Tiger has a gel battery so the Optimate will look after it.

Bushwhacker · 03-01-2007

These sites are for winter storage but a lot of the info will apply -

www.totalmotorcycle.com/maintenance/motorcyclewinterstorage.htm

www.motorcyclecruiser.com/tech/winter_storage/

www.clarity.net/~adam/winter-storage.html

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Arrybash · 03-02-2007

Something I forgot about.

If you leave a steel petrol tank part full for a long time, it can go rusty on the inside, particularly if the surrounding area is damp.

I alway fill my bikes up before laying them up.

Fuel does go of after a few weeks, but I have never really had a problem with starting engines because of poor fuel.

Chris

JohnRimmer · 03-02-2007

The Tiger tank is plastic isn't it ? I've tended to leave less fuel in so I can top up with fresh stuff after any layoff. For my Tbird I drain the tank and carbs,but you can't do that with fuel injection.

CATUCK · 03-02-2007

Gents,

No Chris TTR has not enough power, hence the uncorking questions, never made it to the lanes on this occasion.

Thanks for all the replies, both the Tiger and the TTR have plastic tanks and were full before my accident, so full and taking alternate weeks on the optimiser they shall remain.

£200+ for the TTR headlight.... came as a bit of a shock in a total repair bill of just over£400 inc labour....

Why is there never anything on eBay when you really need it?

I can also tell you it is a right handers world out there, I now have some sympathy with theleft handed fraternity!

Arrybash · 03-02-2007

John you are correct it is plastic.

I have had a baglux cover on mine from new and hence I have not really seen the tank.

Obviously no point in filling it up. Indeed as you advise, its best to leave it as empty as possible so as you can fill it up with fresh fuel.

Back to the boat. My main tank is full with over 100 litres in from August. I know from past experience it will be OK in April when I come to reuse it, but it can be a bit temperamental the first time I try to start it up.

Regards

Chris

JohnRimmer · 03-03-2007

100 ltres ? Eek..... it's bad enought paying to fill the Tiger tank. As my Tiger is at Woods for the 12000 mile srevice I decided to put my Tbird back on the road today. I laid it up for the winter in October as winter riding is not good for the alloy parts. So I reinstalled the battery and put 2 gallons of fresh fuel in. Turned the engine over without choke to circulate oil and then with a whiff of choke she started up first time. Went for a 50 mile bimble , managed to avoid the showers and came home with a big grin ! Every time I ride my Tbird it reminds me that it's a fun ride,it's surely the most charasmatic bike Hinckley made (although the S3 is also grin inducing but for different reasons). It confirms my view that I will never sell it. As the wife says - you spend more time with that bike than you do with me. To which I replied yes - I love this bike ! (only joking,honest).