What's your advice about winterization...

I sadly had to take my last ride today...on my birthday (today). Turned 19..Woot! anyway...It's time to take the bike for a clean and then get it ready for the winter. Well I live in a townhouse...No shed, no garage, no heated or roof or anything for cover.. Well I'm a lucky boyfriend...My girlfriend graciously made space for my cr85 in her heated garage. (gotta love the girlfriend/women...haha god bless her soul...I'm loved.) Anyway, the heated space from all weather conditions is all set. I read about this stabilizer that can be put in to a full tank of gas (as i tried so hard today to empty the damn thing before dark) well...i turned the gas off and ran it until it wouldn't run anymore. Kicked it a few times to make sure all the gas was out of the lines before wheeling the thing up onto my patio from the wooded trails....What can I do for simple winterization? This stabilizer in the full tank of gas? Clean the bike? I know there is a thread on this, but I'm more concerned about the gas due to the fact that I couldn't empty the bike completely when riding this evening. You can still hear there is gas still sloshing around...and I don't need the gas to gunk up into the carb/lines/whatever. What can I do guys? I trust you all the best. You'e all helped me before, and this is where I come for all issues!

-Ben  
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03 Cr85r Expert.

Unfortunately, I can't help you with this...never had to winterize anything in california before...

but i wanted to say Happy Birthday!!!  Hope it's a great one!  
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"Only the desert has a fascination to ride alone in the sun in the forever unpossessed country away from man. That is a great temptation."
--D.H. Lawrence

The gas you hear is the gas in the tank. If you ran it with the gas off then the carb and engine will be empty of all gas. You can dissconnect teh fuel line going from the gas tank to the carb and then turn the petcock on and the rest of the gas in the gas tank will pour out.  

for myself...not even owning a dirt bike for a year yet (bought my bike dec 15th 2007) I really dont want to touch any lines and mess anything up. I'm not a very good technical person, so I thought maybe the stabilizer and a full tank might be the best option.

-Ben  
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03 Cr85r Expert.

nah, empty the tank, its super super easy. just find the hose coming off the on/off petcock and take that off, it should be a hose clamp that just needs to be loosened. just like elko said. turn the petcock off while taking the hose off though, then direct the hose into your jerry can, turn the petcock on and all the gas in your tank will pour out into your jerry can.

heres what I was told to do in the winter:

1. put your bike on the stand so theres no pressure on the suspension for 6 months while it sits there.

2. empty your oils out.

3. empty gas out

4. take chain off (I wont be doing this one)

5. I think this might be for 2 stroks only: put a drop of oil into the spar plug hole or something?!

6. air out your tires.

and thats all I know to do, I would also like to learn more as winter is coming soon for me too, and our winters are not nice  
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05 crf450r

39.4 hours on the hour meter, more to come!

Do NOT drain the oil or rad! And do NOT take the air out of your tires! If anything you over inflate them alittle.
Use the search we went into this a billion times.  
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DIABETES SUX!

If you need help with draing the gas i will put a pic step by step to help. I have to start my bike tomorow and will re drain the tank and bowl.
REALLY easy.  
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DIABETES SUX!

MM , don't pass on hear say that is wrong.  
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DIABETES SUX!

I am a newb myself so I don't want to give advice, but I can tell you my experiences in regards your stabilizer question... One year I drained my tank and had issues the following spring with gas leaking from my petcock... someone told me it was because the seals can dry out and crack.  Next year I filled the tank, and used gas stabilizer.... no leaks, started on the third kick.  The bike lives through winters of -30C.  
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WAFNIA!

BC
01 YZ 125
02 RM 85
99 KX 80
87 DR 200

I was posting at the same time as Woods... He has WAY more experience than me... listen to him.  I don't know if what I did was right or wrong, I just wanted to let you know what happened when I did it.  
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WAFNIA!

BC
01 YZ 125
02 RM 85
99 KX 80
87 DR 200

Your right Spidy they can. But had to be old to begin with. And a 5 min fix. I use stablizer as well. But not over the winter. You want that fuel out of there. And you want the fluids IN to protect from the same and condensation and if it goes below freezing.  
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DIABETES SUX!

Woods. You mean leave the coolant alone?  


2 strokin till I die. Which I hope aint soon.

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS

1994 CR80

yzwoods:
Your right Spidy they can. But had to be old to begin with. And a 5 min fix. I use stablizer as well. But not over the winter. You want that fuel out of there. And you want the fluids IN to protect from the same and condensation and if it goes below freezing.

AH HA!!! How right you are... it happened on my mid 80's DR200 that had been sitting for years!!!  You're one fart smeller... I mean smart feller Woods!

I also wondered if the conditions had anything to do with it.  My bikes stay at 4000ft elevation all winter.  Very cold, but dry  
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WAFNIA!

BC
01 YZ 125
02 RM 85
99 KX 80
87 DR 200

Just do not drain, And if it gets to freezing where you are then bleed some out and add anti freez. I always used DEX COOL. And get the proper range. Its a 50/50 but will not freez. Any anti freez will do though.  
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DIABETES SUX!

My manual says to totally drain all coolant from the cylinder head and water pump for winter.  


2 strokin till I die. Which I hope aint soon.

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS

1994 CR80