Opinions on un-weighting front suspension during Winter storage?

[bikerchris1270]

Winter is fast approaching in the Midwest…… storage question…… any opinion on unweighting the front suspension while in storage over the winter?

[Little Blue]

Winter is fast approaching in the Midwest…… storage question…… any opinion on unweighting the front suspension while in storage over the winter?

Not sure what you mean by this statement.
Have you done something like this in the past?
Are planning to store for more than a year?
Over to you/your thoughts. .....

[Flier Tuck]

For storing my Spyder over winter I use my Big Blue lift. I know it is an expensive option but I purchased it originally for my Gold Wing and it can be configured for a large variety of bikes, and is ideal for working on the Spyder as it is very safe. Also I read that certain parts of the USA suffer with "critter" attacks in storage. The Big Blue standing on only one leg should be very easy to "Critter" proof.
Alan.

[FrogmanDave]

Not sure what you mean by this statement.
Have you done something like this in the past?
Are planning to store for more than a year?
Over to you/your thoughts. .....

I am wondering the same thing?

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

I am wondering the same thing?

He is referring to ..... lifting the front of the Spyder so the wheels are not on the ground. .... This will remove any pressure of the Springs ...... JMHO .... Mike

[bikerchris1270]

He is referring to ..... lifting the front of the Spyder so the wheels are not on the ground. .... This will remove any pressure of the Springs ...... JMHO .... Mike

That’s correct, help eliminate some spring sag.

[bigbadbrucie]

I have never done that, however I did always put the front and rear tire on a 2 x 6 plank so that the rubber was off the concrete over the winter...supposedly helped to prevent rot of the rubber by keeping them off the concrete. I don’t do that anymore as now I’m only down maybe 2 months.

[Garf]

I put my Spyder on auto wheel Dolly's. That way I can move it around the shop without having to start it.
Also makes it easy to "tuck it in a corner"

[Little Blue]

Not sure what you mean by this statement.
Have you done something like this in the past?
Are planning to store for more than a year?
Over to you/your thoughts. .....

Just wanted to know if you are doing the front end unweighting? I'm not sure if any issues are going to be a problem either way. Just thinking about this, seems maybe another over thinking issue.

Your Spyder, so do what makes you feel good.

Stay Healthy. ....

[SLICE]

i'll make sure and ride some extra miles for you guys that get snowed in or frozen in.

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

Just wanted to know if you are doing the front end unweighting? I'm not sure if any issues are going to be a problem either way. Just thinking about this, seems maybe another over thinking issue.

Your Spyder, so do what makes you feel good.

Stay Healthy. ....

Well the tires could get FLAT spots, over the winter or long extended periods of dormancy ..... I keep my Spyder in my heated basement, I also fill the auto ties to their MAX .... This has worked since 09..... Mike

[Peacekeeper6]

I say, do whatever you think makes you sleep better at night.

I also say, your Spyder doesn't really weigh all that much and doing all that extra stuff is needless if it's only going to be stored a couple of months, so ....

[Cobwebs]

Just a guess but wouldn't whacking a dirty big pothole at full noise do about 40 years spring collapse versus just sitting in the shed.

[bigbadbrucie]

I say it's only going to be stored a couple of months, so ....

That’s certainly open for debate..

We don’t all live in a temperate climate......ARtraveler used to live in Alaska, I used to live on the Alaska Highway, and we both had a lot more down time than a couple of months....I used to be down for 6 months....EVERY YEAR!

[FrogmanDave]

I certainly wouldn't worry about it but if you are, then jack that sucker up. I certainly can't see it hurting anything.

[Mikey]

[pauly1]

Whether stored over winter, as up north, or ridden 12 months a year, as down south, I've not heard of spring collapse on these machines. What can happen is the tires may develop flat spots from the extended sitting. Most would not be permanent given a few months duration. When we lived "up north", I made cradles for the tires by modifying Northern Tool furniture dollies for mobility in my garage and getting the tires off the concrete. I normally run 25 psi in all three OEM Kenda tires but would increase for the winter to 35 psi. If it were me, and not having to move the Spyder during the winter, I'd place a wide enough board under each tire for full support of the tire contact patch and increase the tire pressure to 35 psi, regardless of tire brand and what your 'normal' tire pressure setting is.