Embarassed and a Shame

[crashtap]

I own a 2005 R1200RT, bought new at that time. Since then, I have posted only 5,000 miles. Yes, that's right, 5,000.

 

I have been busy with a very successful business, I'm 57, and I am convinced I will eventually have time to ride, but a cage is still most pratical currently. Not even time on weekends.

 

Been owning cycles since 1969, don't want to let go. My question: what is hurting my motorcycle by lack of use?

 

I regularly charge the battery, I get out and ride maybe once a month, wide open highway for at least an hour. I just had the 6,000 service performed last year. The battery is new last year.

 

Would it be better for the bike to go to an owner that can ride regularly, and buy a bike when I am ready to ride? Or can I assume that I am not hurting the bike? I live in SE Wisconsin.

[Jerry Duke]

Anything rubber, seals, etc. would be suspect. If you didn't change the oil/trans gear oil/FD gear oil, and the brake fluid, then any moisture in them has been sitting, which isn't good for the fluid or the metal.

You really need to ride it or sell it, or drain everything and put it in a humidity controlled storage room.

I would sell it, then when you're ready to get back into riding you can buy something current and not have to worry about the possible damage the years of sitting has maybe caused.

[David R]

Buy a brand new bike. It will renew your riding pleasure....

 

David

 

Edit: If you do, can I buy your old one?

[bigwally]

I know how you feel, although its my '02 330i that is under-used with only 20k miles, a real pristine garage queen. Somehow I find time to ride my 12RT and dirt bike though! Since I hope to be retired in approx 1 year (perhaps better described as less than fully employed) and moving to the mountains, I figure I'll have time to both drive the car and ride the bike(s), so I'm reluctant to take the depreciation hit on the car now when I'm this close to being able to more fully utilize it, and in an area with nearly endless mountain roads to explore at high speeds regardless of which mount comes out of the stable. For this reason the car is probably worth more to me than to a buyer. At least that's how I've rationalized keeping it.

[tsp]

David has good advise... buy a new bike to renew your interest in riding.

 

But if you keep the bike I would

1) use plenty of vinyl & rubber protectant (use the good stuff).

2) change the oils often (2X a year).

3) change the other fluids at least yearly.

 

You should also replace the tires as they tend to dry and crack (do NOT use #1 product listed above on the tires!!!).

 

Also, when you do ride the bike try to ride no less than 30 minutes. You want to get the oils hot.

 

Keep your gas tank full that way there is less chance of water getting into your gas.

 

Good luck in whatever you do. Someone will love a 2005 with only 5,000 miles. It's not even broken in.

 

tsp

 

[JayW]

Larry Grodsky was a proponent of riding at least 5000 miles per year in order to keep your skills up to snuff. Since you are not doing that, your safety on the road has perhaps been compromised. It's another factor to consider.

 

Jay

[tsp]

+1!!! I forgot about this. I feel the difference even when I'm off the bike for 2 weeks. Takes a short ride to get the sea legs back (I'm an old rider though).

 

tsp

 

Larry Grodsky was a proponent of riding at least 5000 miles per year in order to keep your skills up to snuff. Since you are not doing that, your safety on the road has perhaps been compromised. It's another factor to consider.

 

Jay

[motoguy128]

Larry Grodsky was a proponent of riding at least 5000 miles per year in order to keep your skills up to snuff. Since you are not doing that, your safety on the road has perhaps been compromised. It's another factor to consider.

 

Jay

 

How about just a minimum of 100 hours on 2 wheels. I ride my bicycle about 1000-1500 miles per year, but my motorcycle will only see about 2000. But thats about 50-70 hours on the bicycle and 40-50 on the motorcycle.

 

 

 

For hte OP, it sounds like it's still getting ridden regularly. OS I wouldn;t worry too mcuh abotu it. Just stay on top of regular maintenance and pay close attention to the time intervals rather tha nthe mileage. For example oil should be changed annually. Brake fluid is every 2 or 3 years, gear box and final drive probably every 3 years or so. Probably worth getting hte vavels checked and TB sych done every 3 years in case the cables have seated a little.

 

Hopefully you've kept stabilizer in the fuel all the time and every time you top off the tank.

 

I think tires shold be changed after about 5 years regardless of mileage.

[ragtoplvr]

Oils, gear and motor contain additives to keep the seals soft.

 

These additives slowly evaporate. So you MUST do an annual all fluids change.

 

Brake fluid absorbs water. Inside in a garage, better than outside. BUT still do at lease a semi annual brake fluid change.

 

Try to buy alcohol free gas. Indian reservations around here have it. Use stabil. The marine is rumored to be best, I have not had a failure of the red stuff.

 

Keep the sunlight off. Store on center stand, with block so both tires are off the concrete.

 

Rod

[motoguy128]

Oils, gear and motor contain additives to keep the seals soft.

 

These additives slowly evaporate. So you MUST do an annual all fluids change.

 

Brake fluid absorbs water. Inside in a garage, better than outside. BUT still do at lease a semi annual brake fluid change.

 

Rod

 

I think changing the oil in the gearbox and final drive annually is a little excessive. Those components don't heat cycle the same way the oil in the engine does.

 

Most garages are just as humid as outdoors, unless you have A/C in the garage. Actually, because it's shaded, the relative humidity may be higher on average than out in a parking lot in the sun.

 

 

[Survived-til-now]

In the current market it is going to be a really poor return on your investment if you sell it. The ultra-low mileage will only help a little. If you sell it you won't ride at all and worse, you'll be way out of currency riding wise when you do get back on......

 

Slightly worried that once a month for an hour is neither here nor there in terms of keeping you current nor working the bits on the bike. Is it one hour on a highway or one hour in traffic in a town? In the first only the engine is working, in the second all the bits are gettingto work - brakes, gearbox, you!

 

Lots of bikes only have a few thousand a year on them and my advice would be to keep it out of the elements (i.e. in a garage), change the fluids at the same intervals as the maintenance schedule where time is specified, oil once a year (not so sure about FD & gearbox), keep the gas tank full and add the stabiliser when you fill up. If you don't ride at least once a month consider rotating the wheels to avoid flatspots.

 

I know the frustration from a slightly different viewpoint. When I was working I got to ride (commute) now I am hit by the recession I am spending too much time looking at the bike on the driveway! But hopefully, that won't last for ever.....

[Lineareagle]

Sell it, the cost of maintaining and insuring it is an amount you can squirrel away until you can take time to ride.

Then you will have funds to take a rider course, get a new bike with all the upgrades and advances and really get out and enjoy riding.

 

The fact you posted this means it ways on your mind and eventually you will ride because you feel you have to and that ain't good.

 

If you are that busy with your business then even when you are riding, for the obligatory maintenance run, you must be thinking about it, you need four wheels under you if you are at all distracted while riding.

 

$0.02

[Indy Dave]

just to keep the coin tossing, I'd say keep it if the only reason you want to get rid of it is because of non-riding issues. (not financial, etc)

 

Might be you need to set aside time in your schedule to ride - it will do you wonders to clear your mind and think about something else for a while and will probably help you get a fresh prospective on lots of issues in general. Getting into the habit of giving yourself a break and a treat can't hurt!

[SWB]

Buy a brand new bike. It will renew your riding pleasure....

 

David

 

Edit: If you do, can I buy your old one?

 

+1

 

Don't quit. Don't ever quit.

 

Also, why not commute with the bike? Whatever excuse you develop (e.g. carrying a laptop, need to use the cellphone, carrying dress clothes to the gym in the AM on the way to work, etc.) can be overcome with a little cash. It's probably because you're not used to commuting on a motorcycle. It's like anything else - configure, setup, test, and implement. Try commuting with the bike for a few months. I put so many miles (over 2K miles) a month into commuting it kind of ruins the Beemer as a recreational vehicle, but it does wonders for your perspective on the way to work.

 

Better yet - DO NOT enable bluetooth and your cell. Leave that time on the way to work as your private thought time - your mental preparation time to just focus on the road. It'll make you a better owner/CEO - trust me.

 

Scott

[NewBlue]

I'd keep it, change the oil once a year, keep an eye on the tires, etc.

 

I asked a friend of mine many years ago why he bought a bike if he only rides it a few hundred miles a year, his answer "it's there when I want it" to me that was the perfect answer.

 

Your bike is there when you want it, simple as that.

[Username]

 

I have been busy with a very successful business, I'm 57, and I am convinced I will eventually have time to ride, but a cage is still most pratical currently. Not even time on weekends.

 

I live in SE Wisconsin.

 

May I respectably suggest the following?

Get out of the business, go riding. You're 57 already!

 

[Green RT]

I don't see any problem. You have a bike you enjoy riding occasionally. You ride it when you can or want to. All you need to do is go to a maintenance schedule driven by time rather than miles, say a 6,000 mile maintenance semiannually, and a 12,000 mile maintenance annually. So what if your mileage doesn't match some preconceived idea.

[crashtap]

What fantastic input everyone, and thanks. I feel a bit better.

 

I did recognize the importance of the brake fluid, I had it flushed and replaced last year. I'll take into account the other great advice here.

 

One of you nailed it on the head: it does weigh on me. I love even looking at that beauty, and it pains me not to be riding. I think the best advice is to keep it because there will come a time soon when I can ride more.

[VinnyR11]

I don't see any problem. You have a bike you enjoy riding occasionally. You ride it when you can or want to. All you need to do is go to a maintenance schedule driven by time rather than miles, say a 6,000 mile maintenance semiannually, and a 12,000 mile maintenance annually. So what if your mileage doesn't match some preconceived idea.

 

+1 If your only concern is "are you hurting the bike", you're not. As long as the maintenance time schedules are kept the bike has no issue.