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General => Technical | How To => Topic started by: wkreps on December 09, 2015, 02:31:39 PM

Title: Reliable Winter Starting
Post by: wkreps on December 09, 2015, 02:31:39 PM
Just wondering what you do to make sure your scooter is tip-top for winter riding. One of the reason I upgraded to a bigger scooter is fuel injection. I heard it should start right up in the cold weather. So what do you do to make sure that when it is 20F out there that when you go to crank it up, you get a reliable start. Here's what I'm thinking:

1. Synthetic oils
2. Good battery
3. Iridium Spark plug

Would non ethanol fuel help? Anything else?
Title: Re: Reliable Winter Starting
Post by: ScooterLar on December 09, 2015, 03:59:50 PM
I put "StarTron" fuel stabilizer in my gas and keep my battery on a Battery Tender.
Title: Re: Reliable Winter Starting
Post by: boo on December 09, 2015, 04:21:45 PM
I do what you do +

High test non ethanol gas

Sta-Bil

octane booster

battery tender

parked in garage

My wifes scoot has a carberator. My GT is fuel injected.
My GT starts easier after being parked for long periods.
Title: Re: Reliable Winter Starting
Post by: bluesin on December 09, 2015, 08:58:30 PM
1) Good battery

2) K-100 fuel treatment ( I keep some in my tank at ALL times)

3) Trickle charger/maintainer
Title: Re: Reliable Winter Starting
Post by: GLV55 on December 10, 2015, 02:44:28 AM
I do what you do +

High test non ethanol gas

Sta-Bil

octane booster

battery tender

parked in garage

My wifes scoot has a carberator. My GT is fuel injected.
My GT starts easier after being parked for long periods.
I also do what Boo says. My scooter is carbureted and it always starts right up when I take these precautions.
Title: Re: Reliable Winter Starting
Post by: Stig / Major Tom on December 10, 2015, 01:51:12 PM
I'm an hours ride from home on a cold foggy sunrise.
I trust my scooter to get me home.
I installed a more powerful yuasa battery...iridium NGK...I keep the tank full of only Top Tier gas to avoid condensation.
I use no magic goo in the tank. ...figuring the winter fuel blend of TT fuel is good for $80K BMW is good for my scooter.
Any home cooking I do to the fuel is probably not helping.
Only stabil if parked.
Main thing I do to keep scooter healthy is ride it regularly.
Also use oil weight specified by the owner manual wwith freq changes. Stig
Title: Re: Reliable Winter Starting
Post by: bluesin on December 11, 2015, 01:16:44 PM
I'm an hours ride from home on a cold foggy sunrise.
I trust my scooter to get me home.
I installed a more powerful yuasa battery...iridium NGK...I keep the tank full of only Top Tier gas to avoid condensation.
I use no magic goo in the tank. ...figuring the winter fuel blend of TT fuel is good for $80K BMW is good for my scooter.
Any home cooking I do to the fuel is probably not helping.
Only stabil if parked.
Main thing I do to keep scooter healthy is ride it regularly.
Also use oil weight specified by the owner manual wwith freq changes. Stig


I use no 'magic goo', either. My mechanic ( and reviews) rate K-100 to be a better choice than Sta-Bil, though. That is all they use in their personal vehicles and all the ones they sell and service ( motorcycles, scooters,snowmobiles, side-by-sides, ATVs, etc. ) . I will go with their advice and what they use.
Title: Re: Reliable Winter Starting
Post by: DMblues01 on December 16, 2015, 04:11:36 PM
I do nothing different in winter except a longer warm up.
I run middle grade fuel. Every 4th or 5th tank, I fill with high grade and an once of seafoam to keep the carb clean.
I have a normal NGK cr7hsa plug.
I run Rotela T6 5w-40 synthetic oil.
I've never used a battery tender once in almost 2 years, and never had a battery issue. Starts right up, even at 5F last winter.
I don't have a garage, so only a bike cover keeps the snow off.
I just ride all year and the scoot never sits longer than a couple days at a time.
My Super8 150 is a tough little beast!!

Duke- 8)
Title: Re: Reliable Winter Starting
Post by: blue on December 22, 2015, 01:31:52 AM
Stronger battery.
keep gas over half full
ngk plug
keep parked in a shed or garage.
let warm up befor take off.

Some times Ill switch carbs in the winter with bigger jets.
Title: Re: Reliable Winter Starting
Post by: Stig / Major Tom on December 22, 2015, 03:59:42 AM
...."I just ride all year and the scoot never sits longer than a couple days at a time."

I suspect that to be the #1 secret to successful winter riding!
(The rest I do to make myself feel better when I'm reaching for the starter button miles from home on a 15 degree Fahrenheit day.)
Stig