Hey guys, this is gonna be my first winter with my bike up here in Alaska, yes I know,,,Alaska?? Summers here is beautiful and it gets till 90 degrees, in the other hand in winter it could get till -60 degrees my zx14 is in a garage but is not heated, and I'm afraid that all the fluids in the bike freeze,and cause a lot damage. I have been asking around and some people sayed I need to drain the bike, others sayed don't worry is ok what should I do?

I'd call Kawasaki and ask their rep....I don't think anything will freeze...but that's damn low temps...why chance it if ya don't know for sure.Cover her with a big thick blankie....keep the battery tended...THAT could freeze for sure...and I'd remove it from the bike as well...you don't want it cracking and ruining you baby.Maybe leave your radiator cap off...and your reservoirs(clutch/brake-rear res also)'drained'(suck out with a turkey baster or something) down to the lower level mark on there....but replace the caps..just in case that fluid does start to freeze and expand.Long as it has somewhere to expand(up the line)...it should be fine.

I'd remove the rear wheel...and grease the bearings extra greased(along with the seals)....And reinstall the wheel.Same with yer chain...good greasing all the way in the rollers and all.

Definitely change the oil...new filter also.Fill to normal..start,run for a minute or so...shut off....leave capped.

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 9/14/2012 @ 9:16 AM *

Make sure to check the freezing temp of your coolant. If anything freezes in your cooling system it will probably crack the crankcase!

Mad

Thanks I'm totally calling a Kawasaki rep see what they recommend,and totally considering doing what you guys sayed, thanks

* Last updated by: yohaneg on 9/14/2012 @ 10:00 PM *

I have never had to contend with temperatures that low, thats brutal.

Also, ask the folks you know, there. They keep their cars own the road year round, don't they? So they know about antifreeze.

To put it up for winter, if you have antifreeze in it which is good to -80 or lower, then just make sure you have fresh in it when you put it up.

If you aren't on synthetic oil yet, get on it, and put fresh in before you put it up.

Make sure all your hydraulic fluid is filled to the lines.

Clean the chain, wax it, do the normal stuff.

Put the battery on a float charger (e.g., Battery Tender Plus or Jr.) and you should be good to go.

Back in the 1970s I kept a Kawasaki H1 (and later, a H2) in the barn at my girlfriend's parents farm near West Point, NY and Newburgh, NY. It didn't get -60 there, but it got -10 at times when the wind whipped across the fields, and all I did was have my girlfriend start it every day after school and let it run 15 minutes. It was fine.

And yes, while I was at West Point I was dating a 16 year old girl who was still in high school. My only mistake, the worst I ever made in my life, was not marrying her. We'd be riding together today if I had. She loved my motorcycles, and used to ride the H1 around on the farm and county roads when ever she could get away with it.

-60

I wouldn't chance it in the garage. Open front door, wheel her in right beside the coffee table. It will make an excellent conversation piece.

Kawasaki antifreeze coolant is good to -34F. Possibly it would turn to slush below that (maybe -35 to -40??) but if it gets too low, the coolant will expand/solidify and bust stuff. Hopefully just the radiator. Cracked engine obviously will make your first day of Spring suck horribly.

yohan, if you want to take a risk, perhaps invest in a block warmer. Basically a heavy duty water resistant heating pad. Put that under the bike or in the fairing. ...oir just get a plain old heating pad at the drug store. VCover the bike up with a blanket to trap the heat. See how warm it stays on one of your normal nights to estimate how the block warmer will fair on the really cold nights. In a garage, it will prolly stay about 15-20 degrees warmer than outside just from the walls and earth heat.

* Last updated by: Rook on 10/17/2012 @ 9:30 PM *

My Hayabusa SM says to richen up the antifreeze for colder storage.

Suz antifreeze is good to -31F mixed 50% distilled water/50% Suz antifreeze coolant.
-40F go to 55%
-67F go to 60% antifreeze.

PITA to have to drain the system. I might try sucking some out the radiator filler neck then pour a bit of pure anti-freeze in. Run the motor let cool. then test with your ball floater sucker baster. Add real gradual. A couple oz of anti freeze might make a lot of difference in the ratio. Use only distilled water. 1$/gallon.

* Last updated by: Rook on 10/19/2012 @ 6:09 PM *