Leaving a motorbike (scooter) parked without riding it for how long before problems arise?

[bbi1]

Due to some circumstance, I need to leave my motorbike (scooter) parked in the grond level undercover carpark of my condo building, which has great ventilation, if that makes any difference. How long is it ok to leave it parked there without it being started or ridden before there could be a change of any slightest problems? The petrol in the petrol tank is practically nearly completely full. Would it be fine to not touch the bike at all for a month then start it up like normal and it would start and ride like normal?

[OneMoreFarang]

1 minute ago, bbi1 said:

Would it be fine to not touch the bike at all for a month then start it up like normal and it would start and ride like normal?

No problem.

If the battery is old or bad that could be a problem. Then just charge the battery or start the bike with a kick starter, if it has one.

If you stop it for a long time, then after a while the gasoline is not good anymore. In that case just drain it and replace it with new gasoline when you want to use the bike again.

[richard_smith237]

No worries whatsoever... I do this all the time, I leave my MC for Month, 6 weeks or more as I travel a lot and injury has prevented me from riding a lot this year so I've been using just the car.

The MC is sat outside now - I don't think I've touched it for a week.

90% full fuel tank - which is usually fine, no issues at all. 

 

I use a C-Tek battery tender to ensure the battery is always charged (kept in condition) as I also have a 'dash-cam' installed which has a very minor battery drain but its enough to take it below 'starting voltage' if I don't keep the battery in spec. 

 

I'm not sure how long it takes for the petrol to 'turn' (go bad) but I've not encountered that...  I suppose if there is some 'spluttering' and I put it down to the fuel I can empty the thank and add fresh fuel (which as its a solvent will mix with any of the older fuel without issue)... BUT... I've never needed to do that in 10 years of riding here and leaving my bike for a month or two on end.

[scubascuba3]

Some condos don't allow dumping a vehicle there for too long

[bbi1]

3 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

Some condos don't allow dumping a vehicle there for too long

It's not really dumping a vehicle there for too long if you actually live in the condo building 😂

[Celsius]

1 minute ago, bbi1 said:

It's not really dumping a vehicle there for too long if you actually live in the condo building 😂

 

Incorrect.

 

Some condos do actually have this rule.

[scubascuba3]

4 minutes ago, bbi1 said:

It's not really dumping a vehicle there for too long if you actually live in the condo building 😂

my condo wants to bring in a 2 month max rule

[dddave]

Just now, Celsius said:

 

Incorrect.

 

Some condos do actually have this rule.

Just ask your juristic office.  In my condo, they don't want long term unused bikes in the day to day parking area and want them in the garage.  Most condos have a section for long term storage as some owners will leave for 6 months or more.

[farang51]

I have left mine for 6 months at a time every year for 12 years. One year it could not start and I had to get it to a shop. It had been parked outside in all kind of weather at Suvarnabhumi Airport. The shop cleaned the sparks or something, cost me 120 baht.

One year the battery was dead, but that was not a problem as I have a kick start. Half of the years it has been parked outside with no roof, the other half under a roof. Honda Click 125i.

[Tropicalevo]

My Yamaha Neuvo - three days and I had to kick start it (hard work).

My Honda PCX - a month or two - no problems.

Friend had a small Yamaha Mio - terrible problems after just couple of days. He gave it away in the end.

[papa al]

A month or so no prob.

For several months

papa recommends filling tank with non-ETOL fuel,

i.e., pure gasoline,

which is more stable.

Also add a little oil in the gas to help thwart tank rusting.

Or not.

[bbi1]

5 minutes ago, papa al said:

A month or so no prob.

For several months

papa recommends filling tank with non-ETOL fuel,

i.e., pure gasoline,

which is more stable.

Also add a little oil in the gas to help thwart tank rusting.

Or not.

I always fill up the bike with 91. Is that considered pure gasoline?

[baansgr]

You will good for about 5 years

[biggles45]

I have an 7yr old Click 125, with a kickstarter, a main reason I bought it. I regularly leave it for 3 to 4 months, under cover. When I return I always start it with the KS, only needs 2 kicks or so, and I only use the KS for a few days when the engine is cold. 

It still has the original battery and the bike has only 6k on it, very low use and mostly around town. 

Previous bike was a 125cc Suzuki underbone, with a KS and got 8yrs from that battery as well. 

[hkt83100]

21 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

My Yamaha Neuvo - three days and I had to kick start it (hard work).

My Honda PCX - a month or two - no problems.

Friend had a small Yamaha Mio - terrible problems after just couple of days. He gave it away in the end.

That's what Yamaha is famous for. A neighbour has had some Yamahas for rent at his guesthouse and he always had a lot of problems to start them after standing longer than a week. No problem whatever with Honda or Kawasaki. If you got one of these keyless bikes, don't forget to disconnect the battery if not using the bike for a longer period.

[SunsetT]

22 hours ago, bbi1 said:

Due to some circumstance, I need to leave my motorbike (scooter) parked in the grond level undercover carpark of my condo building, which has great ventilation, if that makes any difference. How long is it ok to leave it parked there without it being started or ridden before there could be a change of any slightest problems? The petrol in the petrol tank is practically nearly completely full. Would it be fine to not touch the bike at all for a month then start it up like normal and it would start and ride like normal?

If there's good light but not necessarily direct sunlight you could leave it on a solar battery charger. I just left mine for 6 months and it started first time. The battery does need to be charged well so give it a good run before leaving it.

[NedR69]

You should be ok for a month or two.   Like already said, if the battery is not fresh, maybe 2 years already then it may not crank over and would need a charge.  

[thesetat2013]

You also may have flat tires but not from holes or getting old. When a bikes sits in one place for a long period of time the air will dissipate. If it happens you will need ot fill the air before riding it. If you ride on the flat then you may cause damage to the tube inside. 

[bbi1]

3 hours ago, hkt83100 said:

That's what Yamaha is famous for. A neighbour has had some Yamahas for rent at his guesthouse and he always had a lot of problems to start them after standing longer than a week. No problem whatever with Honda or Kawasaki. If you got one of these keyless bikes, don't forget to disconnect the battery if not using the bike for a longer period.

Mine is a keyless Yamaha Aerox 155. Hoping everything will be all good for up to a month if it's not started up and ridden.

[bradiston]

1 hour ago, thesetat2013 said:

You also may have flat tires but not from holes or getting old. When a bikes sits in one place for a long period of time the air will dissipate. If it happens you will need ot fill the air before riding it. If you ride on the flat then you may cause damage to the tube inside. 

Agree. I left my bike for 2 months recently. Both tyres flat on return. Maybe leaky valve. But I have a small portable tyre inflator (from Lazada. USB chargeable). The battery had just enough left to get it started.

[quake]

 Top it off with fuel.

Disconnect the battery.

Over inflate the tires.

Put it on center stand.

Job done.

[GordonP]

We regularly leave three bikes from April through to October. The two Honda's usually start first time. The Suzuki battery is always flat. 

This last time however rodents had a good gnaw at the wiring on one of Honda's (and all the  windscreen washer pipes on the car) so we are rethinking our strategy. Never had an issue with fuel going stale but it does evaporate.

[scubascuba3]

15 minutes ago, quake said:

Top it off with fuel.

i remember someone wrote on here use 95 rather than 91 if leaving for a while

[quake]

2 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

i remember someone wrote on here use 95 rather than 91 if leaving for a while

cant see why it would make any difference on a small scooter.

 

 

[scubascuba3]

Just now, quake said:

cant see why it would make any difference on a small scooter.

 

 

I can't remember but it sounded plausible at the time, something about the fuel pump

[quake]

11 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

I can't remember but it sounded plausible at the time, something about the fuel pump

 

Scooters are bullet proof, it will be fine.

left my one for 11 months, started first time on the starter. at the time 10 year old  Honda wave.

 

Ps, Did the same with my car, a  Honda City, but did not put it on a center stand. 

 

 

 

[cowellandrew]

5 minutes Thai mice get in and eat the wiring loom!

 

🤔

[quake]

7 minutes ago, cowellandrew said:

5 minutes Thai mice get in and eat the wiring loom!

 

🤔

 

The cats at my condo the security guards feed,  sort that problem out,

nice snacks for them. 

 

 

 

 

[keithcresswell]

I've just returned to Thailand after 5 months. I reconnected the battery and my PCX started first time. The tyres were virtually flat but other than that the bike has been fine. I had left the tank full, by the way.

[Lacessit]

8 hours ago, papa al said:

A month or so no prob.

For several months

papa recommends filling tank with non-ETOL fuel,

i.e., pure gasoline,

which is more stable.

Also add a little oil in the gas to help thwart tank rusting.

Or not.

Don't think I can agree with papa al.

 

Pure gasoline has no capacity to cope with any condensation of water in the tank, which will occur with cycling between night and day.

 

The bigger the temperature differential between the two, the more potential for condensation.

 

Fuels with ethanol in them are more capable of forming a ternary single phase of fuel. Ethanol is no more unstable than hydrocarbons.

 

I used to store on old sedan as a hunting vehicle for 6- 9 months on a farm in outback New South Wales. Temperature extremes between frosts and 50 C. First thing I did when starting up was add a pint of methylated spirits ( ethanol ) to the gas tank.

 

A squirt of ether in the air intake, started every time and ran smooth as silk for the rest of my stay.