Are new bikes ok left in the crate over time ? - Horizons Unlimited

**spica** · #1 29 Mar 2006

---THis is probably a dumb question but i have an option to buy a '2005 KLR that's been in the crate as shipped by the factory for probably 2 years now; any problems with moving parts seizing or 'drying out' ? Don't laugh but I thought i'd ask first. thanx

**Riq** · #2 29 Mar 2006

Some of the best bikes I have owned have been bought new in the crate 2 or 3 years old.

I think that it would take a long time in very adverse conditions to damage the bike while still packaged.

**mmclaughlin** · #3 19 Apr 2006

My "first" bike was a 1982 Yamaha 400 Seca, which had been bought new in 1987. Just about every part in a bike is designed to be able to sit on a shelf as a spare for quite some time. My bet would be that the bike in the crate will be in better shape than one delivered, but left in a nice garage for the same time. Except for a possible color difference (if they changed since 2005), you likely won't be able to tell it from brand new unless you look at the frame stickers.

Matthew

**Bill Ryder** · #4 19 Apr 2006

It would be a good idea to flush out the carbs before trying to start the bike. Fill up the tank with fresh gas and drain some thru the drain screw on the bottom of the carb. In the eightys yamaha developed a carb cleaner just to deal with the vast number of bikes that sat around for 3 to 5 years before being run. A lot of those bikes are still running today. I just sold a yamaha that had sat for two years. I had charged it's maintenance free battery once a month for two years...the battery was still good and the bike ran perfectly.