Motorcycle Safety & Driveability: ducati, piston rings, combustion chamber

Question
Hi William
I have kept my 1992 model Ducati 907 ie outside under a canvas cover for over 6 months , and it's been cold!
I haven't learnt to ride it yet, and I've had to put my car in the garage at my house here in Leeds, England.
Do you think it will be ok? I mean - do you reckon it could get seized up?
Best wishes - Lindsay  

Answer
Lindsay,

Thanks for the question.

Any time you leave a motorcycle outside under a cover for an extended period of time, there are major problems that can occur. The worst enemy is moisture. Temperature fluctations and cold are not so terrible.

The biggest problem begins when the rings around the piston begin to rust (due to humidity) and bond to the cylinder wall. If this is allowed to happen for a long time (I'd say 6 months qualifies as a long time), the engine may not turn over when you push the start button. It is then "stuck" (not seized). The cure is a complete engine rebuild and cylinder rebore. Not cheap or pretty.

If the engine does turn over and start, you still may have a problem. The rusted piston rings may "break free" of the cylinder wall, but the rings are now badly damaged and can not properly seal oil from seeping into the combustion chamber. The result is that your bike will smoke when it is running, either a little or a lot. Again, a rebuild, or at least a ring job, will be needed.

Certain other problems may be waiting for you. Have you kept the battery charged and full of distilled water for the last six months? If not, it is probably dead by now and will no longer hold a charge. You will need to replace it. Putting it on a charger will not bring it back to life.

You are lucky in that your 907 IE has fuel injection. You don't need to worry about gummed up carburetors.

Last of all, covered motorcycles left outside make an ideal home for all sorts of critters: spiders, small rodents and even cats have been know to make their homes under bodywork, inside exhaust pipes or under the windscreen. Check your bike carefully to make sure you don't have any stowaways.

The easist way to get an idea of what kind of shape your bike is in is to try and get it started. If the battery is dead, get a new one and charge it according to the instructions. Install it in the bike and see if it will start. If it does, let it warm up completely (that should take 15 minutes or so). If it does not smoke and seems to run OK when you turn the throttle, you may have gotten off lucky. If you try to start it and it just ticks or the lights go dim, most likely the engine is stuck and will need major service. If it will not stop smoking, you will still need major service.

In the future, I highly recommend you do not leave a bike outside as you have. Clear a corner in your garage and keep a cover on your Ducati. Put the lawnmower or other items outside if you must make room. Every weekend, go out, start the bike up up, let it get fully warm, and check all the brakes, lights, and so forth for proper operation. Keep it full of gas and oil. This keeps the motor fresh and keeps rust from forming in the tank.

But the best thing you can do to keep your bike in good shape is to ride it. Take a motorcycle instruction class and get started putting some miles on the bike (provided it still runs). You may want to get it to a Ducati dealer, tell them how its been stored and have them look it over. They may be able to spot or hear problems they can catch early and fix before real disaster strikes.

Best of luck and ride carefully.

Cheers from your friend in the United States,

Bill Roberson
Portland, Oregon, USA
www.greatoldbikes.com