When you winterize your bike, you have to think about the gas tank. It should take you between an hour or two to get your bike's gas tank properly winterized. First of all, you'll want to run your bike for one last time. Don't worry about the roads possibly being too snowy or salty, because you'll be washinig your bike before the final lock-down for the winter season.
Ride your bike all over, and get a really nice ride out of it. If you do this during the autumn season, you should be sure to take your camera and get some nice fall foliage pictures. Before you arrive at your final destination (where you'll be storing your bike), stop in at the gas station and fill 'er up. If you want to make sure that your gasoline and gas stabilizer solution extra well, put the stabilizer in the bike just before you refill the tank. You want to make sure to store your bike on a full tank, so make sure it is your last and closest stop before you reach the storage facility.
This bike ride is crucial, as you'll want to make sure that the bike is good and hot. Keep the bike at the right operating temperature for a good, long period of time. The minimum of twenty minutes should be a guideline before taking your bike to the gas station. This will make sure that no moisture is in the tank as well as making sure the oil is hot enough to get the by-products of combustion easier to be removed when you do your oil change on your bike.
If you've decided to wait on adding the stabilizer in your bike's gas tank, do so as soon as you get back. Run your bike for another good five minutes if you have waited to add the stabilizer so that you know that it's gone through your bike's entire system. Be sure not to do this in an enclosed space, as carbon monoxide fumes will escape and can be deadly. An important note for those who need their bike to be nice and chromed--keeping the engine running while sitting still will discolor your pipes.
It is very important to stabilize your gasoline in your bike before winterizing, because the compounds which make up gasoline will eventually harden and turn into sludge. This will muck up your carburators and cause them not to work. Stabilizer will help greatly in the prevention of this.
