Steps to start a bike after keeping it parked for 18 months

I finally have time to think about getting my bike back to business.

BHPian nayan_ncr recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Issue: My bike has been parked since December 2019, without even an engine start. I got ill back then and after Corona crisis and lockdown, my bike was parked in my work location flat for almost 1 year with me working from home.

When I finally got the bike picked up and got it to my native place, it did not start (obvious) and the battery was dead. Now fast forward, it's still in the same condition as the past few months were very tough due to Corona and illness and now, I finally have time to think about getting my bike back to business.

• Model: Pulsar Rs 200 (2015)
• Insurance: Zero dep with engine coverage
• Engine (bike) idle since: Dec 2019 (18 months)

Next steps? Please suggest what I should do now. What I was thinking first was to get the battery replaced with a new one (as it had already started showing signs of being run out in late 2019), but not sure about the major component, i.e. the engine.

Will a normal service suffice (highly doubt) and what should be the best steps? I would really like to know what to do from experienced members or someone who knows the best in this situation.

Here's what BHPian Jaggu had to say on the matter:

If you plan to do it yourself:

Step 1 - Fill air, inspect the tyres. Get it cleaned cosmetically with a good wash.

Step 2 - Remove battery, give it for charging or get a new battery.

Step 3 - Drain the fuel tank and fill fresh petrol.

Step 4 - Ideally replace the engine oil and filter and clean the spark plugs and air filter.

Step 5 - Do some fuel pump priming (switching on the ignition without using starter few times) and fire her up.

If this is carbed bike, most likely you will need to do a carb clean up as Step 5.

If you plan to give to the workshop, ask them to do a complete service and attend to the battery and new fuel. All of the above should be taken care of.

BHPian Agarwal_Aayush recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I myself had the same issue with my Apache bike last year. The bike was at my friend's place for an year and had not been started due to Covid. The issue found in my bike was clogged fuel line and the fuel switch was corroded. Cleaned the fuel line and changed the fuel switch and the bike came back to life.

Try checking these two things as well along with the steps mentioned bu Jaggu.

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