Where do you store your bike when you're not riding?

Penguini66 · 04-11-2007, 12:49 PM

Subject asks the question:

Where do you store your bike when you're not riding? (garage, carport, outside, etc...)

Use a bike cover?

Where do you store it for the winter?

Since I don't have a garage, I park mine outside in the elements all year long. In the winter, I moved it down back under our deck. Amazingly, I'm surprised that it doesn't look any worse off. I truly expected it to rust in place over the winter but it doesn't look any worse today than it looked last fall when I propped it up on a milk crate under the deck.

I thought about bringing it inside for the winter but really don't have the room in the basement. Need to throw some stuff out this summer to make room for it next winter.

I figured this bike was pretty much a throw-away so I wasn't that worried about taking nice care of it. But as reliable as it has been, now I'm starting to get a bit attached to it and might actually move it into the basement next winter or at least invest in a cover for it for the winter months.

I ride/commute 4-5 days a week rain or shine(as long as it is warm enough) on the bike so its not like it isn't going to get rained on and rust. It started rusting in small places(like the plastic covers' bolts/screws) almost immediately after assembly but has seemed to slow down or nearly come to a stop.

molypod · 04-11-2007, 12:56 PM

In the garage in front of the car which is in front of the truck in the driveway.

Pull truck out park it elsewhere...pull car out enough to get bike past the front of car on its way out of the garage.
fire up bike to idle, pull car back in and close garage.. pull truck back into driveway go get changed and

YES! I'm ready to ride

Whe I get home I do it all over again to get bike back in :(

Penguini66 · 04-11-2007, 01:12 PM

I usually walk out the front door with jacket and helmet already on. About 10 steps to the bike. Get on, insert key, kick a few times (battery hasn't worked since day one), and off I go.

Savage · 04-11-2007, 01:33 PM

You could squirt some oil all over it this winter to help with rusting.

red2003 · 04-11-2007, 01:42 PM

I voted "in the garage", but this winter it'll be in an unheated poll barn. I will change the oil, drain the gas, pull the battery, spray metal parts down with wd40, rubber parts with armorall, and throw the cover over it. Then wait 5 months before I can ride it again :( .

allfunmotorsport · 04-11-2007, 01:42 PM

3500sqft toybox(work shop)Its allmost full but there will always be room for my bikes

Penguini66 · 04-11-2007, 01:53 PM

Looks like, so far, that I'm the only idiot that stores his outside. But, you guys think the Chinese have garages over in China?

ImEazy · 04-11-2007, 01:59 PM

I keep mine in the garage. This place had a POS one car when I moved in.
Had it torn down and a three car built (had a four car at my last house).
The worst thing about it is it isn't insulated or heated. Colder inside than
outside in the winter. I'm gonna try and get it insulated before next winter.
Here's a pic after eight hours of spring cleaning a couple weeks ago.

I have a cover for it as well, but it never made it on the bike. Just wipe the
dust off and ride.

Penguini66 · 04-11-2007, 02:05 PM

A heated garage. 8O Now that's spoiling the thing. Heck, that's just plain spoiled. I once installed a turbo kit and full exhaust on my Focus outside on a gravel driveway in the snow.

ImEazy · 04-11-2007, 02:31 PM

I've done my fair share of working outside as well. My truck has never seen
the garage and has a bad starter. I usually have to crawl under it and bang
on it a couple times a week to get it working again. Too cheap to spend over
$100 on a new one. I wish I could afford to heat it, but some insulation would
be nice.

One day I plan to build a garage with living quarters in it as well. Who needs
a house? I have a little less than six years until my son is eighteen!

I did try a portable carport this winter but it didn't work very well under
heavy snow condition. Live and learn...

allfunmotorsport · 04-11-2007, 02:34 PM

PRICELESS

Akonababe · 04-11-2007, 02:50 PM

I voted in the garage but actually it is under the house in our shop area, about the same as a gargage. We have vog from the volcano here and it eats metal up really bad.

TheOtherRide · 04-11-2007, 03:36 PM

Carport...and I am soooo glad to have that! I've done more backyard mechanic stuff than I care to mention (Don't CV joints SUCK? And don't get me started on battery cables...)

pumpkin · 04-11-2007, 04:55 PM

i'm torn in the summer i use my porch as a bike port , but in the winter i use my basement as a bike garage. i guess since it's under the porch more i'll go with bike port.

justjoe · 04-11-2007, 05:54 PM

Only have a one car garage and the MG resides there as they are famous
For rusting.
The Suzuki shares space with the MG,The Viva will go in a Porto-Garage from Harbor Freight that I have and Share that space with my Corvette
(fiberglass doesn't rust)

I am sort of the Poor man's Elvis I need a Garage but no$$$ to build it

Oh well

BTW My Van and the misses car are just outside

Joe V

And yes Paulie CV joints do suck!

View Poll Results: Where do you store your bike when you're not riding?
In the garage?	26	76.47%
Under the carport?	4	11.76%
Outside but with a cover?	1	2.94%
Outside in the elements?	3	8.82%
Voters: 34. You may not vote on this poll

04-11-2007, 12:49 PM	#1
Penguini66 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Mechanicsburg, PA Posts: 164	Where do you store your bike when you're not riding? Subject asks the question: Where do you store your bike when you're not riding? (garage, carport, outside, etc...) Use a bike cover? Where do you store it for the winter? Since I don't have a garage, I park mine outside in the elements all year long. In the winter, I moved it down back under our deck. Amazingly, I'm surprised that it doesn't look any worse off. I truly expected it to rust in place over the winter but it doesn't look any worse today than it looked last fall when I propped it up on a milk crate under the deck. I thought about bringing it inside for the winter but really don't have the room in the basement. Need to throw some stuff out this summer to make room for it next winter. I figured this bike was pretty much a throw-away so I wasn't that worried about taking nice care of it. But as reliable as it has been, now I'm starting to get a bit attached to it and might actually move it into the basement next winter or at least invest in a cover for it for the winter months. I ride/commute 4-5 days a week rain or shine(as long as it is warm enough) on the bike so its not like it isn't going to get rained on and rust. It started rusting in small places(like the plastic covers' bolts/screws) almost immediately after assembly but has seemed to slow down or nearly come to a stop.
	0

04-11-2007, 01:42 PM	#5
red2003 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Northern Vermont, USA Posts: 1,271	I voted "in the garage", but this winter it'll be in an unheated poll barn. I will change the oil, drain the gas, pull the battery, spray metal parts down with wd40, rubber parts with armorall, and throw the cover over it. Then wait 5 months before I can ride it again :( . __________________ First Chinabike: 2006 Roketa RSX200E Current Chinabikes: 2023 Titan DLX & 2022 Lifan KP Mini w/ 210cc BRT kit, 22 RWHP!
	0

04-11-2007, 01:59 PM	#8
ImEazy Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: N.E. Ohio (Near Akron) Posts: 599	I keep mine in the garage. This place had a POS one car when I moved in. Had it torn down and a three car built (had a four car at my last house). The worst thing about it is it isn't insulated or heated. Colder inside than outside in the winter. I'm gonna try and get it insulated before next winter. Here's a pic after eight hours of spring cleaning a couple weeks ago. I have a cover for it as well, but it never made it on the bike. Just wipe the dust off and ride. __________________ 2000 MZ Baghira
	0

04-11-2007, 02:31 PM	#10
ImEazy Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: N.E. Ohio (Near Akron) Posts: 599	I've done my fair share of working outside as well. My truck has never seen the garage and has a bad starter. I usually have to crawl under it and bang on it a couple times a week to get it working again. Too cheap to spend over $100 on a new one. I wish I could afford to heat it, but some insulation would be nice. One day I plan to build a garage with living quarters in it as well. Who needs a house? I have a little less than six years until my son is eighteen! I did try a portable carport this winter but it didn't work very well under heavy snow condition. Live and learn... __________________ 2000 MZ Baghira
	0

04-11-2007, 12:56 PM	#2
molypod Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: British Columbia, Canada Posts: 223	In the garage in front of the car which is in front of the truck in the driveway. Pull truck out park it elsewhere...pull car out enough to get bike past the front of car on its way out of the garage. fire up bike to idle, pull car back in and close garage.. pull truck back into driveway go get changed and YES! I'm ready to ride Whe I get home I do it all over again to get bike back in :(
	0

04-11-2007, 01:12 PM	#3
Penguini66 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Mechanicsburg, PA Posts: 164	I usually walk out the front door with jacket and helmet already on. About 10 steps to the bike. Get on, insert key, kick a few times (battery hasn't worked since day one), and off I go.
	0

04-11-2007, 01:33 PM	#4
Savage Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 732	You could squirt some oil all over it this winter to help with rusting.
	0

04-11-2007, 01:42 PM	#6
allfunmotorsport Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 159	3500sqft toybox(work shop)Its allmost full but there will always be room for my bikes
	0

04-11-2007, 01:53 PM	#7
Penguini66 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Mechanicsburg, PA Posts: 164	Looks like, so far, that I'm the only idiot that stores his outside. But, you guys think the Chinese have garages over in China?
	0

04-11-2007, 02:05 PM	#9
Penguini66 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Mechanicsburg, PA Posts: 164	A heated garage. 8O Now that's spoiling the thing. Heck, that's just plain spoiled. I once installed a turbo kit and full exhaust on my Focus outside on a gravel driveway in the snow.
	0

04-11-2007, 02:34 PM	#11
allfunmotorsport Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 159	PRICELESS
	0

04-11-2007, 02:50 PM	#12
Akonababe Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Douglas, Arizona Posts: 154	I voted in the garage but actually it is under the house in our shop area, about the same as a gargage. We have vog from the volcano here and it eats metal up really bad. __________________ Ride hard and have FUN!!!!
	0

04-11-2007, 03:36 PM	#13
TheOtherRide Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Montana Posts: 403	Carport...and I am soooo glad to have that! I've done more backyard mechanic stuff than I care to mention (Don't CV joints SUCK? And don't get me started on battery cables...) __________________ ~Pauli~ Former 2006 Viva VX200SX owner
	0

04-11-2007, 04:55 PM	#14
pumpkin Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Westover wv Posts: 443	i'm torn in the summer i use my porch as a bike port , but in the winter i use my basement as a bike garage. i guess since it's under the porch more i'll go with bike port. __________________ 06 american lifan 200 gy-5
	0

04-11-2007, 05:54 PM	#15
justjoe Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 76	Only have a one car garage and the MG resides there as they are famous For rusting. The Suzuki shares space with the MG,The Viva will go in a Porto-Garage from Harbor Freight that I have and Share that space with my Corvette (fiberglass doesn't rust) I am sort of the Poor man's Elvis I need a Garage but no$$$ to build it Oh well BTW My Van and the misses car are just outside Joe V And yes Paulie CV joints do suck!
	0