View Full Version : Keeping bike outside... No garage. Advice????
hi, i have just bought an sv650.
i do not have a garage, so am keeping it chained up in an enclosed back garden.
im gonna buy a cover for it, when its raining, but am worried this will do more damage keeping the moisture in.....??????
im sure loads of you keep your bikes outside, so i just need some general tips, to ensure i keep the bike in good condition.
Cheers.
Couerdelion
26-04-05, 11:44 AM
It is possible to get waterproff breatyhable coivera which allow moisture out but don't let rain in.
Captain Nemo
26-04-05, 11:44 AM
but a rotweiler....
dont put the bike under cover while its wet (if you can help it) and make sure that if theres any salt on the road that you rinse the bike off after each ride, the SV gets eaten in winter if you dont keep on top..
get the nice thick breathable cover by oxford (it is soft inside like a blanket)(i think it the stormex). It is heat resistant (very important) so can put on hot exhaust. Infinity were selling them for 50 instead of the usual 70 squids a while ago...Dry bike before putting it on, if bike is wet...
james
get the nice thick breathable cover by oxford (it is soft inside like a blanket)(i think it the stormex). It is heat resistant (very important) so can put on hot exhaust. Infinity were selling them for 50 instead of the usual 70 squids a while ago...Dry bike before putting it on, if bike is wet...
james
I think I've got one of these, one problem I did notice (I keep my bike on the road) is that the cover is black. When I'm driving down the road even I have problems seeing it after dark, and I know its there!
Also, I've used it when its been raining and it seemed extremely efficient in storing the rain water underneath the cover. The ends are elastic and had folded up slightly and I had several little ponds, if I had left it much longer I would probably have had pond life.
Slightly diff q here...
Mine kept outside in my back garden. Doesn't have a cover as I can't dry it before putting the cover on 90% of the time (when it rains in Holland it rains...)
Due to the fact I use my bike all winter it's got a fair amount of crap on the engine during the months - I know I should have cleaned it more but hey... Anyhow, th eblack paint has peeled in a small part of the engine. What can I use to repaint?
Stu
The weather gave my breathable oxford stomex a good test yesterday and it passed with flying colours. My bike is in my backgarden but it's not chained, just alarmed. I figure if they manage to get it out of the VERY tight gate with the steering lock on and the alarm going off they deserve the thing :)
You can get the stormex's on ebay for around £45, money well spent.
Kate, doesn't yours have the reflective strips on it?
Couerdelion
26-04-05, 01:01 PM
Slightly diff q here...
Mine kept outside in my back garden. Doesn't have a cover as I can't dry it before putting the cover on 90% of the time (when it rains in Holland it rains...)
Due to the fact I use my bike all winter it's got a fair amount of crap on the engine during the months - I know I should have cleaned it more but hey... Anyhow, th eblack paint has peeled in a small part of the engine. What can I use to repaint?
Stu
I normally use a paint brush as, when I use my finger, the paint get's behind my nails.
hth
:lol:
The other option is to get a shed or one of those metal bikesafes for storing it in.
mysteryjimbo
26-04-05, 01:30 PM
Or just leave it outside like i do. Doesnt do it any harm when you use it regularly.
Slightly diff q here...
Mine kept outside in my back garden. Doesn't have a cover as I can't dry it before putting the cover on 90% of the time (when it rains in Holland it rains...)
Due to the fact I use my bike all winter it's got a fair amount of crap on the engine during the months - I know I should have cleaned it more but hey... Anyhow, th eblack paint has peeled in a small part of the engine. What can I use to repaint?
Stu
I normally use a paint brush as, when I use my finger, the paint get's behind my nails.
hth
:lol:
:? :? :? :lol: :lol: :lol:
Get a ground anchor, people ignore alarms soon as they've shut the doors and windows to keep out the noise.
I've had bikes on my driveway for 3 years the Stormex cover is good.
Steve H
26-04-05, 02:41 PM
I live in an old cottage in the country - so there obviously was not much use for a garage when it was built circa 1810!
I have therefore modified a small garden shed (extending the front slightly) putting down a concrete base with a home made ground anchor.
All this was very cheap and has the added effect of looking like a normal garden shed rather than an unsightly bike store!
Kate, doesn't yours have the reflective strips on it?
Yeah, but they are teeny tiny and on the bottom, plus there are only a couple?
Kryptonite ground anchore drilled into the ground, abus granite 1.2 metre chain around the FRAME and a bike cover. Touch wood mine is still there out the front of my house in Streatham for the last 2 years. Oh and get an alarm, ******** to what anyone says about an alarm, it IS a deterent and it IS another thing for them to tackle so anything to slow them down is good in my books and I might hear it if no one else.
Just make sure you spend the money on a decent chain and ground anchor first rather than an expensive alarm.
Don't worry so much about the moisture. If you clean it enough it won't be so much of a problem.
Benji
Is your SV ever going to be seen Benji? I'm wondering if it actually exists :lol:
Lol people HAVE actually seen mine atleast once! :wink:
Benji
This year?
I'll get mine out if you'll get yours :lol:
Steve H
26-04-05, 02:59 PM
This year?
I'll get mine out if you'll get yours :lol:
Get a room! :?
This year?
I'll get mine out if you'll get yours :lol:
Cha-ching!
http://www.sv650s.org.uk/images/rideoutimages/hay43.jpg
:wink:
Benji
....meanwhile back in the thread...
I use a Oxford stormex cover. its like a large duvet. Works well, and higly recomneded!
Get a great big Ground anchor and a good chain...the high security type from a hardware store is normally pretty hardy. And a nice cover....! :wink:
yip only problem as kate said ealier is that the bottom edge of the cover can get wet and collect a bit of water...
well.... all i can say is thanks for the responses!!!! :D
it seems Stormex is the best bet.... are they better than cheaper ones??
SpankyHam
26-04-05, 04:25 PM
I bought an Oxford Rain cover on eBay a whila back
£9.
It said Rainproof, breathable.
No problems with it.
saw them in the shops for ~20£
Godikus
26-04-05, 05:53 PM
you might wanna keep a baseball bat close to the door too. for those moments you get woken up and sprint downstairs. You manicly grab the first thing that comes to your hands to fend any would be thief off only to realise youv just clobberd them with a very expensive camera :roll: ... so keep a baseball bat somewhere on your path from your bed, to your bike
I use an Oxford heat proof cover. I put the bike under the cover as soon as it's parked up. The heat from the engine and exhaust dry the bike in double quick time. :thumbsup:
Quiff Wichard
26-04-05, 10:21 PM
DB covers from here in stoke!!...they have a website and I can reccomend them fully-
superb and rain.heat proof...and about 30-35 beer tokens and they deliver...!! (not chicken!)
Quiff Wichard
26-04-05, 10:29 PM
just been on the site....it is still as good as ever..oh and I found this.:
Hi, Just thought I would e-mail and let you know that I recently purchased one of your large tourer covers at Thruxton for my Piaggio X9 scooter that also has a 40ltr box attached and it fits perfectly !! I've had loads of trouble getting one that is big enough and I'm glad that at last I've found one.
Thanks
Julie Lockwood
so will fit jonboys topbox (oops i best not come down to the rideout now !)
i keep my bike outside and have done for the past year.
fancy covers . . . bah
i use a cheapo cover from argos (20 quid one) its waterproof but not sure about breathable. (its got some vents at the top facing downwards)
i put the cover on the bike when its wet and hot, still dries and the cover hasnt melted yet. alas not much rust has occured (i commute everyday too and dont have time to hose it down sometimes)
tips
chain it up real good
weapon by the door
if you have an alarm, when you cover the bike, tuck the cover under the sidestand, therefore they have to trip the alarm when taking the cover off.
smear some oil on the otherside of the cover (so people will think . . . cheapo not looked after cover . . . .banger underneath.
as for repaining the engine. get some high temp paint and use that. (can get it from most paint shops and isnt very expensive)
as it happens, i got a spare cover (its a good one not a cheapo one) that you can buy off me if you like.
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