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.

It is possible to get waterproff breatyhable coivera which allow moisture out but don't let rain in.

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

Originally Posted by jump

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?

Originally Posted by MavUK

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

The other option is to get a shed or one of those metal bikesafes for storing it in.

Or just leave it outside like i do. Doesnt do it any harm when you use it regularly.