[Randolph]

I have been desiring a DL1000 for some time now. Had to relocate a few years ago so I sold my bikes and moved. I am now in a home, in Central NJ with no garage. I am getting sick of waiting to get the $$$ to build a garage in the back and just want to get the strom. I kinda realized that when it comes to riding I do not know what bad weather is anyway. So if I can ride in it why can I not park in it? I do have a shed I can put the Big Lady in when it snows (the ONLY time I will not ride it anyway) or even use public storage if I had too.

Anyway, what say the Stromtrooper Sages about non-garage strored Stroms? Is this a bad idea? What are the alternates? What precautions should I take? Am I making too big a deal about this?

 

[Stromin'Nroman]

Do you have easy access to the living room.

If you have a big screen TV and a couple of fans, you can park it inside and sit on it while watching MotoGP.

Or get a bike tent:

 

[garandman]

I have been desiring a DL1000 for some time now. Had to relocate a few years ago so I sold my bikes and moved. I am now in a home, in Central NJ with no garage. I am getting sick of waiting to get the $$$ to build a garage in the back and just want to get the strom. I kinda realized that when it comes to riding I do not know what bad weather is anyway. So if I can ride in it why can I not park in it? I do have a shed I can put the Big Lady in when it snows (the ONLY time I will not ride it anyway) or even use public storage if I had too.

Anyway, what say the Stromtrooper Sages about non-garage strored Stroms? Is this a bad idea? What are the alternates? What precautions should I take? Am I making too big a deal about this?

Has a V-Strom ever been stolen in North America?

 

[jokermtb]

The only thing I would be worried about storing a bike outside [I'm sure you get some serious snow on occasion in NJ], is getting rid of moisture condensation that will accumulate under a motorcycle cover. That water has to escape somehow. Even in winter, with temperature changes, you will get condensation forming under any cover, even when it's freezing [it'll be ice/frost on the bike under the cover].

Your chain will also get surface rust, as well as the rotors. Also - keeping a small plate of wood under each tire will prevent direct contact with moisture laden concrete. And, turning your tires 1/4 turn each month during the winter will prevent flat spots.

 

[rconti]

I park the Wee in my side yard/alley between my garage and my house. No cover. *shrug* it's got a gate so I can wheel the strom in and out.

 

[garandman]

The only thing I would be worried about storing a bike outside [I'm sure you get some serious snow on occasion in NJ], is getting rid of moisture condensation that will accumulate under a motorcycle cover. That water has to escape somehow. Even in winter, with temperature changes, you will get condensation forming under any cover, even when it's freezing [it'll be ice/frost on the bike under the cover].//

The Guardian Weatherall Plus I have is black. And there is a vent at the highest point of the cover.

I haven't left it out in deep snow (because I park it where snowbanks go) but the heat from the sun a couple hours a day kept the inside quite dry.

If you are a fanatic, a 60 watt light bulb under the cover will keep it surprisingly warm. Putting a light bulb next to your carb or battery overnight was an old cold-weather starting trick.

 

[Randolph]

Good points
Now that I think about it the GXSR and HD folks on my block will probably help pay for a garage so they will not have to look at it. :mrgreen:

The snow and freezing rain can be a problem. I have a shed I can put the bike in when I think it will snow or sleet so that should keep large amounts of moister from building up. Thanks for the reminder about potential tire flat spots. I usually ride all year 'round but there are a few weeks where I will need to tend to turning the wheels.

 

[nhbubba]

The biggest problem around here, IMO, is varmint. Keep them out of the bike and I think you'll be fine. But then I live in the "middle of nowhere" and don't usually worry much about crime.

 

[kenneth_moore]

While I was "between homes" and living in the Motorcycle Theft Arms apartment complex, I paid for Pubic Storage. It was worth it not only to keep the bike safe and dry, but I also had a place to work on it. There must have been a dozen other bikes in the place, most had 5X10 units; I got a 10X10 for my workbench and compressor.

 

[tmcgee]

Or get a bike tent:

Two guys had these on my Nova Scotia trip at the beginning of the month. You've gotta see these tents in person to appreciate how massive they really are. Both dudes were BIG guys from Tejas -- 6'5" big and could stand up in the vestibule/parking lot. Very impressive.

 

[rconti]

While I was "between homes" and living in the Motorcycle Theft Arms apartment complex, I paid for Pubic Storage.

It's illegal to pay for that in most states, Nevada excepted. :biggrinjester:

 

[LordSmoke]

...I do have a shed I can put the Big Lady in when it snows...

No, no, no! The wife can stay in the house, put the bike under a cover or in storage.

 

[Randolph]

Oh yeah...sometime I get confussed

 

[PTRider]

a 60 watt light bulb under the cover will keep it surprisingly warm.

Maybe hot enough to damage the cover? I'd think 25w or even less if that's what one wanted to do.

 

[Midnullarbor]

.
And a bike-tent is only for the insouciantly happy camper.

The beautiful yellow tent [in post #2] looks picturesque - for fair weather.
I am trying not to imagine a dark and stormy night, with me waking up to the crushing realisation that the BMW1200GSA (with full fuel tank) has toppled on top of me (me already confined inside my sleeping bag).
Even Houdini didn't have to work his escapes while coping with broken bones.
Ugh.

 

[dldon627]

Outside storage

I have home and Florida and Massachusetts. The Florida home is on a barrier island so it's close to the salty ocean. It's a constant battle to keep a bike clean, inside or out. In dry and cool New England the damage is minimal if you park outside. Get a good bike cover in the good weather months and spend a bit more time cleaning an WD40ing it will stay clean and rust free. Prep it for winter, cover it and you should be fine. Just expect to spend more time on keeping the maintained and clean.

 

[garandman]

If you live near the ocean in New England, you can also experience surface corrosion from salt air - it's just not nearly as bad as it is down south. Sold my 83 BMW R65 because it was rusting like crazy - lived 200 yards from the ocean at the time.

I started using Boeshield on my bicycles and bike and snow thrower. Great stuff.

 

[ghostrider66]

What about one of these types of shelters, there are a number of manufactures that make similar products.

Speed-Way Motorsport Shelters Retractable Motorcycle Cover Video - YouTube

 

[nhbubba]

Whoa, cool:

Motorcycle shelter - YouTube

 

[mvg2]

like i mentioned in someone else thread regarding covers, be mindful of that cover if you experience high winds. It will have a tendency to catch it and possibly tip over. So try and anchor it down. You're not the first to do it and certainly not the last. It will be fine