Motorcycle storage advice please
Discussion
Due to a house downsize that means losing the garage I need to find somewhere secure and dry to store 4 motorcycles.
What have others done when they can't keep their bikes at home? Normal storage firms won't allow anything with flammable liquids. I am currently trying to establish if they will allow them if the petrol tanks are drained although I suspect not.
I'd rather they were not in a general vehicle storage warehouse as I don't feel they're as secure as a locked car rightly or wrongly. I accept I may have to reluctantly accept this though.
Has anyone had this problem in the past and found a solution? Any pointers or help gratefully received. Thanks.
What have others done when they can't keep their bikes at home? Normal storage firms won't allow anything with flammable liquids. I am currently trying to establish if they will allow them if the petrol tanks are drained although I suspect not.
I'd rather they were not in a general vehicle storage warehouse as I don't feel they're as secure as a locked car rightly or wrongly. I accept I may have to reluctantly accept this though.
Has anyone had this problem in the past and found a solution? Any pointers or help gratefully received. Thanks.
I have had this problem a few times, the solution I have found is to rent a garage from someone nearby. The best option is usually in a block of flats where the garages form part of the block. Some of the people won't have a car or don't use the garage. As it is four bikes it may be that you only need to rent half the garage so they could still keep bikes, mowers, etc. in there as well.
If the garage is attached to a single house it seems a bit odd and you may feel the need to moderate your comings and goings. If the garage is part of a block of garages away from the flats it is not as secure.
Finding a garage is not always easy. Newsagent windows are a possibility (adverts or putting up your own advert), if there is nothing there print off a few leaflets with your details and put them through the doors of likely candidates.
If the garage is attached to a single house it seems a bit odd and you may feel the need to moderate your comings and goings. If the garage is part of a block of garages away from the flats it is not as secure.
Finding a garage is not always easy. Newsagent windows are a possibility (adverts or putting up your own advert), if there is nothing there print off a few leaflets with your details and put them through the doors of likely candidates.
http://www.lockupgarages.co.uk/
Seem to have quite a few available in Reading (if your profile info is correct).
Seem to have quite a few available in Reading (if your profile info is correct).
Search for "vehicle storage" and you'll find plenty of choice.
Sadly I have had to place my Busa in storage for 3 years now but its far safer locked up where it is than my home even, the guy has millions of pounds worth of vehicles on his premises and short of the chaps visiting with the Hatton Gdns raid on their CVs, its as good as it gets.
Ring around a few, as the price varies considerably.
Sadly I have had to place my Busa in storage for 3 years now but its far safer locked up where it is than my home even, the guy has millions of pounds worth of vehicles on his premises and short of the chaps visiting with the Hatton Gdns raid on their CVs, its as good as it gets.
Ring around a few, as the price varies considerably.
graphene said:
Some storage places offer ISO containers, surely nobody is going to mind you putting bikes in one of those.
When looking at bikes for the Mrs we found a dealer operating out of an ISO container storage unit in Yateley, 2 containers full of bikes and happy for people to test ride around the site so the management must have been well aware what he was doing and happy with it.I keep my bikes and gear in a shipping container at a storage yard. It's mainly used by builders keeping their plant and machinery etc so noise isn't an issue. It's owned by a local guy and people live on-site so security seems pretty good. It seems to help that the guy that owns it is "well known".
Some useful replies and it's given me some ideas to follow up. Thanks.
Which storage company did you use BTW so I can check with them?
graphene said:
I used a well-known 24hr access storage unit last year, riding two bikes out of it for a few months. Nobody cared. Apart from not having any toilet facilities (not that I was aware of), it was brilliant, even did plenty of maintenance in peace and quiet. Not sure what the cost of it was, so it may not be ecomomical in the long term, but will give some time to find a garage.
I've checked with the storage place we've got some household stuff in and as expected they don't allow anything with combustible or flammable materials so that's a no-go. I can't even drain the tanks as their exclusion includes oil too.Which storage company did you use BTW so I can check with them?
graphene said:
Some storage places offer ISO containers, surely nobody is going to mind you putting bikes in one of those.
This looks like an option to explore more. I have heard that containers can get very hot (and humid) and the contents can get damaged. Anyone got any experience or views on that?Superhoop said:
My BIL keeps his CBR600 and BMW RG in a 24 hour storage place in the Wokingham area - never seems to have been a problem.
That's really interesting. Wokingham is only just down the road and would be local. Would you mind saying which storage place he uses please. PM me if you like. Thanks.muppets_mate said:
Some useful replies and it's given me some ideas to follow up. Thanks.
Did you call them up and ask? I stored an old car in a storage unit for a couple of winters. Their website said no flammable liquids, but when I asked they were perfectly happy for a car to be there. I think they just don't want old paint tins full of petrol/oil lying around. Or dodgy gas bottles waiting to explode in the night.graphene said:
I used a well-known 24hr access storage unit last year, riding two bikes out of it for a few months. Nobody cared. Apart from not having any toilet facilities (not that I was aware of), it was brilliant, even did plenty of maintenance in peace and quiet. Not sure what the cost of it was, so it may not be ecomomical in the long term, but will give some time to find a garage.
I've checked with the storage place we've got some household stuff in and as expected they don't allow anything with combustible or flammable materials so that's a no-go. I can't even drain the tanks as their exclusion includes oil too.muppets_mate said:
Due to a house downsize that means losing the garage I need to find somewhere secure and dry to store 4 motorcycles.
What have others done when they can't keep their bikes at home? Normal storage firms won't allow anything with flammable liquids. I am currently trying to establish if they will allow them if the petrol tanks are drained although I suspect not.
I'd rather they were not in a general vehicle storage warehouse as I don't feel they're as secure as a locked car rightly or wrongly. I accept I may have to reluctantly accept this though.
Has anyone had this problem in the past and found a solution? Any pointers or help gratefully received. Thanks.
I've just downsized, so went and got a 500sqm industrial unit, oh and I'm having a garage built at the new place too. What have others done when they can't keep their bikes at home? Normal storage firms won't allow anything with flammable liquids. I am currently trying to establish if they will allow them if the petrol tanks are drained although I suspect not.
I'd rather they were not in a general vehicle storage warehouse as I don't feel they're as secure as a locked car rightly or wrongly. I accept I may have to reluctantly accept this though.
Has anyone had this problem in the past and found a solution? Any pointers or help gratefully received. Thanks.
HTH.
Yellow box etc - Most seem happy if you just drain the petrol out of it. My bike sat in one at the moment. I'm dragging it out Friday. If it needs to go in and out over the summer I'll just disconnect the tank and stick it in the back garden next to the BBQ.
HTH.and then given bikes up. Is that where we are at the moment? Been on holiday and might have missed summat.
LoonR1 said:
muppets_mate said:
Due to a house downsize that means losing the garage I need to find somewhere secure and dry to store 4 motorcycles.
What have others done when they can't keep their bikes at home? Normal storage firms won't allow anything with flammable liquids. I am currently trying to establish if they will allow them if the petrol tanks are drained although I suspect not.
I'd rather they were not in a general vehicle storage warehouse as I don't feel they're as secure as a locked car rightly or wrongly. I accept I may have to reluctantly accept this though.
Has anyone had this problem in the past and found a solution? Any pointers or help gratefully received. Thanks.
I've just downsized, so went and got a 500sqm industrial unit, oh and I'm having a garage built at the new place too. What have others done when they can't keep their bikes at home? Normal storage firms won't allow anything with flammable liquids. I am currently trying to establish if they will allow them if the petrol tanks are drained although I suspect not.
I'd rather they were not in a general vehicle storage warehouse as I don't feel they're as secure as a locked car rightly or wrongly. I accept I may have to reluctantly accept this though.
Has anyone had this problem in the past and found a solution? Any pointers or help gratefully received. Thanks.
HTH.
LoonR1 said:
Track and racing is history, road remains to be seen. I can always use the extra storage space anyway 
Sorry to hear Croft didn't change your mind. Strange thing to ride the same 190hp barely disguised race bike on both road and track and to bin the track element.
You need a nice 1200GS you do, complete with beige textiles and one of those sliver flip front lids with the jazzy orange stripes.
I've not ridden in the road yet this year and don't have any motivation to either. The road is yet to be decided rather than definitely staying.
Either way to get back on topic the garage is merely a fancy and more secure shed for other stuff if I bin bikes off completely (which is highly likely if I'm being honest with myself)
Either way to get back on topic the garage is merely a fancy and more secure shed for other stuff if I bin bikes off completely (which is highly likely if I'm being honest with myself)
Hi Moulder, check us out at www.perfectcarstorage.co.uk give me a call if we're not too far away from you. I'm always happy to show people around and we're flexible on rates etc depending on your needs.
Cheers,
Simon
Cheers,
Simon
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