Keeping a bike outside - which bike and cover combo?
Discussion
Morning all,
Considering getting myself a bike that will need to be kept outside. I don’t ride through the winter so the bike won’t be covered in salt. I’ll probably buy a bike cover from Oxford but I would appreciate your feedback on the following.
1. If the bike only has a side-stand (likely) how stable are they in high winds when the cover is in place? Will the cover act as a giant sail and end up with the bike on its side on the ground?
2. What bike cover would you recommend? Looking for something breathable but waterproof.
Budget for the bike is up to £3k, possibly £3.5k at a push. Bike will probably on do 2000 – 3000 miles a year at most and don’t want to have a lot of money tied up. I would prefer to have as new a bike as possible. I have owned a bike for 10 years and am looking at the following.
1. ER-6N / ER-6F (2012 onwards)
2. Honda CB500 (2013 onwards)
3. Hornet
4. SV650 (2016 onwards)
Don’t want clip-ons as I prefer an upright riding position.
My budget rules out the F800R, MT-07, CB650F, Z650, Street Triple, GSR750, etc. Don’t really want a bandit as they are really.
Thanks in advance.
Considering getting myself a bike that will need to be kept outside. I don’t ride through the winter so the bike won’t be covered in salt. I’ll probably buy a bike cover from Oxford but I would appreciate your feedback on the following.
1. If the bike only has a side-stand (likely) how stable are they in high winds when the cover is in place? Will the cover act as a giant sail and end up with the bike on its side on the ground?
2. What bike cover would you recommend? Looking for something breathable but waterproof.
Budget for the bike is up to £3k, possibly £3.5k at a push. Bike will probably on do 2000 – 3000 miles a year at most and don’t want to have a lot of money tied up. I would prefer to have as new a bike as possible. I have owned a bike for 10 years and am looking at the following.
1. ER-6N / ER-6F (2012 onwards)
2. Honda CB500 (2013 onwards)
3. Hornet
4. SV650 (2016 onwards)
Don’t want clip-ons as I prefer an upright riding position.
My budget rules out the F800R, MT-07, CB650F, Z650, Street Triple, GSR750, etc. Don’t really want a bandit as they are really.
Thanks in advance.
If you have space, a bike barn is great. Managed for a few years before moving to a place with a garage.
Ride in, pull the frame over, and you can lock it down.
I had mine bolted to a slab in the middle, which also supported the centre stand if i wanted, or was wide enough to take the side stand. Then a slab for front and rear wheels, then gravelled around it so i'd potentially hear anyone messing with it. I also concreted in a ground anchor at the same time.
Advantage is you can ride the bike in "hot", so you're not putting plastic directly in contact with the bike. Handy if you get back and it's pi$$ing down
I had one like this. Lasted a few years. When we moved i sold it to someone on here for not much money, but did them a favour.
http://www.thebikebarn.net/index_uk.htm
Ride in, pull the frame over, and you can lock it down.
I had mine bolted to a slab in the middle, which also supported the centre stand if i wanted, or was wide enough to take the side stand. Then a slab for front and rear wheels, then gravelled around it so i'd potentially hear anyone messing with it. I also concreted in a ground anchor at the same time.
Advantage is you can ride the bike in "hot", so you're not putting plastic directly in contact with the bike. Handy if you get back and it's pi$$ing down
I had one like this. Lasted a few years. When we moved i sold it to someone on here for not much money, but did them a favour.
http://www.thebikebarn.net/index_uk.htm
I have a 2016 SV650 which I keep outside under a standard Oxford cover. Have done so for four months with no ill effects on the bike.
My concern would be leaving a bike outside all winter without riding it. If it’s something like the SV or any of the other bikes listed, just ride it, they’re not exactly exotic ‘garage queens’.
ETA: I love on a cliff top in the north of England.
My concern would be leaving a bike outside all winter without riding it. If it’s something like the SV or any of the other bikes listed, just ride it, they’re not exactly exotic ‘garage queens’.
ETA: I love on a cliff top in the north of England.
I had an Oxford cover, it was pointless. I then got a JDC cover which was a bit better but got holes in it which let moisture through. I then decided to buy one of the below covers and it is fantastic quality. Morale of the story, don't buy Oxford, just spend out on something decent from the start.
https://www.dustoffcovers.co.uk/waterproof_hd.htm
I would add the Yamaha XJ6 to your list of bikes. Whilst they may not be styled as nice as the MT07, the build quality is supposed to be better. I ride a naked version and it does everything I need it too well.
https://www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial/reviews/bike...
https://www.dustoffcovers.co.uk/waterproof_hd.htm
I would add the Yamaha XJ6 to your list of bikes. Whilst they may not be styled as nice as the MT07, the build quality is supposed to be better. I ride a naked version and it does everything I need it too well.
https://www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial/reviews/bike...
wilbo83 said:
I had an Oxford cover, it was pointless. I then got a JDC cover which was a bit better but got holes in it which let moisture through. I then decided to buy one of the below covers and it is fantastic quality. Morale of the story, don't buy Oxford, just spend out on something decent from the start.
https://www.dustoffcovers.co.uk/waterproof_hd.htm
I would add the Yamaha XJ6 to your list of bikes. Whilst they may not be styled as nice as the MT07, the build quality is supposed to be better. I ride a naked version and it does everything I need it too well.
https://www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial/reviews/bike...
Another vote for don't use oxford. Mint is completely fhttps://www.dustoffcovers.co.uk/waterproof_hd.htm
I would add the Yamaha XJ6 to your list of bikes. Whilst they may not be styled as nice as the MT07, the build quality is supposed to be better. I ride a naked version and it does everything I need it too well.
https://www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial/reviews/bike...
ked and is now used as a dust cover in my unit and it's st at that because of the amount of holes. I bought 2 JDC ones, the first I got impatient and it ripped on the rear handle on my VFR and once it started ti just got worse.
Bought a new one as it's just as good and no issues so far
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