keeping a bike outdoors
Discussion
I'm looking into getting a bike this summer, something along the lines of a ZXR400 or a 748, etc. I'd only be able to keep it outdoors till the next summer however, and I don't know how a bike would fare in conditions like that. Can anoyone tell me if this is a good idea or not, or if I should consider certain bikes over others?
I keep mine in a brick garage, obviously, but were I to keep them outside...
As long as you keep em clean, and invest in a decent cover, most bikes will put up with this sort of horrendous abuse, without undue amounts of furry stuff creeping over the fasteners. Allegedly, even Italians will manage to survive an entire winter's night without melting into a pool of exotic alloy and carbon fibre
If you will be running it over the winter, I'd suggest investing in some ACF50 or similar gunky stuff to protect it a little more.
As long as you keep em clean, and invest in a decent cover, most bikes will put up with this sort of horrendous abuse, without undue amounts of furry stuff creeping over the fasteners. Allegedly, even Italians will manage to survive an entire winter's night without melting into a pool of exotic alloy and carbon fibre
If you will be running it over the winter, I'd suggest investing in some ACF50 or similar gunky stuff to protect it a little more.
Mine lives outside in all weathers, I never wash it and it gets covered in crap, don't bother locking it or anything like that. Seems to be fine and not corroded or anything at all! It is a BMW though so they are a bit more robust than some makes!!
Secret to keeping a bike running well over the winter is to use it regularly!!
Secret to keeping a bike running well over the winter is to use it regularly!!
Should be fine as long as you wash the salt off regularly (ideally after every trip.) Use one of the wax sprays in the hard to get places and it'll ensure that things stay pretty much spick and span.
Typhon said:
I'm looking into getting a bike this summer, something along the lines of a ZXR400 or a 748
You need to talk to dern .... check out http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0...Get a decent cover; something that is breathable and lets any moisture on the bike evaporate (and the biggest sod off chain and lock you can afford).
Doesn't just keep the rain and pigeon poop off, it keeps it out of sight of scum. A decent one will also have a couple of eyelets underneath so you can fasten it with a small padlock so it's more difficult to get off.
A mate used to leave a battery powered baby monitor on the seat overnight so if the alarm was triggered by someone pulling at the cover he would be woken up.
Doesn't just keep the rain and pigeon poop off, it keeps it out of sight of scum. A decent one will also have a couple of eyelets underneath so you can fasten it with a small padlock so it's more difficult to get off.
A mate used to leave a battery powered baby monitor on the seat overnight so if the alarm was triggered by someone pulling at the cover he would be woken up.
Twit said:
Mine lives outside in all weathers, I never wash it and it gets covered in crap, don't bother locking it or anything like that. Seems to be fine and not corroded or anything at all! It is a BMW though so they are a bit more robust than some makes!!
Secret to keeping a bike running well over the winter is to use it regularly!!
Mine gets the same love and affection but it's a Yam and it refuses to ever break down. Everyday use is definately the secret. Secret to keeping a bike running well over the winter is to use it regularly!!
I have a Suzuki Bandit 600, I have kept it outdoors continuously for the last 4 months. It hasn't damaged the bike at all and I have been using it everyday too.
IMHO, A good cover is as good if not better than a bad garage. My fathers garage is really dusty and his bike rotted in less than a year because the moisture combined with the dust and no breeze to hang on the bike and corrode everything. Where as a good cover outside will breath, let the moisture out and keep the direct elements off making it stay far healthier.
IMHO, A good cover is as good if not better than a bad garage. My fathers garage is really dusty and his bike rotted in less than a year because the moisture combined with the dust and no breeze to hang on the bike and corrode everything. Where as a good cover outside will breath, let the moisture out and keep the direct elements off making it stay far healthier.
Big solid chain and lock to something solid (only almax to be recommended here), proper disc lock and a canvas cover (can be placed onto hot exhausts without issue but also breathable) does the job for me year round. I'm quite bad at never washing my bikes either.. just some chain lube once in a while and wd40 for the pedals/levers/locks works for me! 
Agree with the comments.. year round use prevents any real issues. Leaving it outside for an extended period of time without use isn't a good idea.
Agree with the comments.. year round use prevents any real issues. Leaving it outside for an extended period of time without use isn't a good idea.
Never covered my bikes up, and they've all been fine (CG125, GS500E, VFR800)
I use a Torc Ground Anchor with Almax Chain looped through an "Anti Pinch Pin" through the back axle (It's good for bikes with no space to get a chain though, wheels can be removed easily - http://www.torc-anchors.com/products.php?cat=19)
I use a Torc Ground Anchor with Almax Chain looped through an "Anti Pinch Pin" through the back axle (It's good for bikes with no space to get a chain though, wheels can be removed easily - http://www.torc-anchors.com/products.php?cat=19)
black-k1 said:
Should be fine as long as you wash the salt off regularly (ideally after every trip.) Use one of the wax sprays in the hard to get places and it'll ensure that things stay pretty much spick and span.
That's very kind of you Typhon said:
I'm looking into getting a bike this summer, something along the lines of a ZXR400 or a 748
You need to talk to dern .... check out http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0......http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/456372.htm
Had some nice chaps to see it this weekend and it's pretty clear that my standards of 'clean' aren't really the ducati norm so the next viewer will find it sparkling. I think they were pretty horrified by the state of my blade (and rightly so)
.Although some chap abroad has just offered to send me 900 quid deposit if I fax him my passport details, a utility bill and the v5 to prove that it's mind as, as he points out, there's a lot of fraud about...
. How stupid do these people think we are?Edited by dern on Monday 14th April 11:27
balls-out said:
If possible hose it done after use on salted roads.
Apply ACF50 - accept to brake discs
I was going to say that. Hose it down with COLD water, apply ACF50 to the metalwork. I'd steer clear of WD40; it tends to attract grit and dirt into places where you don't want it.Apply ACF50 - accept to brake discs
If it's used in all weathers and outside, you are going to need to look after the chain. Might want to look at a Scottoiler or lube the chain as often as you can.
balls-out said:
If possible hose it done after use on salted roads.
Apply ACF50 - accept to brake discs
just cleaned and waxed my precious and sprayed her down with some AC50. fired her up for a wee ride round the car park for a couple of minutes and the ac50 was smoking and smelt like it was burning. ok, i know it wasn't terribly bright to fire her up after spraying her down with the ac50, but my question is this.Apply ACF50 - accept to brake discs
how long should i wait before firing it up again? should i hose it down with some cold water before firing it up? speedy answers mucho appreciated. the weather's far too good to be sitting indoors
i'm off to tinker with my new 3g iphone for a while whilst i wait for the sc50 to evaporate
TIA
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