Evaluating Long Term and Short Term Motorcycle Storage Options
Aug
We break down the motorcycle storage landscape to dial in your perfect storage solution to protect your ride and fit your lifestyle.
As a motorcycle owner, you need to consider your options for motorcycle shelter. This includes winter and summer storage. Both serve different functions and have different needs depending on the season, how often you ride, and how long you will be stowing your motorcycle. When we look for motorcycle storage ideas, we first need to decide if it is going to be for short-term or long-term storage. It is also important to consider how your bike fits into your lifestyle.
Short term motorcycle storage refers to putting your bike away between rides. Depending on how often you ride your bike, this may be multiple times per week during the riding season. The ideal short-term solution is hassle-free, protects your motorcycle from the sun, and allows you to easily access your ride.
Long-term motorcycle storage is when you put the bike away for several months where you don’t need to access it regularly. (Winter storage is a good example of this.) You may have an extensive collection of motorcycles that you keep in good condition to protect your investment, or you are just looking to save space over the winter in your garage. Long-term storage for motorcycles or trikes typically means you are not going to need to be able to access your bike quickly.
The more you ride your motorcycle, the more frequently you will need to put it away for storage to protect it from the sun damage. In an ideal world, we all have garages with clickers to open the doors. As we putter down the driveway, all you need to do is ride your motorcycle into the garage after a long day on the road and walk into the kitchen to crack a cold one with your boots still on. But the reality is most of us don’t have a garage, or if we do, making enough storage space for your bike, trike, car, and all the other things you have collected is a stretch.
When considering short-term and long-term motorcycle storage solutions, the most important features are that it
- Shields your bike from the outdoor elements.
- Protects from potential theft or vandalism.
- Gives you peace of mind that your ride is safe.
Short-Term Bike Storage
If you are looking to find a temporary solution for your bike storage needs, look for an option that will:
- Keep sun and rain off your ride.
- Still allow you to access your bike easily.
- And that is going to be cost effective.
Bonus points for portability. Below, we break down what to expect from the available storage options.
Motorcycle Covers
The cheapest option for outside bike storage is getting a waterproof motorcycle cover designed to be thrown over your ride when you get home. These covers are similar to tarps but are made of a heavy-duty sheet of polyester fabric shaped to fit snugly around your bike. Motorcycle rain covers are made of materials that allow your bike to breathe while it is covered to avoid excessive condensation. Covers provide the motorbike with some basic shelter from the elements and provide some protection from sun damage.
Motorcycle covers do have drawbacks, however. Firstly, they are highly susceptible to scratching your paint from the grit and dirt you have collected on your ride. Many nice bikes have fallen victim to covers being pulled off only to reveal freshly scratched paint.
Another issue with covers is that you must wait for your bike to cool down before application. Otherwise, a hot tailpipe will melt through your cover. Resulting in melted goo all over your shiny tailpipe and the need for a new bike cover. Not to mention, every time you want to get the bike out, you have to go through the process of taking the cover off and caching it. Then, you have to remember to retrieve the cover and deposit it over the bike when you return—leaving the rider prone to forgetting to put the cover on.
Motorcycle covers also do not provide any real protection from theft or petty vandalism. This leaves your asset exposed and easily stolen. But, the good news is that they are cheap and will adequately shade your bike. If you remember to put one on! Typically, they don’t last more than a few seasons, so the price will accumulate over the years.
Motorcycle Tarps
We advise against using a tarp for your motorcycle storage because it will form condensation on the inside, rust, or cause excessive mildew and mold on your motorcycle’s leather. However, if you don’t have a better storage solution and you need something in a pinch, it can work for a short period of time. Basically until your proper motorcycle storage cover arrives.
Outdoor Motorcycle Storage Long & Short Term Ideas
If you are looking for a summer and winter motorcycle storage solution that allows you to stow your bike year-round, then what you need is a motorcycle shelter, pod, or shed. These solutions still give you easy access to your bike while giving you all the benefits of a motorcycle garage. Plus, many have features providing complete protection against rain, snow, dust, while also giving your bike some extra security.
Speedway Motorcycle Shelters
Speedway motorcycle shelters feature a steel frame covered in a heavy duty 600D polyester covering that sits on top of a clamshell. The rider easily retracts this clamshell using the attached handles when pulling the bike in for storage. Once stowed, the cover is pulled back down over the bike and locked protecting your ride from sun damage, dust, and theft.
Speedway shelters have a breathable design to allow air movement to prevent condensation and molding of leather, but are durable enough to stand up to hurricane-force winds when anchored down. The design makes it easy for one person to set up and tear down. These shelters are a portable motorcycle garage that can easily be moved from one location to another.
Often referred to as a motorcycle hard covers, clamshell storage pods, or a motorcycle storage tent, this style of bike shelter is known for being the best motorcycle storage option for a number of reasons. Firstly, they effectively perform the same functions as a motorcycle garage by providing the bike with equal protection from weather and theft. Secondly, they are a cost-effective solution because they are significantly cheaper than a motorcycle storage pod, building a garage, or the ongoing cost of a storage facility. These shelters come in a range of different sizes for storing trikes, touring bikes with full dress, and sports bikes.
Motorcycle Storage Pods
A motorcycle storage pod is a hardshell cover made of a thin plastic shell. These pods are very similar to a motorcycle shelter in their functionality. To store the bike, the rider lifts up the front door and drives the motorcycle into the pod. This makes pods a great solution for being able to quickly and securely store your bike until your next ride– whether that be the next day or in a few months.
Storage pods provide ample protection from sun and storm damage by fully enclosing the bike in a plastic hard shell. They offer a similar level of protection against theft as motorcycle shelters. Their biggest advantage is that they will last many years before needing to be replaced. However this is reflected in their cost: they are very expensive to purchase and ship costing upwards of 3000 dollars. They also can’t collapse or be moved from one place to another easily. Some require professional installation.
Motorcycle Storage Sheds
While there are no dedicated motorcycle sheds, any shed can double as a storage for your bike with time and modifications. The most important thing is to make sure the shed you are buying will fit your bike with ample room to maneuver the bike in and out. A motorcycle storage shed can either be made of wood or plastic, and secured down with either a wood or concrete foundation.
Sheds however can be the most expensive and time consuming endeavor to build. They often require ramps to be installed and you have to then push your bike up and down that ramp. If you are not the homeowner, we advise you to ask permission from your landlord before purchasing and installing your motorcycle shed. Once set up though, you now have your very own personal motorcycle shed garage. This custom storage shed is going to give you all the benefits of a garage, somewhere dry and protected to work on your bike as well as stow it away after a riding.
Indoor Long Term Motorcycle Storage
If you are planning to put your motorbike away for the winter, or are leaving to travel out of the country for several months, finding a secure long term storage facility is going to help put your mind at rest. These types of storage facilities come with a monthly rate and several benefits to keeping your ride in top working condition. When checking your bike into any long-term storage, you will want to go through the procedure of winterizing your bike to ensure it’s in top working condition when riding season comes around again.
Indoor Motorcycle Storage Facilities
Finding a motorcycle storage facility nearby is a good option if you have limited storage space for your motorcycle or small vehicle. These businesses cater to storing bikes and trikes over the winter months, often providing them with a climate-controlled facility that will also keep the battery on a trickle charger. They are also fully insured, so your ride will be covered if theft, fire, or flooding happens.
The most significant disadvantage to storing your bike in a local storage facility is that you do not have quick and easy access. They often have limited hours of operation and getting your bike to and from the facility requires some logistical agreement of using a truck or getting a ride home. When you get a warm spell in the winter, taking the bike out for a quick ride becomes a hassle if not impossible depending on the contract you have with the facility.
Self Storage Unit for Motorcycles
Yes, you can store your motorcycle by renting a storage unit near you. However, this can be an expensive solution to storing your bike because you will need a fairly large sized storage unit, typically much bigger than 5’x5’. Storage units provide limited protection or insurance against theft or fire. Most storage units will also not allow you to store any fuel in the bike for safety reasons and don’t provide power for trickle-charging your battery. However, it is a good option if you have several fully insured bikes separately and do not need quick access to your bike.
Home Storage
If you live by yourself, or have a very understanding wife, placing the bike in the living room proudly on a motorcycle stand is a great solution for overwintering your ride, and it doubles as a piece of artwork. However, most doors are not wide enough for the bike handlebars to fit through, so some disassembly is required to get the bike in and out of the house.
The best motorcycle storage idea?
Is going to be the one that suits your lifestyle and the budget you have to play with. The most important features are being able to access your bike when you want it, giving it ample protection from the sun, snow, objects falling on it, and from theft. For that reason, Speedway Shelters design is both great for long term and short term storage at home. This style of motorcycle shelter lasts for many years and it comes at a reasonable price considering the investment you are protecting.
FAQs about Storing Motorcycles
Can you store a motorcycle in a storage unit?
Yes, you can, provided they are bigger than a 5×5 storage unit. However, most self storage units do not allow you to store gas in the tank for fire and safety reasons. Nor do they provide electricity to keep your battery charged. Make sure that the facility has good security as break-ins can be commonplace, and your stolen items will not be insured.
How long do motorcycle tires last in storage?
Motorcycle tires can last over 5 years when stored correctly in a shaded cool environment. We suggest cleaning them and treating your tires before storing them to help prevent dry rot. For best results, take weight off the tires using a bike stand and make sure they are fully inflated. Some find that wrapping tires in plastic can also help.
How do you prepare your bike for storage?
In order to have your motorcycle road ready when you take it out of storage, we recommend adding fuel stabilizer and placing your battery on a tender as some basic steps. To learn more read out motorcycle winterization guide for a detailed step by step procedure.
How to build a motorcycle shelter?
Building a motorcycle shelter can be as simple as creating a basic shelter from a 2×4 covered frame, or as complicated as constructing a custom designed shed to store your motorcycle.
