Motorcycle storage is perhaps the second most important consideration for a motorcyclist. (The first being motorcycle safety.) There are so many ways to store a motorcycle! And properly storing your motorcycle is essential for maintaining its condition during periods of inactivity. To best insure your investment, we strongly encourage utilizing a dedicated motorcycle storage shelter or cover that is designed to protect your bike. For cruisers without saddlebags and naked bikes, that’s our Sport shelter. But what about tarping your motorcycle for storage? Below we will detail a comprehensive guide on how to properly go about tarping your motorcycle for storage including all the good, bad, and ugly details.
Tips for Tarping Motorcycles as a Storage Option
Get your Motorcycle Ready For Storage
Before a tarp should ever go on your bike, there are steps to take to have the best results. No one wants to take a tarp off a motorcycle to find their precious ride worse for wear because rats got in or there was excessive condensation. Here’s the steps to properly prepare your motorbike before tarping for storage:
- Cleaning: Give your motorcycle a thorough wash to remove any dirt, grime, or debris. A clean surface prevents scratches and allows the tarp to breathe better. Pay attention to areas that trap dirt like the chain, wheel, and underneath the fenders. Let your motorcycle dry completely before covering.
- Location Selection: Choose a well-ventilated, dry, and shaded location for motorcycle storage. Indoors is best if possible. If you’re stuck with the great outdoors, avoid storing your motorcycle under trees that drip sap or resin or areas with excessive exposure to sunlight or harsh elements. A garage or shed is ideal, but a car port can also work.
- Motorcycle Prep: Lubricate all moving parts like the chain, cable, and levers to prevent rust and corrosion during storage. Inflate the tire to the recommended PSI to avoid flat spots. If possible it’s recommended to place the motorcycle on a stand to take pressure off the tires.
(We cover this in a lot more detail here: Motorcycle Winterization: Maintenance Tips + Storage Tricks) - Tarp Selection: Opt for a heavy duty tarp made from water-resistant or waterproof material like polyethylene or polypropylene. Consider a tarp with a thickness of at least 6 mil for best durability. A larger tarp allows for better coverage and creates a loose fit, reducing the risk of scratches on your motorcycle’s paint job.
Secure Your Motorcycle Tarp
Being just a rectangular piece of plastic, you need to take some care to properly install the tarp over your bike if you want it to provide any protection from high winds and to ensure its waterproof. Here’s the steps to do that:
- Drape the Tarp: Carefully spread the tarp over the motorcycle, ensuring it covers the entire body, handlebars, seat, and wheels. Avoid tight spots that can rub against the paint.
- Underbelly Protection: If the tarp doesn’t reach the ground, create a barrier using bricks or cinder blocks to elevate the edges and prevent moisture or critters from entering underneath the motorcycle.
- Securing the Tarp: Use tie-down straps or bungee cords specifically designed for tarps. Run the straps underneath the motorcycle’s frame, avoiding direct contact with the paint. Secure the straps to anchor points on the ground or to a wall using hooks.
Tarping Tips and Best Practices:
Add An Extra Layer: Tarps are not exactly soft. To best protect your motorcycle, it is best to add a moving or packing blanket in-between your bike and the tarp. Bonus points if it is padded. These also help to wick away moisture that can build up under the tarp.
Venting: Moisture build-up under the tarp can lead to mold or mildew growth. If your tarp doesn’t have built-in vents, create some by carefully making small openings using a tarp grommet kit. Position the vents near the top on opposing sides to allow for air circulation. And don’t forget you need an opening for your battery tender!
Security: While a tarp offers some protection from the elements, it’s not a foolproof security measure. If you’re concerned about theft, consider additional security measures like a motorcycle cover with a lock or a disc lock for the wheels.
Re-tightening: Tarps can loosen over time, especially with wind or movement. Check on your motorcycle periodically and re-tighten the straps as needed. It is often useful to set a schedule or put it in your calendar so that you don’t forget or go too long between checking in.
Not a Long-Term Solution: Tarps are generally not recommended for long-term motorcycle storage, especially outdoors. They might not be breathable enough and can trap moisture, leading to rust and mildew problems. Consider a dedicated motorcycle cover designed for extended storage for better protection.
Understanding the Drawbacks of Tarps for Motorcycle Storage
While tarps offer a basic level of protection against the elements, they have significant drawbacks compared to dedicated motorcycle covers or storage solutions. One of the primary concerns is moisture. Even waterproof tarps can trap condensation, leading to rust, corrosion, and mold growth. This can cause irreparable damage to your motorcycle’s components, including the engine, exhaust system, and electrical components.
Additionally, tarps are susceptible to wind and can easily become dislodged, exposing your motorcycle to the elements. This can result in scratches, dents, and other cosmetic damage. Moreover, tarps offer minimal protection against theft and vandalism, making your motorcycle vulnerable to potential losses.
How To Make a Tarp Work for Motorcycle Storage
Sometimes you just have to work with what you got. And if that’s a tarp– okay! As stated previously, tarps work best as a storage option for your bike if used in conjunction with a garage or a shed. Tarps also work best under the following conditions:
- Being clean and undamaged.
- When it is larger than your motorcycle.
- With a blanket between your bike and the tarp.
- Always well secured with rope, straps, or bungee fasteners.
Alternatives to Tarping
Motorcycle Covers: Purpose-built motorcycle covers are designed to provide superior protection from the elements, dust, and scratches compared to plain tarps. Covers tend to have a better fit with elastic hems to secure it in place. They typically come in vented and non-vented options, and some offer UV protection and heat resistance for outdoor storage. But they still have their limitations.
Motorcycle Shelters: For the most comprehensive protection, consider a durable motorcycle shelter or shed. These shelters create a small, enclosed environment for your motorcycle, offering superior protection from all weather conditions, dust, and theft.
Long-Term Storage Considerations
For long-term motorcycle storage, we strongly recommend investing in a high-quality motorcycle cover or shelter shed or consider a climate-controlled storage facility instead of relying on a tarp. Prior to storing, make sure that you pay attention to all features of your motorcycle like:
- Battery Maintenance: Disconnect the battery to prevent it from draining during storage. Consider using a battery tender to maintain its charge.
- Fuel Stabilization: Fill the gas tank to prevent condensation and add a fuel stabilizer to protect the fuel system.
- Tire Care: Inflate tires to the recommended pressure and consider using tire covers to prevent flat spots
And plan on regular inspections where you periodically check on your motorcycle during storage to monitor its condition and address any issues promptly.
Is a Tarp the Right Choice For You?
While tarps can be a budget-friendly option for short-term motorcycle storage, they come with limitations. For superior protection, especially for long-term storage, consider investing in a dedicated motorcycle cover or a durable, all-weather shelter. By following the proper procedures and using the right materials, you can ensure your motorcycle is safe and protected during storage.
Moving up from a tarp? See how a cover, pop-up tent, shed and shelter compare in our side-by-side guide, and use the Will My Bike Fit? guide to find the shelter size for your bike.
Motorcycle Tarp FAQ
Can I use a tarp with bungee cords instead of a motorcycle cover?
For a short stay, yes. A big, clean tarp strapped down tight keeps rain and sun off. The catch is moisture. A tarp doesn't breathe, so condensation builds up under it and can lead to rust and mildew. If the bike will sit for more than a few weeks, use a vented motorcycle cover or a shelter instead.
What kind of tarp works best for covering a motorcycle?
A heavy-duty polyethylene or polypropylene tarp, at least 6 mil thick. Buy one bigger than the bike so it hangs loose and doesn't rub the paint. Put a moving blanket between the bike and the tarp. If the tarp has no vents, add a couple near the top on opposite sides with a grommet kit.
How do you put a tarp on a motorcycle so it stays on?
Wash the bike and let it dry completely first. Drape the tarp over the whole thing: bars, seat and both wheels. Run tie-down straps or tarp bungees under the frame, away from the paint, and hook them to ground anchors or a wall. Wind works tarps loose, so check the straps on a schedule and re-tighten them.
Is it bad to leave a motorcycle outside in the rain?
Over time, yes. Moisture that sits on and under the bike leads to rust, corrosion and mold, and that can hurt the engine, exhaust and wiring. A tarp can make it worse by holding the wet in. If the bike lives outside, keep it under something that vents and check on it often.
How do I secure a motorcycle that's stored outside?
Don't count on the tarp. It gives very little protection from theft. Add a disc lock on a wheel, and tie whatever covers the bike down to anchor points. A Speedway Shelter bolts to concrete or asphalt with the anchor bolts in the box, and the cover takes a padlock (sold separately), so nobody can see what's parked inside.
What's a better way to store a motorcycle outside than a tarp?
A vented motorcycle cover is a step up. A shelter is a bigger one. A Speedway Shelter is a steel frame with a fabric cover that opens like a clamshell. Nothing touches the bike, so you can ride in with hot pipes and close it. Prices run $429.95 to $574.95 for the Sport, Touring and Deluxe sizes.
