No garage? You still have good options for keeping a motorcycle out of the sun, rain and snow. This guide compares the five real ways riders store a bike outdoors, what each one costs, and what to check before you buy, so you can pick the right one for your bike, your weather and your budget.
Quick answer
✓ Riding most days and parking for a night or two? A good motorcycle cover may be enough.
✓ Storing outside for a season or year-round? A steel-frame motorcycle shelter you can lock and anchor protects the bike like a mini garage.
✓ On a tight budget in mild weather? A pop-up shelter tent can work if you anchor it well.
✓ Own the property and can build? A shed is the most permanent option, but check permits and HOA rules first.
✓ No space at home at all? A storage unit works, but you pay every month and the bike isn't at your door.
5 Ways to Store a Motorcycle Outdoors Without a Garage
Here's how the options compare. Prices are typical ranges, not quotes; check current listings in your area.
Typical cost: about $50–$150
1. Motorcycle Cover
Best for: daily riders and short stops.
Watch out for: you have to wait for the pipes to cool before covering, wind can flap the fabric against the paint, moisture can get trapped underneath, and a cover does nothing against bumps or falling branches.
Typical cost: about $100–$250 online
2. Pop-Up Motorcycle Shelter Tent
Best for: mild weather and tight budgets.
Watch out for: thin frame tubing and light fabric, weak anchoring in wind, how much snow it can carry, whether you can buy a replacement cover, and the warranty.
Speedway Shelters: $429.95–$574.95
3. Steel-Frame Motorcycle Shelter
Best for: year-round outdoor storage on a driveway, carport, patio or parking spot.
Watch out for: it needs anchoring to concrete, asphalt or a wood base, check your HOA or lease rules, and it's a shelter, not a building (no power or lights).
Typical cost: varies widely
4. Shed or Hard-Shell Storage Pod
Best for: homeowners who can build something permanent.
Watch out for: permits, HOA approval, a level foundation, a door and ramp wide enough for your bike, and the time and cost to build. You usually can't take it with you when you move.
Typical cost: a monthly fee
5. Storage Unit or Rented Garage
Best for: long winter storage when there's no room at home.
Watch out for: monthly rent that adds up over the years, access hours, and the drive to get your bike every time you want to ride.
Want the side-by-side table? See Motorcycle Shelter vs. Pop-Up Tent vs. Shed vs. Cover.
What to Look For in an Outdoor Motorcycle Shelter
Whatever brand you consider, check these six things. For reference, here's how a Speedway Shelter answers each one.
A Steel Frame That Takes Weight
Ask for the steel gauge and finish. Speedway uses a 16-gauge powder-coated steel frame that holds 150+ lbs of snow.
A Cover Made for Outdoors
Look for heavy coated fabric with taped seams. Speedway covers are 600D urethane-coated polyester, waterproof and UV-resistant, with vent windows to cut condensation.
Inside Dimensions That Fit Your Bike
Measure your bike's length, width and height, including mirrors and windshield, and compare it to the shelter's inside dimensions, not the outside. Compare sizes.
Real Anchoring
A shelter is only as good as what holds it down. Speedway includes anchor bolts for concrete or asphalt (6 for Sport and Touring, 8 for Deluxe). On soil or grass, build a wood base.
Locks Closed
A shelter that locks closed and is bolted down keeps your bike out of sight and harder to walk away with.
Warranty and Replacement Parts
Covers wear out in the sun over the years; frames shouldn't. Speedway backs the frame for 10 years and sells replacement covers by size, so you swap the cover, not the whole shelter.
Which Speedway Shelter Size Fits Your Bike?
Inside dimensions are length × width × height. Not sure? Email us your bike's measurements and we'll tell you which size fits.
Sport: 108 × 43 × 65.75 in
For sport bikes and smaller motorcycles. Also fits most snow blowers. Sport specs
Touring: 136 × 54 × 77.75 in
Our most popular size, for full-dress baggers and touring bikes. Also fits ride-on mowers. Touring specs
Deluxe: 138 × 78 × 78.75 in
For trikes, Can-Am Spyders and golf carts, or two sport bikes or two touring bikes. Deluxe specs
Where to Put an Outdoor Motorcycle Shelter
On a driveway, carport or concrete pad, bolt it straight down. On gravel or grass, set it on a wood base so it sits level and dry. In an HOA, mobile home park or apartment, read our guide to storage when you can't build. Parking under trees? See how to protect a motorcycle from falling branches.
Outdoor Motorcycle Storage FAQ
What is the best way to store a motorcycle outside without a garage?
For anything longer than a few nights, use a shelter that keeps the whole bike under a roof without touching it: a steel-frame motorcycle shelter anchored to the ground, or a shed if you can build one. A cover alone is fine for short stops but traps moisture and can scuff paint in the wind.
Is a motorcycle cover enough for outdoor storage?
For overnight parking, usually yes. For season-long or year-round storage, a cover sits directly on the bike, can trap moisture, flaps in wind, and doesn't protect against bumps or falling branches. A shelter keeps the cover off the bike and lets air move around it.
Can an outdoor motorcycle shelter handle snow?
It depends on the frame. A Speedway Shelter's 16-gauge steel frame holds 150+ lbs of snow. Brush off heavy snow after big storms, keep every anchor bolt tight, and take the Double Duty UV cover off in high winds.
Do I need a permit for a portable motorcycle shelter?
Rules vary by city and HOA. A portable shelter on a removable base is often treated differently from a permanent shed, but check your local rules and get HOA approval in writing before you set it up.
How long does an outdoor motorcycle shelter last?
Speedway frames have lasted 12+ years outdoors and carry a 10-year frame warranty. The cover takes the sun, so plan on replacing it over the years; a Double Duty UV cover adds a second layer that helps the main cover last longer.
No garage needed
Find the Speedway Shelter That Fits Your Bike
Three sizes, a 16-gauge steel frame, a lockable waterproof cover, and a 10-year frame warranty from a family business that's been doing this for 18+ years.
