Winter Storage
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Joined: Feb 2010
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Winter Storage
Hi All, I live in the North East and store my bike in an unheated shed. Shed is good, nice & dry. I stored the bike last year with out a cover. I walked in on more than one occasion & the bike was covered with condensation. Will a good cover protect the bike? My concern is condensation getting under the cover and not being able to breath. Thanks for any reply's.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 17,929
Likes: 3,564
From: backwoods
My insulated attached garage does that sometimes too. Sometimes I'll turn heater on. But I think in general not that big of deal.
You could maybe do venting or such. But again unless it some classic, I don't worry about it.
You could maybe do venting or such. But again unless it some classic, I don't worry about it.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 5,315
Likes: 4,272
From: Granville New York
If you do get a cover make sure it's breathable otherwise all that moisture will be trapped under it. I live in the northeast too and while my bikes come inside the house in the winter be nice and warm I've had to store bikes in un-heated garages or sheds many times for the winter and never had any issues not using a cover. Fill it up with some non ethanol gas if available, put in some of your favorite brand of fuel stabilizer,let it run long enough to get the stabilized fuel through the system then park it, pull the battery and put it on a battery tender. Easy ...simple...no black magic...no voodoo curses and you'll be ready for spring.
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 417
Likes: 146
From: Maryland
Go by your local HD dealer and ask the service guys about getting one of the covers that new bikes get shipped with. As I understand it most dealers throw them away and will give you one if you ask. I got one earlier this year. Its breathable and keeps the dust off. My dealer uses them for bikes that buy winter storage at the dealership. Also they gave me the one I got for free!
Last edited by ClifWideGlide; Sep 5, 2022 at 05:46 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 38,310
Likes: 6,328
From: Honah Lee
I use a thin cotton sheet. Mainly to keep a ton of dust from collecting on it since my garage door gets opened pretty often. I have seen the same thing you have seen. Been a very warm day in the winter. The higher temperature, the more humidity it will hold. You open the door and it hits the cold metal and the humidity in the air wets the bike.
You don't need a waterproof cover if there is already a roof over it. That just traps moisture.
All just my opinion. Probably better off with nothing over it. Hit it with Pledge in the fall. If you change oil yearly, change it in the spring after you fire it up and warm it for a few minutes. I personally change it at mileage. Doesn't hurt it.. And I have rebuilt a lot of motors.
My science for my opinion>>>>>>
If saturated air is warmed, it can hold more water (relative humidity drops), which is why warm air is used to dry objects--it absorbs moisture. On the other hand, cooling saturated air (said to be at its dew point) forces water out (condensation).
You don't need a waterproof cover if there is already a roof over it. That just traps moisture.
All just my opinion. Probably better off with nothing over it. Hit it with Pledge in the fall. If you change oil yearly, change it in the spring after you fire it up and warm it for a few minutes. I personally change it at mileage. Doesn't hurt it.. And I have rebuilt a lot of motors.
My science for my opinion>>>>>>
If saturated air is warmed, it can hold more water (relative humidity drops), which is why warm air is used to dry objects--it absorbs moisture. On the other hand, cooling saturated air (said to be at its dew point) forces water out (condensation).
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 10,035
Likes: 10,766
From: SE Michigan
if you have power, put a 60 watt light bulb on the floor under the bike, then cover with whatever
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 3,425
Likes: 1,418
From: pensacola fl
I use a thin cotton sheet. Mainly to keep a ton of dust from collecting on it since my garage door gets opened pretty often. I have seen the same thing you have seen. Been a very warm day in the winter. The higher temperature, the more humidity it will hold. You open the door and it hits the cold metal and the humidity in the air wets the bike.
You don't need a waterproof cover if there is already a roof over it. That just traps moisture.
All just my opinion. Probably better off with nothing over it. Hit it with Pledge in the fall. If you change oil yearly, change it in the spring after you fire it up and warm it for a few minutes. I personally change it at mileage. Doesn't hurt it.. And I have rebuilt a lot of motors.
My science for my opinion>>>>>>
If saturated air is warmed, it can hold more water (relative humidity drops), which is why warm air is used to dry objects--it absorbs moisture. On the other hand, cooling saturated air (said to be at its dew point) forces water out (condensation).
You don't need a waterproof cover if there is already a roof over it. That just traps moisture.
All just my opinion. Probably better off with nothing over it. Hit it with Pledge in the fall. If you change oil yearly, change it in the spring after you fire it up and warm it for a few minutes. I personally change it at mileage. Doesn't hurt it.. And I have rebuilt a lot of motors.
My science for my opinion>>>>>>
If saturated air is warmed, it can hold more water (relative humidity drops), which is why warm air is used to dry objects--it absorbs moisture. On the other hand, cooling saturated air (said to be at its dew point) forces water out (condensation).
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
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From: Honah Lee
I don't have a Ferrari and I don't wax the Corvette.. it's plastic.
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Joined: Jun 2019
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From: SE Michigan
lemon pledge? it's not that I can't explain it, i'm just sick of trying to school the willingly ignorant
i just smile and wave....yes yes, you're frikken greasy piece of **** looks amazing, good job