Temperature controlled environment??
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 9,282
Likes: 1,139
From: southeast PA
No different than my water cooled John Deere that I've kept in an unheated garage for about 15 winters so far. I keep them both covered and hooked to battery tenders. I even have a '91 911 that won't fit in the garage and it's lived outside for 10 years, under a cover with a tender. No problems from the cold as far as I can tell. Unless you count cabin fever.
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 96
Likes: 0
From: Chicago
This is the 6th Chicago winter with nothing more than a battery tender for my RK.I don't cover it either...no problems at all...chrome still looks new...The worst thing people do is to start their bikes up and let them idle every now and then...your better off just leaving her hibernate until you can actually get her out on the road!
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 892
Likes: 11
From: Northern NY
I keep my bikes in the workshop at 50 degrees all winter. Cub 1550 with snowblower also. I've been told that cold or warm it doesn't hurt as long it stays one way or the other. Where the problems are created is when the temps go from from below freezing to above and back and forth. Condensation is created with this scenerio. Also had someone tell me the chrome takes a beating in freezing temps. but I don't see that. I keep battery tenders on all my equipment when not being used on a daily basis. Before had had my little worshop and just cold storage I would do a full charge on the batteries and bring them in the house.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 5,865
Likes: 168
From: Potsdam, NY
I have 3 bikes parked in my garage and it's very, very cold out there.
I have a couple of battery tenders that I swap around so they all keep a charge.
Would there be any advantage of heating the garage with a space heater just to keep things "above freezing temperatures"?
Any advantage that would be worth the added expense to my electrical bill?
You hear of bikes that have always been kept in temp controlled environments like there is some benifit to this but I had a few bikes that did well for years without problems (other than the battery issues).
And I'm also sure that a low humidity is also benificial.
But what benefit would just heating "above freezing" have and would it be worth the expense?
I have a couple of battery tenders that I swap around so they all keep a charge.
Would there be any advantage of heating the garage with a space heater just to keep things "above freezing temperatures"?
Any advantage that would be worth the added expense to my electrical bill?
You hear of bikes that have always been kept in temp controlled environments like there is some benifit to this but I had a few bikes that did well for years without problems (other than the battery issues).
And I'm also sure that a low humidity is also benificial.
But what benefit would just heating "above freezing" have and would it be worth the expense?
Actually there is no humidity below freezing and thus no rust. The only thing to do during storage is to check the battery 1-2 over the winter and charge if necessary.
Last edited by fat_tony; Jan 10, 2010 at 12:07 AM.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 13,402
Likes: 941
From: Illinois
I park my vehicles in a climate controlled garage. It is set at 72 summer and 65 winter. Both conditions keep the humidity down but no exact control.
How much it helps I don't know. I know the battery tenders and StaBil contribute to a trouble free experience.
The conditions make it better for my wife and I though. No cold cars in the winter and no hot cars in the summer.
I have a Reznor garage door that is R-13 rated. Many garage door manufacturers make insulated garage doors. The two man doors into the garage are also insulated.
How much it helps I don't know. I know the battery tenders and StaBil contribute to a trouble free experience.
The conditions make it better for my wife and I though. No cold cars in the winter and no hot cars in the summer.
I have a Reznor garage door that is R-13 rated. Many garage door manufacturers make insulated garage doors. The two man doors into the garage are also insulated.
Last edited by lh4x4; Jan 9, 2010 at 10:51 PM.
Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 177
Likes: 22
From: South Jordan, Ut
I would think that it may be worse. The garage would warm overnight. Then you would open the garage door and let the cold weather in when you leave for work. Garage would warm throughout the day, then door opens and cools. I would think that the extreme temps would be worse on any of the rubber parts.
Just my opinion as I'm not an expert in thermodynamics.
Just my opinion as I'm not an expert in thermodynamics.
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Club Member
Joined: Sep 2009
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Whistle & Bells
Unless you own an ultra Classic or limited, one of the Harley with all the electronics on them I would not worry about it. The new fly by wire throttles and all the electonic gadget's may not fair so well in condensation. I don't heat the whole garage but have a battery tender on my Tri Glide plus a tarp with a heat lamp under it.
The 03 Standard just gets the tender and ain't a bit jealous!
The 03 Standard just gets the tender and ain't a bit jealous!
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