Storing bike in unheated garage....
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 46,845
Likes: 22,534
From: Land of the Free, Home of Jack Daniel's
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 5,119
Likes: 2
From: USA
nighttime temps, when the winter sun comes out in the daytime it raises
the inside temp fast and causes sweating, unless the garage is insulated
to stop the big temp change. The sweating is also internal in places like
the engine and tranny. Not good. A non insulated shed is a terrible place.
jmo
Last edited by Snarly; Dec 17, 2010 at 02:20 PM. Reason: spelled word wrong, fixed it for Canadian friend :-)
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 857
Likes: 1
From: Waynesboro, Va
I have an unheated garage, I usually put the tires on a piece of carpet, use a battery tender, good cover and wait until spring. No problems so far after 5 years..
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Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
FWIW I would do a couple things:
1) Put some stabil in the fuel system and run it for 10 minutes (20 if you can).
2) put some carpet down under it...it will keep the tires from getting flat spots and hopefully keep the moisture barrier in place from the ground.
3) Pull the battery (if you are never going to run it during the winter).
I WOULD RECOMMEND YOU LEAVE THE BATTERY IN AND RUN THE BIKE AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH...even if you don't really drive it.
I live in a cold climate as well and it seems as long as you are willing to run it once a month or so for at least 10 minutes, she will be fine.
1) Put some stabil in the fuel system and run it for 10 minutes (20 if you can).
2) put some carpet down under it...it will keep the tires from getting flat spots and hopefully keep the moisture barrier in place from the ground.
3) Pull the battery (if you are never going to run it during the winter).
I WOULD RECOMMEND YOU LEAVE THE BATTERY IN AND RUN THE BIKE AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH...even if you don't really drive it.
I live in a cold climate as well and it seems as long as you are willing to run it once a month or so for at least 10 minutes, she will be fine.
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 2,856
Likes: 127
From: Middle of Kansas
I kept my 84 Sportster in my unheated garage for 23 winters without problems. I never covered it, and it never sweated. No problems with tires, or chrome either. No carpet under tires. I would rather my bikes breathe than have them covered. Only thing the covers do is keep the dust off.
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,807
Likes: 1
From: North Jersey
I live in north Jersey and my bike has been stored outside under a Cycle Shelter for the last four years. No problem with the chrome or anything else. This year I got rid of the Cycle Shelter and replaced it with with a Shelter Logic shed. As long as the shelter is ventilated there is no problem with moisture. The most important thing to do is prepare the bike for the cold. I change the oil and filter, put Sta-bil in the gas tank and run it through the fuel system, and hook up the Battery Tender. It helps to clean and polish the bike too before putting it away. If my bike has done alright outside under a fabric shelter, yours should be okay in an unheated garage.