Garage humidity question??
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,921
Likes: 33
From: Lewisberry PA
moisture on bike
This thread kind of threw me a little, I live in Baltimore and keep my bike in the garage and have never seen any dew or moisture on my bike ever. Same goes for the car, am I wrong or are you guys crazy, blowing a fan on your bike?
Do you really come out and see a wet bike or car in your garage?
Do you really come out and see a wet bike or car in your garage?
I did not buy a fan or a dehumidifer, but did remove the cover.
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 583
Likes: 2
From: Eaton, OH
My attached garage is fully insulated and dry walled. It is heated but there is no air conditioning. I also had the floor covered with an epoxy finish by a company that specializes in doing that. I know, I'm lucky to have a nice set up.
I keep it about 70-72° all winter. I also have a dehumidifier and have it set to come on if the humidity gets over 35%.
I live north of Chicago and during winter the car brings in whatever snow it accumulated during the day. It melts and raises the humidity. The dehumidifier takes it all away.
The dehumidifier runs more in the summer than the winter but it does help keep it more comfortable to work out there. I'll keep the door down to keep the warmer, higher humidity air out of the garage.
I would suggest you consider looking at a dehumidifier if you have electric in the storage area. You should be able to find one at any of home supply stores (Home Depot, Menard's, Lowe's, etc.).
My dehumidifier is the silver box next to the red tool box in this picture.
I keep it about 70-72° all winter. I also have a dehumidifier and have it set to come on if the humidity gets over 35%.
I live north of Chicago and during winter the car brings in whatever snow it accumulated during the day. It melts and raises the humidity. The dehumidifier takes it all away.
The dehumidifier runs more in the summer than the winter but it does help keep it more comfortable to work out there. I'll keep the door down to keep the warmer, higher humidity air out of the garage.
I would suggest you consider looking at a dehumidifier if you have electric in the storage area. You should be able to find one at any of home supply stores (Home Depot, Menard's, Lowe's, etc.).
My dehumidifier is the silver box next to the red tool box in this picture.
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 832
Likes: 6
From: Vermont
This will sound crazy, especially if you're a "rag freak" like me, but I did this with my last Harley for years and she was well preserved.
I would store the bike and wait until there had been a couple of clear, dry days in late fall. Then I would spray down the entire bike except the seat vinyl with a can of WD 40. I used a whole large can of the stuff so there was a heavy film on the entire bike. It worked like a champ. It didn't have any detrimental affect on painted surfaces and protected them well. I stored it with a sheet loosely draped over it but there was always plenty of dust on it in the spring. I would check now and then during the winter and at times there was condensation on it but I'm sure not much if any got past the oil layer.
In the spring, I would wipe off the engine fins and exhaust system the best I could and then "light her off". It was quite the sight. First, blue smoke would billow out the pipes because I also oil fogged the cylinders. Then, as the engine and pipes heated up, smoke from the engine would curl up from under the gas tank followed by the exhaust system. The show lasted for about five minutes.
After it cooled down, I'd give it a wash job and it was ready for another season.
It sounds crazy, I know. I bought the bike new in '89, sold it in '07 and buddies were amazed at how good it looked.
Oh, and no matter how well I cleaned the rotors, I'd had to allow for a lot of stopping distance until the oil cleaned itself off the brake pads!
I would store the bike and wait until there had been a couple of clear, dry days in late fall. Then I would spray down the entire bike except the seat vinyl with a can of WD 40. I used a whole large can of the stuff so there was a heavy film on the entire bike. It worked like a champ. It didn't have any detrimental affect on painted surfaces and protected them well. I stored it with a sheet loosely draped over it but there was always plenty of dust on it in the spring. I would check now and then during the winter and at times there was condensation on it but I'm sure not much if any got past the oil layer.
In the spring, I would wipe off the engine fins and exhaust system the best I could and then "light her off". It was quite the sight. First, blue smoke would billow out the pipes because I also oil fogged the cylinders. Then, as the engine and pipes heated up, smoke from the engine would curl up from under the gas tank followed by the exhaust system. The show lasted for about five minutes.
After it cooled down, I'd give it a wash job and it was ready for another season.
It sounds crazy, I know. I bought the bike new in '89, sold it in '07 and buddies were amazed at how good it looked.
Oh, and no matter how well I cleaned the rotors, I'd had to allow for a lot of stopping distance until the oil cleaned itself off the brake pads!
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,431
Likes: 1
From: Calgary
My attached garage is fully insulated and dry walled. It is heated but there is no air conditioning. I also had the floor covered with an epoxy finish by a company that specializes in doing that. I know, I'm lucky to have a nice set up.
I keep it about 70-72° all winter. I also have a dehumidifier and have it set to come on if the humidity gets over 35%.
I live north of Chicago and during winter the car brings in whatever snow it accumulated during the day. It melts and raises the humidity. The dehumidifier takes it all away.
The dehumidifier runs more in the summer than the winter but it does help keep it more comfortable to work out there. I'll keep the door down to keep the warmer, higher humidity air out of the garage.
I would suggest you consider looking at a dehumidifier if you have electric in the storage area. You should be able to find one at any of home supply stores (Home Depot, Menard's, Lowe's, etc.).
My dehumidifier is the silver box next to the red tool box in this picture.
I keep it about 70-72° all winter. I also have a dehumidifier and have it set to come on if the humidity gets over 35%.
I live north of Chicago and during winter the car brings in whatever snow it accumulated during the day. It melts and raises the humidity. The dehumidifier takes it all away.
The dehumidifier runs more in the summer than the winter but it does help keep it more comfortable to work out there. I'll keep the door down to keep the warmer, higher humidity air out of the garage.
I would suggest you consider looking at a dehumidifier if you have electric in the storage area. You should be able to find one at any of home supply stores (Home Depot, Menard's, Lowe's, etc.).
My dehumidifier is the silver box next to the red tool box in this picture.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,615
Likes: 50
From: Baton Rouge, LA
I live in S. LA and have been using a dehumidifier in my garage for about 15 years and have it set to turn on if humidity exceeds 80%. I'm on my second dehumidifier which cost only about $100. You can set it lower but that has worked well to keep condensation off the bike and my antique car without running up my electric bill. I also bought a switch from Grainger that switches on when the garage door closes, and that way the humidifier does not turn on when the door is open. Their site is down at the moment for maintenance, but I'll check later if they sell the same switch. It was $50 but has been worth it.
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Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
I live in S. LA and have been using a dehumidifier in my garage for about 15 years and have it set to turn on if humidity exceeds 80%. I'm on my second dehumidifier which cost only about $100. You can set it lower but that has worked well to keep condensation off the bike and my antique car without running up my electric bill. I also bought a switch from Grainger that switches on when the garage door closes, and that way the humidifier does not turn on when the door is open. Their site is down at the moment for maintenance, but I'll check later if they sell the same switch. It was $50 but has been worth it.
Thanks.
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 844
Likes: 2
From: Tampa, FL