No Garage - best cover for GS?

[NickD]

Hi all, with no garage I'm looking to get the best possible year-round cover for the GS - any recommendations? Also, been trying to find one large enough not to have to take the panniers off each night - again, grateful for your recommendations.
Cheers

 

[Old Codger]

Worth

Coating the bike with ACF 50 if its going to be left outside all the time better protection than any cover

As for covers someone else should be along soon

 

[NickD]

Thanks

 

[earthmover]

I have an Oxford cover which fits with panniers on. It's the largest one they do. Has a strap underneath to hold it on.
Mark

 

[Bounce]

I use an Oxford stormex for my GSA12...plenty big enough to keep the boxes on, small vents to allow air flow thru, soft lining so will not scratch the bike...adjustable strap on the belly side...used the same one for 2 years now in all weathers, but it has faded in the sun (when we had some!!).

 

[ihandyman247]

http://www.nippynormans.com/product...-on/item/wunderlich-outdoor-cover-wun-1088010

 

[LBL]

i would say fully comprehensive

 

[NickD]

Thanks all, really helpful responses

 

[Deleted account 190920001]

I would go with the don't use a cover as well but use acf instead. The bike stays soaking we under a cover and could end up the worse for it. If you still want to use a cover atleast still coat it in acf.

 

[Spike]

I hate covers for bikes, they rub where they touch in the wind, like said keep the bike wet.
When I did not have a garage I had 2 bike barns for my bikes, Keeps the weather off and keeps the air circulated.
Not cheap but well worth it.

spike

 

[Fanum]

I have a plan to build a bike shed out of THIS STUFF

You can get it in steel rather than aluminium, it's easy to make box structures with (just a hammer and a hacksaw needed) and you can even put feet/castors on it.

Chuck a decent rubberised tarp over it and you could easily make up a decent bike garage

 

[STUBBS]

I have a plan to build a bike shed out of THIS STUFF

You can get it in steel rather than aluminium, it's easy to make box structures with (just a hammer and a hacksaw needed) and you can even put feet/castors on it.

Chuck a decent rubberised tarp over it and you could easily make up a decent bike garage

do you know if it comes apart easy if you have to move on

 

[Meatwagon]

If you have the funds and space buy a bike barn not cheap but well made last for years

 

[T2725]

http://www.nippynormans.com/product...-on/item/wunderlich-outdoor-cover-wun-1088010

I've got one of these too. Pricey but the best cover I've come across as my bike lives outside too!

Get a good ground anchor and chain.

 

[JayC]

I have a plan to build a bike shed out of THIS STUFF

You can get it in steel rather than aluminium, it's easy to make box structures with (just a hammer and a hacksaw needed) and you can even put feet/castors on it.

Chuck a decent rubberised tarp over it and you could easily make up a decent bike garage

Saved to favs. Good page that!

 

[JayC]

do you know if it comes apart easy if you have to move on

Should be a piece of cake with those connectors. Just support a rail and thump a connecting rail with the palm of your hand and bingo! Depending on size of course you may need an assistant.

 

[Time Traveller]

If you've got room, what about a garden shed?

I bought a 8' shed, reinforced the floor and built a ramp, lined the inside with polystyrene and hard board, laid power on from the house (armoured cable) put in an oil rad and thermostat at a very low temp just to stop condensation forming on cold damp nights. flourescent lighting and a spot light on the outside.

30000 miles and three years later the bike looked like it had come from a show room (there may have been some anal cleaning regime in between too )

Its also round the side of the house which is an artform to ride the bike round! on a gravel path, so nice and secure too.



If you haven't, then I agree with not covering it, it will only help it to rot. Better to have a bike porch (freestanding if you can't put it on the house) and nice chunky D ring in the ground.

 

[Micky]

My bike sleeps out and after four winters and 72,500 miles is still as good as new

First on is an old sweat shirt with the arms cut off and sewn up, with the neck, this goes over the windscreen ...

Then on goes a soft cover, got some waterproofing but the inside is all soft and none scratch ...

Then on goes a nylon waterproof cover ...

To top it all on goes a heavyweight cover from Wunderlich

I was fed up of covers splitting and cracking after one, maybe two winters, the Wunderlich is guaranteed for five years. Three winters and it is still as good as new

 

[Fanum]

My bike sleeps out and after four winters and 72,500 miles is still as good as new

First on is an old sweat shirt with the arms cut off and sewn up, with the neck, this goes over the windscreen ...

Then on goes a soft cover, got some waterproofing but the inside is all soft and none scratch ...

Then on goes a nylon waterproof cover ...

To top it all on goes a heavyweight cover from Wunderlich

I was fed up of covers splitting and cracking after one, maybe two winters, the Wunderlich is guaranteed for five years. Three winters and it is still as good as new

With all that faffing Micky, I just wouldn't want to bother getting the bike out for a quick blat

 

[Fanum]

Saved to favs. Good page that!

Aye

HERE's the other one I found when I was looking for the stuff.......it lists the steel stuff as well.......
I've played with a metre of the aluminium tube and I don't think it'd be strong enough for long term use....the steel would though

do you know if it comes apart easy if you have to move on

Relatively easy yes......the nylon insert thingies are just interference fit, but if you wanted, I guess you could smear the surfaces with a bit of copper ease or similar

My plan was to make boxes.....Imagine three rectangular boxes each two metres wide and one metre high, then put another one the same dimension on top (and across the width) of the middle one........You could leave one end partially open (IE no cross struts) and the tarp would fit over it all....ride in, park on centre stand, walk out, pull tarp down and hook it on with bungees etc, job done

I even worked out all the lengths required and the number of each type of connector.

Fekked if I can find the bit of paper though