Storage tips in a hot garage

[iamtheari]

By way of introduction, I'm a Porsche 964 and Cayenne driver so my Pelican forum history reflects that and this is my first post here. But my first boxer engine, which I think I'll never let go, is my 1996 R1100RS. The RS and its occasional offspring seem to be short-lived experiments that die out because they're not quite sporty enough and not quite toury enough. I happen to adore mine for both purposes.

But I live in western North Dakota. Before the oil boom we're experiencing hit, I rode my bike nearly every day in the summer whether to work or just a quick McDonalds run (the nearest McDonalds being 90 miles away through some good twisty roads). The past two years I have put a combined total of 30 miles on it, because it is simply suicidal with the lack of a tarp law for aggregate trucks, the number of people from states where they should know better passing up-hill on two-lane roads, and the amount of traffic preventing you from passing.

My parents have a house in the Phoenix, AZ area. I want to ride my bike down and leave it there, to travel down a few times a year and actually ride the thing. But I am concerned about storing it in their non-climate-controlled garage. Of course it's in cold storage now, but heat worries me more than cold. Is there anything I should know and/or do in order to keep the bike happy? Thanks in advance.

[ckcarr]

You think riding in Phoenix will be safer?

Heat will kill batteries in the desert. The sun will kill paint.
Other than that, it will be fine.

[omg1010]

Hi there,

I wouldn't worry too much. Cover the bike with an old bedsheet and it should be fine. Rubber things might age and you could apply some silicone spray to some parts.

Brgds
Oliver

[iamtheari]

Thanks for the responses.

I've actually ridden in Phoenix and it's much safer than here. Trust me on that. One person I know here had a crowbar fly off a work truck in front of her, and it bounced back up and stuck about 6 inches through her windshield. I've had rocks over 5 inches in size hit my windshield after being thrown up by oncoming vehicles. And yet there are people around riding motorcycles without helmets or windshields. One look at the average western ND windshield tells why that is a bad idea.

But really it's not the 10, 17, 101, 202, or even the new 303 that I'd be riding on. It's the two-lane roads outside of Phoenix that I'm aiming for. One of the best rides I have ever taken was northeast from Scottsdale through the forest up to Holbrook (AZ-87, -260, and -377) (I wonder if the Burma-Shave inspired moose warning signs are still there.) My parents have a car at the house that I'd be using for any in-town trips. Basically I would have a good fly-and-ride situation that doesn't involve freshwater tanker trucks with worn-out engines and failed brakes driven by people without commercial licenses and with a BAC of around 0.18% forcing me into the ditch as happens with startling regularity here.

Any tips on which rubber parts to spray without disassembling much of the bike? I'd be storing it inside so the sun isn't a concern.

The battery is definitely a concern, but batteries react badly to every temperature so that's something I get to deal with no matter where I keep it. Of course, I could keep the battery inside the air-conditioned house when I'm not there. I have a sealed battery in the bike now. At least it's relatively easy to pull the battery on the 1996. A 1977 R100RS required a frame member to come out before the battery would, if memory serves.

[bradzdotcom]

one grand products makes an exterior rubber & vinyl protectant that worked quite well when we stored 300+ collector dirt bikes in las vegas.
the warehouse was only "climate controlled" when an event was held (the air-con was turned on).
otherwise, they just sat there and baked.

(note to self: don't go riding with this guy...he seems to be a magnet for maniacs).

[iamtheari]

Nah, I'm not a maniac magnet. My area is an oil boom magnet, and oil booms are maniac magnets. It's unfortunate, but I take the good with the bad. Part of the good is that I can afford to fly to Arizona a few times a year to visit my motorcycle. And I'm perfectly safe to ride with, if you can keep up. (As they say of BMW riders, they ride alone because no one else wants to go that far, that fast.)

Glad to hear specific good results from the One Grand Products thing. I'll check that out.

[Daz]

(As they say of BMW riders, they ride alone because no one else wants to go that far, that fast.)

.... they say that about BMW riders? The far, yes, but the fast?

[iamtheari]

Maybe it's just me. 8)

[JonyRR]

"Maybe it's just me"

naaaaah, it's not. Just a typical Porsche owner.

Define 'fast'.

[1100s nut]

I have riden with plenty of very fast BMW riders...very fast.

Ari, sounds you have a good gig. I have heard the rent up there is higher than NY city.

B safe,
Lane

[AZ-J]

I store my R1200S down in the "Phoenix, AZ" area. I don't ride in July or August except at night. But I think our dry air is good for the R1200S. It likes it.

[iamtheari]

Lane: I'm 45 miles from Williston, which indeed has the highest average rent in the US. But I think that survey was limited to towns with a census population over 10,000, since in my town the going rate for a 2-bedroom apartment is $2,900. Ten years ago, you couldn't get $400 for the same apartment. I don't have the best gig in town, but the booming economy is good for anyone willing to work hard so I do alright.

AZ-J: Good point on the dry air. Cool it off a bit and you have an engine's dream! I remember riding on Christmas Day when I briefly lived in Arizona about a decade ago. Now I'm back in my homeland, wearing a T-shirt because the temperature is above 30. Yes, we have a mental illness that makes us actually enjoy our nonsensical climate.

P.S. You guys have some cool bikes. I'd better start trying to catch up. Thanks for the tips!

[AZ-J]

I ride in September even when 90 F in mesh gear. Beautiful!

[AZ Pete]

I don't think you have anything to worry about storing your bike in a garage in Scottsdale. Just cover it to keep it out of direct sunlight, and remove the battery. You may have more to worry about with our gasoline. The stuff that is added to it makes it sour over time, so you might want to use some kind of fuel stabilizer.

I don't use anything to treat the rubber or finish on my bike except the routine wash and wax. We ride all year, just adjust the time of day by the season. Early morning starts in the summer, late morning starts in the winter.

[AZ-J]

I use fuel stabilizer and a Battery Tender all summer, just in case.