Motorbike storage

[levante]

Hi all. I am just awaiting confirmation on an idea that I have patented in order to start a business off. I have a small garden with no garage and my bike is stored under a cover all year round. My invention is a secure toughened plastic container just high enough long enough and wide enough to fit a bike in. This can fit into restricted spaces and the way it works is this. A base rather like a drawer slides out, the bike is wheeled onto the base and secured with padded retainers which can be adjusted to various wheel widths. The retainers secure the bike by its wheels then the base is pushed back into the container. The container door works rather like an overhead garage door. There are two models, one with the door at the end and one with the door at the front depending on the space you have available. The container is weather proof and can be secured to the ground. The beauty of this container is that it doesn't need to be as high or wide as conventional storage units thus saving valuable space in small gardens. Without working on all of the figures, if this was available to you for under £500 is it something that would interest you. Your thoughts are most welcome...Thanks

[DreamytimeEscorts]

If there was a way you could bolt the bike to the ground it would be better.

I use a Bike Barn and have the mother of all ground anchors fitted within; not your common-or-garden concreted-in eye but a small ramp fitted with rollers and steel plates up the sides and finished off with a bar that's Mul-T-locked on both sides through the back wheel and then bolted to the ground using 4 M14s.

Personally, it'd have to be pretty amazing for 500 quid.

[Tankbag]

+ a dog

[Joeman]

A small shed with a hinged roof would be simpler.

Lift the lid to 90Degrees, open two side hinged doors, wheel the bike in between the two sides of the shed, shut the two hinged doors (where the bike rolled in), shut the lid (which overlaps the doors keeping them closed) then lock the lid down and set the alarm.

Easy to build from wood, looks nicer than plastic and breathes to prevent condensation.

[levante]

Hi all. I am just awaiting confirmation on an idea that I have patented in order to start a business off. I have a small garden with no garage and my bike is stored under a cover all year round. My invention is a secure toughened plastic container just high enough long enough and wide enough to fit a bike in. This can fit into restricted spaces and the way it works is this. A base rather like a drawer slides out, the bike is wheeled onto the base and secured with padded retainers which can be adjusted to various wheel widths. The retainers secure the bike by its wheels then the base is pushed back into the container. The container door works rather like an overhead garage door. There are two models, one with the door at the end and one with the door at the front depending on the space you have available. The container is weather proof and can be secured to the ground. The beauty of this container is that it doesn't need to be as high or wide as conventional storage units thus saving valuable space in small gardens. Without working on all of the figures, if this was available to you for under £500 is it something that would interest you. Your thoughts are most welcome...Thanks

 

£500 was just a ball park figure. £300 may be more realistic

[levante]

A small shed with a hinged roof would be simpler.

Lift the lid to 90Degrees, open two side hinged doors, wheel the bike in between the two sides of the shed, shut the two hinged doors (where the bike rolled in), shut the lid (which overlaps the doors keeping them closed) then lock the lid down and set the alarm.

Easy to build from wood, looks nicer than plastic and breathes to prevent condensation.

 

Plastic would have air vents. Bike wouldn't be supported inside of a normal style shed. Shed idea wouldn't work for the side on version.

[levante]

If there was a way you could bolt the bike to the ground it would be better.

I use a Bike Barn and have the mother of all ground anchors fitted within; not your common-or-garden concreted-in eye but a small ramp fitted with rollers and steel plates up the sides and finished off with a bar that's Mul-T-locked on both sides through the back wheel and then bolted to the ground using 4 M14s.

Personally, it'd have to be pretty amazing for 500 quid.

 

Bike barns are ok but don't weather that well and can look a little unsightly. The storage unit would tuck away neatly and is very durable.

[DreamytimeEscorts]

Don't weather that well? I'm not sure I know what you mean. I've had mine in the same place directly exposed to the elements since about 2005. Its never leaked, cracked, split or ripped. The only thing I've had to do in all that time is scrape the algae off it once every two or three years.

I bought it originally because it was ideal for my purposes. I live in a rented house with no garage and no permission to build one. Who knows, if you'd have been around then I may have given you a look. I'm still not sure about the slidy-out floor though. Call me old-fashioned but I reckon a solid anchor is much harder to defeat than cutting through some plastic.

[Adam]

That would be something I'd be interested in but it would need a ground anchor or somewhere to fit a ground anchor because a plastic box isn't going to stop anyone. What sort security would it have? An alarm, lock, padlock? Also on the doors I'd be happier if they had one of those 3 point locks so when you lock it it goes into a hole in the floor and into the roof of the barn as well as the other door.

I think the main thing for most of us is security, because thieves seem to think it's okay to steal bikes and although you can't always stop them you can make it as awkward and difficult as possible. Would the plastic have any sort of reinforcement? How about a light for night time?

Edited December 18, 2013 by Adam

[fullscreenaging]

Are you talking about something like this http://www.secure-a-bike.com/index.html but in plastic?

I don't think the side on doors would work as it would be too difficult to squeeze the bike into.

EDIT: Just found this this one too http://www.mk-containers.co.uk/motorcyc ... estore.htm

They are both a bit on the expensive side though

[megawatt]

Most of these containers don't look big enough to get on and off the bike when it's in, and on the sidestand. Something with foldable sides and a roof would be good, but this would make it less waterproof and expensive. OK if you have absolutely no room for a bigger shed, but another foot or two wider makes a big difference.

[Joeman]

Most of these containers don't look big enough to get on and off the bike when it's in, and on the sidestand. Something with foldable sides and a roof would be good, but this would make it less waterproof and expensive. OK if you have absolutely no room for a bigger shed, but another foot or two wider makes a big difference.

yeah, thats why i reckon a liftable lid would be good. you could keep the container narrow and walk the bike in by reaching over the side. Once inside, shut the lid down.

[Glorian]

Can get these http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B004 ... d_i=468294 for £160, doesn't bolt or whatnot but keeps it dry and warm(er) and if it's going to be in your garden chances of someone able to walk in and walk off with it WHILE the bike is locked?

Your idea sounds great but it'd have to be a lot cheaper than £500/£300

[Guest]

Damn.

All i have is a garden and a bike cover

No padlocks or anything around my bike..

Which makes the bike alarm that i fitted.... Pointless.. Because i never actually use it..

Im in the middle of nowhere, with no street lamps.. My bike is invisible during the night

[megawatt]

I bought a cover for one of these for £42 inc postage off eBay

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B004 ... d_i=468294

Gonna try to build the hoops out of plastic conduit for around £25. No security needed around my place.

[DreamytimeEscorts]

Can get these http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B004 ... d_i=468294 for £160, doesn't bolt or whatnot but keeps it dry and warm(er) and if it's going to be in your garden chances of someone able to walk in and walk off with it WHILE the bike is locked?

Your idea sounds great but it'd have to be a lot cheaper than £500/£300

 

That's a copy of what I've got. The quality may differ but mine's been brilliant for a few years. It/mine does bolt down and you're also able to lock and alarm it and you can ride/reverse your bike in wet/dry/whatever.

[DreamytimeEscorts]

Damn.

All i have is a garden and a bike cover

No padlocks or anything around my bike..

Which makes the bike alarm that i fitted.... Pointless.. Because i never actually use it..

Im in the middle of nowhere, with no street lamps.. My bike is invisible during the night

 

I had a scooter nicked recently. It was my commuting tool and good for buzzing round the shops and short trips. It wasn't alarmed but was anchored to the inside of my iron garden gate and despite it not being worth more than about 500 quid, some dirtbag(s) had it away.

It really is a PITA to have a bike nicked.

[Guest]

My bike is insured for a higher value than what its actually worth.. With £0 excess..

So if it gets nicked, i will only have a smile on my face

But on a serious note.. I know everyone around here, Being a small village, neighbours dont miss a thing anyway..

and the only trouble you see around here is the occasional dickweed doing 100+mph up my 10 mile long bank road...

[DreamytimeEscorts]

and the only trouble you see around here is the occasional dickweed doing 100+mph up my 10 mile long bank road...

 

That sounds like a euphemism

[Mr Fro]

Nice idea but I have some constructive observations... Front/rear loading is great if you have space but side loading would be better in my opinion for really tight spaces. The drawer could be steel construction to give something really secure to lock the bike to. I like the idea of a roller type shutter - especially if you couple that up with a hinged lid.

All I want in return is 10% of your business.