Storage size...

[muldoon74]

Looking to up my security for my bike and get a shed type building for back garden. 

 

I live in a four in a block so garage not an option. 

 

I want to future proof it so it needs to fit up to a Vstrom650 sized machine. (Vstrom is probably as big mass-wise as I'm going to go).

 

Max I can fit where I'm looking at in my garden is probably 8x6ft. 

 

Is 8ft deep big enough for a bike the size of a vstrom and some kit/storage/shelving for oils, cans of stuff etc? 

 

What type of arrangements for storage do you guys have?

 

Obviously just looking at size wise here don't need pictures etc of security devices! 

 

Looking at something like this.... 

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Keter-Outdoor-Plastic-Garden-Storage/dp/B015J60IPQ/ref=pd_dp_d_dp_dealz_related_d_sccl_1_5/258-4592041-3425244?pd_rd_w=uoPl5&content-id=amzn1.sym.37ca5a43-aa89-4749-a094-2cd6a218d8b5&pf_rd_p=37ca5a43-aa89-4749-a094-2cd6a218d8b5&pf_rd_r=MCESCD3KEXQY3JDN2WXD&pd_rd_wg=k6F8Z&pd_rd_r=8e12ded5-8824-47f6-ad60-73331994c760&pd_rd_i=B015J60IPQ&th=1

 

Edited November 24, 2024 by muldoon74

[husoi]

Being a bike just over 2.2m it should fit as long the doors open outward.

I would go for metal garage with a concrete base if you can have it there.

Some thermal insulation for good measure and ventilation up and down to make sure condensation doesn't linger too long.

That's a problem you will have to an extent with any type of garage.

Wooden are cheaper but will last less and require more maintenance than galvanized metal ones.

Also, metal will be harder to get in if you don't have the keys.

 

I wouldn't store any gear in such structure because not only will be subject to vermin and moisture but the variation in temperature can potentially degrade the materials quicker

[Pie man]

My old neighbour had a timber shed with beefed up security. It just looked like an ordinary garden shed from the outside, he added insulation and then ply lined the interior with 3/4 plywood. Strengthened up the doors with added hinge pins and security locks. He kept his Ducati 916 in there for many years until he moved up to Perth. 

[Shepherd]

I was lucky enough to get some free kingspan sheets to insulate my wooden storage unit, and it makes a massive difference.  If you can get some, or similar it's well worth it.

Mine is only 2" longer than my bike once it is in it's front wheel chock thing, so I purchased a spare top box mount and fitted it to the wall. It's ideal to store the top box out of the way, and I can keep gloves and helmet locked up in it too.

I also had to put in a concrete base beforehand, so incorporated a nice heavy duty ground anchor at the same time. This is at the rear wheel. With a nice lumpy chain through that and a wire security cable laid under the wheel chock before bolting it down to the concrete, it's as secure as I can get it. (Plus a wireless cctv camera).

All for my 6 year old Versys

[muldoon74]

37 minutes ago, husoi said:

Being a bike just over 2.2m it should fit as long the doors open outward.

I would go for metal garage with a concrete base if you can have it there.

Some thermal insulation for good measure and ventilation up and down to make sure condensation doesn't linger too long.

That's a problem you will have to an extent with any type of garage.

Wooden are cheaper but will last less and require more maintenance than galvanized metal ones.

Also, metal will be harder to get in if you don't have the keys.

 

I wouldn't store any gear in such structure because not only will be subject to vermin and moisture but the variation in temperature can potentially degrade the materials quicker

Should have clarified, any gear would be panniers, top box, tent etc not jacket, helmet or anything like that...

 

Also while that sounds like quite an ideal setup, I can't afford concrete and all that jazz just now. Would love to but just not fiscally possible atm. 

 

Have seen a few metal ones on internet but, as mentioned, price wise not feasible for next few years.

[Old-codger]

If you cant stretch to a concrete base go for cheap concrete slabs or look on freecycle sites for free stuff. Lay them on a bed of sharp sand it will keep the damp out of the bottom of the shed. I would go for a decent wooden shed with a large single door or double doors sometimes called a groundsmans shed. Use decent fixings and bracing make sure to use a decent grade of felt and a shed will last for years. A coat of creasote each year and you can add insulation if you like, I personally dont like metal sheds because of condensation and damp. 

Put decent security on what ever you buy but try not to make it all visible and obvious, a good tip is if you have a padlock on any shed in cold weather the rain gets into the lock and freezes up making it hard to open. If you have an old inner tube cut an oval piece out of it about 6/7 inches in length then put a screw with washer in the top so the rubber hangs down covering the lock. It keeps it dry and out of sight and never freezes up.  

[bud]

I have a 6X8 wooden shed made for motorcycles. It has double opening doors for ease of entry. You can fit two motorcycles in. But not loads of room for storage.

I'm not keen on the metal sheds for the reason above. I could never get rid of the condensation. Especially if putting away a bike wet.

My shed came with a hasp  with a built in anti tamper cut guard. Which forms a hood over the padlock. It saves the lock for getting water inside. And means you can't use bolt cutters on the lock.

[bonio]

I've a mate with a metal garage. He says condensation's a problem; it sometimes rains inside, dripping off the roof onto the bikes.

PS to the mate with the metal garage, you know who you are. This is for you

Edited November 25, 2024 by bonio

[Capt Sisko]

Having had to store a bike in a garden shed, my two pennies worth.

 

1. Door width. Getting you and your bike through a narrow door at the same time ain't easy, though your example does have a good door width.

2. The garden shed frame. Wooden ones are often build with a piece wood across the bottom of the door entrance. Although it might only be a piece of 30 or 40mm square timber it's something you have to push your bike over, and be careful of not tripping over yourself! Steel sheds will have a piece of angle and goodness knows what a plastic shed has, but they all have a basic floor frame to stop the wall speading out.

3. Reinforced floor. A V Strom 650 weighs about 220kg and at best that's spread between two tyres & your side side stand, at worst, most of it on your centre stand. A regular shed floor ain't built to take that sort of concentrated weight. You need to think about a way of spreading it out a bit.

4. Lights. Even if it's just a battery powered light it'll make it so much easier in the dark. In fact two are better one inside and one outside and above the door. The brighter the better.

5. Windows. It's wise idea to put some opaque obscuring film on the inside of the glass to stop prying eyes.

6. To Fort Knox or not. There is an arguement that too much visible security says to the scrotes, hey there must be something worthwhile nicking in there. For external security you can only do so much anyway. If the miscreants are carrying an angle grinder strong enough to cut through your bike locks, they'll just bypass whatever you've locked the door with by either cutting off the hinges or even cut away the wood or metal around the hinges. If they're going to that length then it's a professional theft and you probably aren't going to be able to stop them no matter what you do.

 

 

Edited November 26, 2024 by Capt Sisko

[rob m]

8 hours ago, bonio said:

I've a mate with a metal garage. He says condensation's a problem; it sometimes rains inside, dripping off the roof onto the bikes.

PS to the mate with the metal garage, you know who you are. This is for you

Metal sheds/garages are rubbish without ventilation. Even with ventilation, they're awful for motorbikes. 

 

I've had a lock up for a while this year (a shipping container) and the fasteners on my bike have rusted up something terrible. That might be due to it being a BMW (if you know, you know) but I'm not happy with it and have gone back to my bike being outside under a cover.

 

The money I'm saving is being used for impulsive purchases on a load of old shit that I don't need. Go figure. 

[muldoon74]

9 hours ago, bud said:

I have a 6X8 wooden shed made for motorcycles. It has double opening doors for ease of entry. You can fit two motorcycles in. But not loads of room for storage.

I'm not keen on the metal sheds for the reason above. I could never get rid of the condensation. Especially if putting away a bike wet.

My shed came with a hasp  with a built in anti tamper cut guard. Which forms a hood over the padlock. It saves the lock for getting water inside. And means you can't use bolt cutters on the lock.

Also looking at these.. 

 

https://www.tigersheds.com/product/tiger-shiplap-windowless-apex-double-door/?option=7858&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI-ZSg1sX4iQMVY5pQBh1dUyAkEAQYBiABEgLcAfD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

I don't really need a lot of storage but I would like a bit of room to make it easier to lock up/take off locks etc... I think 8x6 would be ample. Also my garden isn't huge so don't want to take up too much of it with a sizeable structure. 

 

 

[muldoon74]

Anyone got any  experience of these? 

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Armadillo-Motorcycle-Folding-Secure-Shelter/dp/B01LZ4ICC1/ref=sr_1_5?crid=1K905KFQIQ0R7&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.eakB3GIumFsPUMqer76bbG4axS5Vwg-rSDSG1ybdGvD0y7itFXrhmqmezX6Mf50ScAN208G5_PPQ_GMr6LanWCB8xKNeWhlMNvHFILEm8RW5NRK5kf1zGOJ8mcMtaTu-917nV9_Oqn53FnizyxheuTih7uN_cCBANdmn0oyP0fVoBqcasOlqb5GAH6rG_84rkdoBLmcYat-xA8PeNoJYwJV_CKDC2ue3ZZU0EDk8DnwVhn1_0GXZSEbsZZMVEkcdzSoJ3dkJTuAp-U2ghPSH5OB_7-SwvMK9659Y9SAh-t0.ErE4bl5r4KEFntrnMzloMFzjUIu39uweWuF9QEqwvdM&dib_tag=se&keywords=armadillo+motorcycle+shelter+large&nsdOptOutParam=true&qid=1732577394&sprefix=armadillo+mot%2Caps%2C67&sr=8-5

 

Ideally I want a shed type thing but in the interim I have a place for one of these  with minimal groundwork required to make it feasible by next weekend. 

 

Have seen a couple of YouTube vids regarding putting them together but there's not much in the way of follow up/owner reviews to see how they cope after a year or two. 

[husoi]

That looks as safe as the straw house from the 3 Piglets story

[Simon Davey]

A smaller one of these, scroll down. 

 

https://www.machinemart.co.uk/c/sheds/

 

I've had a 12ft x 12ft version for about 4-5 years, it's stood up to many storms and abuse. We keep hay in it, at the top our farm. 

[Mississippi Bullfrog]

1 hour ago, Simon Davey said:

A smaller one of these, scroll down. 

 

https://www.machinemart.co.uk/c/sheds/

 

I've had a 12ft x 12ft version for about 4-5 years, it's stood up to many storms and abuse. We keep hay in it, at the top our farm. 

Interesting. I've always wondered how durable those are. A guy round the corner from us had one for his classic car which seemed to last for years but it was a very sheltered site.

[bud]

10 hours ago, muldoon74 said:

Also looking at these.. 

 

https://www.tigersheds.com/product/tiger-shiplap-windowless-apex-double-door/?option=7858&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI-ZSg1sX4iQMVY5pQBh1dUyAkEAQYBiABEgLcAfD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

I don't really need a lot of storage but I would like a bit of room to make it easier to lock up/take off locks etc... I think 8x6 would be ample. Also my garden isn't huge so don't want to take up too much of it with a sizeable structure. 

 

 

Looks very similar to mine. But mine has a small oblong window along one side. Only about 100mm high.

 

My mate used old railway sleepers to make a base for his shed. At the time it was a good price. Much cheaper than slabs, and lasted well.

[Simon Davey]

2 hours ago, Mississippi Bullfrog said:

Interesting. I've always wondered how durable those are. A guy round the corner from us had one for his classic car which seemed to last for years but it was a very sheltered site.

 

They're very well made, and come with screw type ground anchors, which I swapped with a type that hammer in and can't be pulled out.