Storage Suggestions If No Garage...

[ShortCake]

I am in the middle of purchasing a 2015 RT S SE6 leftover with a deep discount at the dealer. In fact, the bike is still in the warehouse in the box! Anyway, my main question is for those that do NOT have a garage.

I live in a townhome with a cul-de-sac. We have assigned parking spaces but with the kids here, ect. I do not trust it out there with a cover. During the riding season, I do plan on keeping it on my back porch (which is a cement pad). Call me crazy, but I have not ridden in a couple years and miss 2 wheels. With having a bad knee, I am now at the mercy of 3-wheels and I do not want to wait any longer, for life is passing me by while I see myself continuing to say "next year". Even with a decent amount down, I will have a monthly payment close to the same as my SUV along with insurance. A storage unit monthly is NOT in my budget.

Is there anyone here that keeps their spyder outside with a high quality cover? What do you do in the winter? Any/all suggestions are appreciated :helpsmilie:

Thanks!

 

[jthornton]

Will they allow a portable building to cover the Spyder up?

JT

 

[lizmcg]

Bike Barn

I bought a Bike Barn (http://www.thebikebarn.net/model_trike.html), and I'm very pleased with it. They make a trike size that fits my RTS with about 6-8 inches on each side and plenty of room back to front. It's very sturdy and the canvas is heavy. Most people put down plywood, but I just put in 8 12-inch spikes in my gravel driveway. The front tires of the Spyder rest on the anchor plates for extra stability. Costs $450 plus $55 UPS and arrives in about a week (US east coast).

 

[lizmcg]

Bike Barn 2

As far as winter is concerned, the Barn is rated for about 75 lbs of snow, but you have to sweep it off if it's accumulating (see the FAQ page on their website). Somebody posted awhile ago that they didn't do that once, and it collapsed but wasn't actually damaged (nor was their Spyder, if I remember correctly). Oh, and I'm a 68-year-old woman and I assembled it by myself.hyea:

And :welcome:

 

[ShortCake]

As far as winter is concerned, the Barn is rated for about 75 lbs of snow, but you have to sweep it off if it's accumulating (see the FAQ page on their website). Somebody posted awhile ago that they didn't do that once, and it collapsed but wasn't actually damaged (nor was their Spyder, if I remember correctly). Oh, and I'm a 68-year-old woman and I assembled it by myself.hyea:

And :welcome:

Thanks for the info. I see you live in Virginia and I am in PA, therefore, we know how the winters can be out this way. My concern of storing my bike in the winter months outside would be the crazy temperature changes we have here along with possibility of hoses, belts. ect cracking. Removing the battery and so-called "winterizing" the bike with fuel stabilizer seems simple enough. It is some of the other weather-related things I would be concerned with.

 

[Questions]

I've got a Cycle Cabana on a tarp in the back yard. It's rather similar to the Bike Barn. Has the same problems with snow so I plan to see if I can pay the local dealership to store the bike for me this winter. Last winter the dealer who sold it to me kept it in his garage as part of the deal.

I also have the heavy Can-Am outdoor cover and it does a very good job of keeping the bike dry. I also use S100 brand corrosion inhibitor.

 

[lizmcg]

Winter worries

My concern of storing my bike in the winter months outside would be the crazy temperature changes we have here along with possibility of hoses, belts. ect cracking. Removing the battery and so-called "winterizing" the bike with fuel stabilizer seems simple enough. It is some of the other weather-related things I would be concerned with.

I know. My dealer doesn't have room to store bikes, but I'm thinking of asking other dealerships of other brands if they might, or I might try to find a temperature-controlled self-storage place with electricity for a battery tender. I also have the BRP full cover, and I'll use that, too. Meanwhile, the Bike Barn gives me some peace of mind and protection from pretty much everything, not to mention convenience compared to the cover. Also, the cover wouldn't let me use the flag mounts or the passenger seat bag/backrest.

 

[Bob Denman]

If you can't find another dealer who offers storage space for the Winter: the Bike Barn is your next "best bet"! :thumbup:

 

[kbwitt]

Be for you spend a dime, better check your tonwhouse cc&r's I can not believe they will let you put anything other thana full cover on bike. I know budgets tight but go on line for a small storage unit with a roll up door.
You will find very different prices on same size, it depends on location some are kind of resalable.
I think you are buyingthe best bike RT S great features. I do not think limited is a good price because of luggage & gps
Good luck Kenn

 

[Deanna777]

I cover my spyder in the summer with a BRP full cover,( it is made of Tough water repellent, breathable 300 denier polyester. The 2 tone cover provides maximum vehicle protection) I have the full cover for 4 years. I keep my spyder in my driveway during the summer.

In the Winter I have my spyder stored at a Dealership. ( From Oct. to April)

I live in VT.

Deanna

 

[Mazo EMS2]

Hmmm, the bike barn looks interesting for the riding season, but for the off months, I think I'd seek out a friend with some space or some option of a sturdy building. Ice, sleet, snow, wet snow/rain....well you guys know how that goes...

 

[ShortCake]

I cover my spyder in the summer with a BRP full cover,( it is made of Tough water repellent, breathable 300 denier polyester. The 2 tone cover provides maximum vehicle protection) I have the full cover for 4 years. I keep my spyder in my driveway during the summer.

In the Winter I have my spyder stored at a Dealership. ( From Oct. to April)

I live in VT.

Deanna

When you have time, could you post a pic of the cover on the bike? Also, do you remember about how much you spent? I am hoping that the dealer gives me a discount on the cover.

Thanks!

 

[ShortCake]

Is there anyone willing to show me the cover on their bike and how much they paid (average)?

I was also curious as to how many of you just throw a cheap tarp over it when you KNOW you are going to ride it day in and day out? I was thinking of doing this because it would cut-out the time consuming labor or constantly putting the full cover on and off daily. Then when you know it's going to be sitting or raining, the full cover would then be called for. Just not sure if anyone does this.

 

[frogfly]

We bought the partial cover to use on ours, but we do have a parking garage in our building. It is easy to put on/take off and folds into an attached zip bag. It's about 7" x 8" folded up and fits easily into any of the compartments. I don't have a pic with it on our bike, but it looks exactly like you see in the pic on the revzilla site.

http://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/tour-master-select-can-am-spyder-rt-half-motorcycle-cover

If the dealer doesn't throw in a full cover, you can find them on Amazon for under $100 and one of the sites sponsors has a really nice looking one too.

http://store.valueaccessories.net/UltraGardCAN-AMSpyderRTCover.aspx

In my opinion, either cover option would be money better spent than using a cheap tarp.

Welcome to the Spyder side of life. Safe travels.

 

[lizmcg]

Full cover

Is there anyone willing to show me the cover on their bike and how much they paid (average)?

I was also curious as to how many of you just throw a cheap tarp over it when you KNOW you are going to ride it day in and day out? I was thinking of doing this because it would cut-out the time consuming labor or constantly putting the full cover on and off daily. Then when you know it's going to be sitting or raining, the full cover would then be called for. Just not sure if anyone does this.

I paid the list price minus 15%. I knew the Spyder would be outside and needed immediate protection. Once you get a routine down, it doesn't take long to put on the cover, and even less to take it off. I just folded the front and back ends onto the seat, forming a long sausage shape, then carried it that way into the garage for the duration of the ride; reverse the procedure to put it back on. You do have to wait for everything to cool down. The full cover is quite large and not something you'd want to take along with you without a trailer. The travel cover is much smaller but doesn't cover the body, mainly the windshield, seat, and controls. You can get the BRP cover on Amazon, but you'll pay the full price or near it. Do a search for "Can Am RT cover" and see what's available, then decide on the price/quality/fit trade-off.

 

[Deanna777]

When you have time, could you post a pic of the cover on the bike? Also, do you remember about how much you spent? I am hoping that the dealer gives me a discount on the cover.

Thanks!

Here is a picture of my spyder with a full cover on:

Front of Spyder

left side of spyder. I don't remember how much I paid for the "Full Cover". Deanna

 

[Deanna777]

I paid the list price minus 15%. I knew the Spyder would be outside and needed immediate protection. Once you get a routine down, it doesn't take long to put on the cover, and even less to take it off. I just folded the front and back ends onto the seat, forming a long sausage shape, then carried it that way into the garage for the duration of the ride; reverse the procedure to put it back on. You do have to wait for everything to cool down. The full cover is quite large and not something you'd want to take along with you without a trailer. The travel cover is much smaller but doesn't cover the body, mainly the windshield, seat, and controls. You can get the BRP cover on Amazon, but you'll pay the full price or near it. Do a search for "Can Am RT cover" and see what's available, then decide on the price/quality/fit trade-off.

It does take me long to "Cover " my spyder. I start @ the back( trunk) then I uncover the left side, front,( frunk) over the windshield, then the right side. Then carry it and put some where else.

I also have a "half Cover"(comes with it own bag) that I keep in the Frunk, it is there if I need it.
Deanna

 

[Deanna777]

Hmmm, the bike barn looks interesting for the riding season, but for the off months, I think I'd seek out a friend with some space or some option of a sturdy building. Ice, sleet, snow, wet snow/rain....well you guys know how that goes...

Yes, I do know how that goes( Ice, snow, wet snow, Wind, sleet freezing rain, :banghead::banghead: ) I put mine in Winter storage ( at a dealership) Deanna

 

[Hokiev]

Bike Barn Option

In your case I think a full cover might work best, however the Bike Barn, as stated both others is perfect in my case. The second picture was after a heavy snow of over 15" last winter. You will note there is no snow on the top. I placed a cheap portable heater (less than $20 I got at Tractor Supply) and set it on the lowest fan speed and heat setting. Kept the snow off the cover throughout this storm and all other storms this past winter.

 

[lizmcg]

Good to know

However the Bike Barn, as stated both others is perfect in my case. The second picture was after a heavy snow of over 15" last winter. You will note there is no snow on the top. I placed a cheap portable heater (less than $20 I got at Tractor Supply) and set it on the lowest fan speed and heat setting. Kept the snow off the cover throughout this storm and all other storms this past winter.

That's very encouraging, since I live right around the corner from you (Lake of the Woods in northern Orange County). I got the dehumidifier that Bike Barn sells when I bought the BB, and it's probably similar to what you have. I haven't hooked it up yet, but I never thought it might also keep the snow off. Just out of curiosity, do you have any contingency plans for hurricanes? That's one thing that worries me---high winds.ray: