Leaving bike outside long term

[adrinalino]

Hi everyone,

My name is Adrian, and I am Dutch. I hope I can get your advice on the GL1500. The GL1500 has been on my wish list for a long time, but one of the reasons I haven't bought one yet is the fear that the bike might not be capable of coping with the Dutch weather.

I'd like to know how weatherproof the GL1500 is with all it's electronics. At the moment, I own a Honda NTV650, and it has always been flawless. I don't own a garage, so the bike has to stay outside in the sun and rain all year. We get only moderate frost in the winter. I can imagine that the leather seat might have issues, but I can make a new cover for it.

Are there any other problems I can expect?

Thanks for helping a Dutchie out!

Cheers,
Adrian

[Rambozo]

Because there is a lot of plastic, the sun will age it more quickly. Rain isn't much of a problem. The switches are greased from the factory, and a good cleaning and new dielectric grease will keep them working rain or shine. After looking at a bunch of 1500s that have been stored outside, I would at least try to use a bike cover if possible. Mine spends a lot of time outside and it shows. However, it works fine, and are just cosmetic issues that I have to deal with.

[Charlie1Horse]

I have a GL1500 and a GL1800. Both of them are outside because I have no room in my small garage. I have kept them out there for years. I cover the seats with some upholstery plastic, medium thickness. This keeps the local cats from getting on the upholstery and clawing the material to shreds. Personally, I don't like cats but, a lot of you do. Then I cover the entire bike with a 9 X 12 heavy duty tarp and keep it in place with bungee cords. This keeps the rain off and helps keep the sun from fading the paint. I have never, so far. had any trouble with the way I choose to protect it. I have been doing this for a number of years with great success. I have to, however replace the tarps about every six months. I am wanting to replace my one car garage with a larger one soon which will give me room inside but, until then. . . . I hope this answers your question adequately.
Russell

[WingAdmin]

I would get a good quality full bike cover and keep it covered when outside. It will prevent it from aging from the sun and rain (which will definitely cause embrittlement of the plastic and accelerate corrosion).

Another option would be something like this:



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[Rambozo]

I was looking at many of those kind of garage storage thingies. I couldn't find one that would fit a stock 1500.
Now that I have a Madstad windshield I should remeasure and look again.

[Hans van der Lugt]

Hi Adrian,
I live in Ede, my 1800 is outside anytime the weather allows riding. 9-10 months a year.
I bought the cheap (50 Euro) cover from Bikers Best.
That works fine. Although one side of it loses color since the summer.
But better the cover then the bike.
I knotted a neon shoelace with a steel shopping cart coin to the hook. So you can reach it more easily.
The cover is put in the right saddle bag during riding. And goes on every evening. Keeps the bike clean and the saddle dry.

[Snowmoer]

Definitely get some type of full cover. The weather will age your bike quicker than you think. The sun also ages the tires quicker. The seat is vinal unless the previous owner had it recovered with leather. Can you put one of those plastic sheds on your property that the bike would fit inside? That would protect it from the rain and sun. But, it is not a permanent building.

[offcenter]

Leave it outside??
Not me! Mine means too much to me.
As Snowmoer said, the sun and weather will age the bike quickly.

[Solo So Long]

Some of us don't HAVE an "inside" to put the Wing into.

One problem with covers is that when plastic ages in heat or direct sunlight, it tends to stick to other plastic that it's in contact with, such as the windshield. If you have to use a simple plastic cover, get a king-size contour bedsheet to cover the bike, then put the plastic over that.

That fold-over "garage" would be great, except that it doesn't fit the Wing.

I wish that I had the setup that one guy I knew in LA had. His apartment building had been build in the 1930s, and they had put in a sidewalk elevator to get to the basement storage. It had eventually been abandoned for some reason. He made a deal with the owner that let him get it working again, and use it for parking his KZP. He added a garage door remote, so he simply had to ride onto the sidewalk, hit the button, the cargo lift would come up, he would ride onto it, and then the whole thing would lower back down to the basement, with him still sitting on it. The opposite when it was time to hit the streets. When word got around, we all had to go watch this. It earned him the nicknames Green Hornet and Batgirl.

[Cewonz]

Hi Adrian
I have no garage as well so what works for me I put on a half cover that fits snugly around the bike. I then bought a full cover two seater Golf Cart Cover! I added two heavy duty adjustable buckle clamps to the front & back. The cover comes with one already in the middle. It does the job perfectly. No sun or rain touches the bike & breathable. Keep sun off the tires. Covers the bike completely. I added heavy duty buckle clamps for fit & wind protection! Hope this helps.. It's doing wonders for me!

Corey in N.Carolina

[Silvereagle1833]

Change your life style. Get that thing in a garage. No excuse. I won't sugarcoat it. Motorcycles are small in size. People are lazy.

[Hans van der Lugt]

What if there are no affordable houses, let alone garages for sale in your town?
We live in a very crowded country.
We bought a recreational house so our adult daughter and partner have a place to live.
I can rent two garages, but they are 3 miles from home. No use if you want to commute on your bike.