Bike covers, especially moisture

Hey,

So after moving two months ago, I am now noticing that my garage gets really moist after a rain.
You walk in and everything is just moist. Not coming throub roof, thats new. I think water just comes from underneath. Can't be good for the bikes in there and I am afraid surface rust will appear soon.

What options are there to cover a bike and to protect it from moisture in air?
Any experience with those bike igloos? But they might be vented in which case moisture would still get in.

Not happy about the garage which is also smaller than my old one. Now that...

Thanks,
G

 

There are motorcycle bagging systems for storage purposes, but they cost quite a bit. I used to have a small shed for storage, and moisture was a problem (I lived in Oregon then). I used dessicant cans to keep the moisture levels down.

 

Hmm, I think I would need a lot of those cans. Even the inside of my tool box was all grown damp.
After spending all that time and money, I don't want my xj to start rusting or whatever. I sold my MV yesterday so one less bike to worry about, but the xj and gpz should not sit like that.
Grrr...

Just found this: http://www.zerustproducts.com/products/rust-protection-for-motorcycles/motorcycle-cover/

 

you need to keep the temperature of any metal above the dew point of the air or it will "sweat".
could you shine a infrared heat lamp on them? they don't need to be really warm, just a degree or two warmer than the air. Once it gets below freezing the problem goes away, just let them freeze.
gun guys have cabinet heaters to solve the same problem

 

Sounds like condensation or no vapor barrier under the slab, or both. take a look at this link.

http://www.todayshomeowner.com/how-to-deal-with-condensation-on-a-garage-floor/

 

Nah, there is no electricity in my new garage. When i work, i run a long extension from the house (garage is detached).

My helmet and jackets are completely damp as well, but that's an easy fix.

Maybe I'll install vents so it can air out.

 

Thanks for the link. Yeah, #2 is most likely my issue and only seems to happen when there is a major downpour, at least from what I have seen since we moved in 2 months ago.
Unfortunately we are only renting, I am sure the owner is not going to rip out the floor for me.

 

The other option is to hose it down with a light oil and clean it off in the spring.

 

My garage is detached and I deal with this whenever the temp takes a sudden upward change and we get rain. Spring is usually the worst. I find that keeping the garage closed up as much as possible really helps. Lets the garage warm up slowly rather than letting that humid warmer air inside and condensate on everything. As previously mentioned, keeping it warmer than the dew point is the best solution. I installed some old ceiling fans in the garage too to help keep things dry over the winter etc. I know you don't have power but maybe running some temporary power and a box fan would help.

If you bag the bike, remember you will trap whatever moisture is in there and if the temp drops, you will get condensation on the bike. You might be able to put plastic under it and then cover it with some desiccant cans to help keep moisture at bay.

 

Sounds like best solution is to get divorced and park bike in living room?

 

Don't bag it in plastic or you will complicate the problem. Perhaps putting a sheet of plastic under the bike and then covering it with a sheet and putting a 100 watt light bulb might help. Do not cover it with anything that will trap moisture. Trust me, divorce is a lot more expensive than running an extension cord.

 

Bike is two feet off the ground on my table lift at all times, don't think plastic under bike will do much in this case.

Water just comes from below, the entire concrete floor is wet after a rain. Garage is closed at all times.
I will cover the bike with a bed sheet or similar. I have been meaning to do it for a while now.
Let's see how that goes.
I'd hate to see rust appear, I haven't even ridden it yet. Just can't seem to find time to do the last bits of work.

 

Just tell the wife she needs to sleep in garage, bike in living room, problem solved...

When I lived back east, one house I was in was like that... I went out and bought a dehumidifier, did not eliminate problem, but made it a lot more tolerable. Then I just moved to AZ... problem solved

 

Hey, skippdog, is that you looking out of the dog house you wife put you in??

 

LMAO

 

Not if he bags it with a dessicant inside. He'll be creating a sealed, moisture-controled environment.

 

I think that's the best idea. I'll give that a try. Will order that "tent" and put some desiccant inside.

I am going on a weekend trip this weekend and back to Paris and Germany one week later. So it will be good to know the bike is dry.

 

i ordered everything and will keep you posted.
thanks for all the comments

 

Yeah I use dessicant bags inside my Jeep whenever water gets inside and soaks the upolstery/carpets. They work like a charm, but they will reach a point at which they cannot absorb (if that is the right word) any more water and need to be changed.

 

this is the stuff you want.
https://www.desiccantsonline.com/bulk-desiccants/bulk-silica-gel.html
fresh, it's blue. as it gets wet it turns pinkish purple. then bake it in the oven(no odor), it's blue and ready to go again.
5 lbs will last a lifetime, and it dries out cellphones like nothing else.

 

Wish I would of thought of that with my (now deceased) 93 YJ Wrangler.
I loved that jeep, straight 6, 2 1/2" Old Man Emu suspension lift, 33 X 9.5 BFG's, she was a beauty.
Frame literally rusted through and broke in two. Floor board was rusted through, could see the road through the rocker panel . . . lord I miss Helen - Helen Wheels was her name.

Sorry about the hi-Jack.

Bacon!

 

Thanks Pollock. I ordered on amazon this morning. It's from same company.

 

just to give a quick update:
i received the cover/tent/bag and sealed the bike this morning. i also put a can of desiccant in there.
let's see how it goes but i do feel a bit better about it already.

 

That's awesome! How long do you bake it for/at what temp/in what?

That sounds like great stuff. I've used buckets of damp-rid, (calcium chlorate) which has worked well I've found, but to know that there is something reusable out there sounds like a way better deal

 

we use it at work, our cans don't have instructions but 300 deg, spread out about 1/4 inch deep on a cookie sheet for 20 minutes seems to work. they turn back to blue when their done

 

Awesome! I will definitely be picking some of that up. Thanks for the heads up!

 

I have the same problem with my shed after the roof collapsed back in 2010. I pushed the roof back up best I could but it leaks bad. I have it covered with a tarp and it still leaks has leaks . I have relented with the efforts to keep it dry. Now I just coat the bike with wd40 and on the fenders I use Vaseline and I remove the seat and side covers and keep them inside for the winter. This works with some cleaning in the spring. In the summer it will dry out quick and I have no problems. Lithium lube spray also works on your plastics and if you cover well with it you could use just that all over the bike and get away with it. Just my two cents. Hope It helps