I mostly just loom around this website. Don't post much due to the fact that I feel I should keep my mouth shut because I don't yet own a motorcycle.

But yesterday, my wife asked how come I don't look into getting one (I was mentioning that it was a good day to be out riding). I told her because I think I would want a garage and/or a pickup truck before I get a bike...we live in a townhouse, and parking it in the house is NOT an option.

Which is the reason why I am posting. What do you guys without one or both do with your bikes? Am I making too much of a big deal out of this, or is having a garage and/or pickup a legitimate concern?

I have always wanted to wait till the "perfect time" to own a bike, but I feel that I am squandering away a good chance to get one NOW, since I pretty much got the green light from the CFO of the family, lol!

 

Depending on your neighborhood keeping a bike outside is just asking to get it stolen.

It takes 2-3 strong guys to pick it up, throw it in the back of the truck you don't have and pffft...gone.

Like I said depending on your area.

Also, a bike is more exposed than a car to the elements, like rain, dirt, sand, whatever.

 

I live in the city in an apartment and i keep my bike outside. I put a front disk brake locker on it and cover it most the time.. But i have full coverage on the bike so i don't worry about it too much. It is my only form of transportation because i walk to work so i never have to drive it, grocery shopping can get tricky but i love the bike and do not regret buying it one bit.

 

dont own a truck or a garage, and most dont have a garage. Like said depending on area. Do you have at a small patch of yard with the townhouse? If so you could park your bike on the patio etc. There are alarms for bike so at least it should alert you if someone messed with your bike. No one likes to leave their bikes out in the weather but it will not hurt them at all, but you will have to clean it more often etc to make sure the metal parts didnt rust.

 

a garage is nice but riding a bike is heaven.

your choice

 

The truck is definitely not necessary. Pay $55 a year to be a AAA member or whatever your local auto club is, and you get towing plus other benefits.

As for the garage....that's a tricky one. If you have assigned parking and can put the bike in the same spot as the car, I wouldn't worry about it. Or, like PG said, if you've got a small yard/patio you can pull it on to it would be fine. A cheap tarp will help keep dew and rain off of it, which will help the life of your seat a bit. Street parking would make me VERY nervous about it. Easier to be stolen, or even just knocked over by an idiot trying to parallel park that doesn't know where their cage is on the road. Check with your HOA and see if maybe you could park it in an out-of-the-way spot in the common area or something.

 

I live in apartments, but the complex has a few garages that rent seperate from the apartments. I pay $110 extra for a garage. You could get a storage unit near your house to keep it in when your not riding it.

 

get full coverage insurance and stop worrying about a truck. get some gear and take the msf course before buying the bike and enjoy your new found addiction. and buy your wife some gear too cause she will enjoy it as well and then come back later and thank us for getting rid of your fears =)

 

I don't have a garage, but I do have a small utility shed the bike fits into.

when I lived in my apartment, I had my bike parked in front of my car (underground parking). I looped a chain through the front wheel, an exposed frame element (some bikes this isn't possible) and the back tire. I locked it to a concrete pillar... basically they had to cut the chain or the lock if they wanted the bike... I had talked to the landlord and got a parking spot in plain view of one of the cameras. I also left the bike covered. I didn't have a problem with it - however - that doesn't mean you shouldn't carry theft.

At my house the bike is secured, and I don't both with theft anymore...


I don't have a truck either - what were you planning on using the truck for?

 

Rent a garage or just leave it outside. Get insurance to cover theft and vandalism and bam, you have a bike.