Is it dangerous to store bike a dealership over winter?

[racerschool]

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Having a debate with a friend who's had a bad experience with their bike in for service when a dealership went under. With the economic climate for dealerships a bit iffy, would you reccommend anyone keeping their bike at a dealership for winter storage or safer to store in at home with a good tarp?

 

[bigpoppa]

Id be more worried about cost, thats probably the most expensive route

its home>>storage unit>>friends house>>dealer

 

[GreyGhost]

Id be more worried about cost, thats probably the most expensive route

its home>>storage unit>>friends house>>dealer

Agree. For many people, I would reverse one and two. Storage unit costs money but is safer. Your bike is at risk of dings or getting knocked over if you use your garage and store your bike in it. You won't get damage in a storage unit and rarely get things stolen as nobody knows which doors have good things (and to be honest, most are full of worthless garbage).

 

[GreyGhost]

Having a debate with a friend who's had a bad experience with their bike in for service when a dealership went under. With the economic climate for dealerships a bit iffy, would you reccommend anyone keeping their bike at a dealership for winter storage or safer to store in at home with a good tarp?

Don't use a tarp. Use a proper cover or a bed sheet if you want. I know someone that stored some furniture in a garage for a while and tarped it to keep it clean. Moisture rose from the concrete, condensed on the tarp and rained onto the furniture. They unwrapped the package to put it in the moving truck and the furniture was encased in fuzz. They threw it all out.

 

[Mad Mike]

Don't use a tarp. Use a proper cover or a bed sheet if you want. I know someone that stored some furniture in a garage for a while and tarped it to keep it clean. Moisture rose from the concrete, condensed on the tarp and rained onto the furniture. They unwrapped the package to put it in the moving truck and the furniture was encased in fuzz. They threw it all out.

I don't cover my bikes any more. A few years ago I got mice under the covers - they are trouble. I was lucky, a few nibbled wires and an airbox nest. I've seen them ravage seat foam, grips, wiring -- anything soft.

 

[ScorpionT16]

Well, my bike is stuck indefinitely at the dealer, they were looking at an issue, now they are closed until further notice - With the lockdown, that could be well into February. I have no way of reaching them either, everyone just closed shop, I didn't even get a call or notice

 

[Iceman]

Well, my bike is stuck indefinitely at the dealer, they were looking at an issue, now they are closed until further notice - With the lockdown, that could be well into February. I have no way of reaching them either, everyone just closed shop, I didn't even get a call or notice

That sucks. What issue? Curious as I have the same bike lol.

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[Deleted member 50930]

Well, my bike is stuck indefinitely at the dealer, they were looking at an issue, now they are closed until further notice - With the lockdown, that could be well into February. I have no way of reaching them either, everyone just closed shop, I didn't even get a call or notice

It's okay

You probably can't ride it until March or April

 

[GreyGhost]

It's okay

You probably can't ride it until March or April

On a T7? Hell na. Great riding weather for it right now.

 

[ScorpionT16]

That sucks. What issue? Curious as I have the same bike lol.

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Since around 1,500kms the clutch started making a grinding noise, though only when cold and just taking off. It was more apparent in the mornings. I reported it then, and they said bring it in off-season. I have, though now the bike has close to 20k kms on it, and they want to say its just wear vs a warranty issue.

When I dropped the bike they said a mechanic heard the sound and it didn't sound right, then they said they couldn't replicate it so they would have to open it up at my expense. I regret taking it in, I should have just changed the friction plates myself and gone from there.

On a T7? Hell na. Great riding weather for it right now.

I know, for all I know one of the mechanics took her home for a seasonal joy ride toy. I'm more upset that I have to be the one constantly following up, and didn't get notified about them closing before the holiday season, let alone lockdown

 

[racerschool]

Telling you to bring it in in the off-season is terrible advice. You'll be paying for it sadly. Terrible dealer, and now they want to charge YOU? Which dealer is this so I can avoid them.

 

[Evoex]

Well, my bike is stuck indefinitely at the dealer, they were looking at an issue, now they are closed until further notice - With the lockdown, that could be well into February. I have no way of reaching them either, everyone just closed shop, I didn't even get a call or notice

what? where is it.

 

[blackcamaro]

Well, my bike is stuck indefinitely at the dealer, they were looking at an issue, now they are closed until further notice - With the lockdown, that could be well into February. I have no way of reaching them either, everyone just closed shop, I didn't even get a call or notice

Dealers can be open during the lockdown, just has to be appointment only. I know some places have closed up for a little here and there but they should be checking voicemail/email and able to get you your bike back.

 

[Evoex]

Dealers can be open during the lockdown, just has to be appointment only. I know some places have closed up for a little here and there but they should be checking voicemail/email and able to get you your bike back.

agreed, hence my surprise!

 

[Klaatu]

I would not for a couple of reasons. I had a friend that had his bike stored with a pretty large dealer. We had a number of warm days at the end of March and he was not able to get his bike out till mid April because of where his bike was.
The other reason is because of COVID. If a bike shop closes down because they can't pay their rent, and the landlord locks the doors, your bike is stuck there till everything gets settled. That could take a few months.

 

[racerschool]

Yeah, sounds like a bad risk to take.

 

[GreyGhost]

Yeah, sounds like a bad risk to take.

It works for the right person. If you are a fair weather rider that is not mechanically interested, having the reduced rate winter service in combination with your bike being available for May through September may be entirely acceptable.

 

[racerschool]

Not sure any of those factors will help you if the dealership goes under and your vehicle is seized by the landlord pending rent payment.

 

[SVeezy]

A dealer near me offers the storage for what I consider a reasonable fee. I don’t use it because there are many days in the “off season” I use my bike and wouldn’t have access to it. The potential for any business to go under in current times and further prevent access to my possession is just icing on the cake. In typical years I could see the benefits.


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[Aens]

Fair weather condo parking are the target demographic. If you have a garage, do your own maintenance, etc etc, then obviously this wouldn't apply.

Mid April is generally the earliest that the salt brine on the street will have washed away. For those that like to keep their bike rust free for as long as possible, they wouldn't be riding around splashing through puddles with a higher salt concentration than <insert political or pro sports meme>. Getting your bike out from dealer storage that early in the year and it being in there in the first place is a juxtoposition almost. Not the same customer demographic.

Not to say bringing your bike in during the off season isn't a good idea. I do wish that I did some of the maintenance during the winter pre-emptively. Whether to replace high KM consumables a little bit early is such a hard call. Its such a PITA if you say oh, I could proably get another 5k on this chain if I keep an eye on the tension then proceed to do 5k between March-May and nobody has a free booking for a chain and sprockets job (lets skip DIY for this example). This year, I had 8k to go before valve check, did the 8k by April. Had to book 1 month out to get through the fair weather rider start of season queue.

Well, my bike is stuck indefinitely at the dealer, they were looking at an issue, now they are closed until further notice - With the lockdown, that could be well into February. I have no way of reaching them either, everyone just closed shop, I didn't even get a call or notice

What's allowed and not allowed when Ontario goes into lockdown on Boxing Day

Here is a list of what can open and what must remain closed when Ontario goes into lockdown on Boxing Day.

toronto.ctvnews.ca

"Motorsports" retail is closed but "Vehicle and equipment repair by appointment only." It is up to the dealership on whether to operate the service department but I don't see any dealership choking off what little last bits of revenue they can get. If there is work to do and you still have payroll, no business owner is gonna shut down when not neccessary.

Call their service department and ask them to release it as is. Your many posts still indicate that they aren't willing to warranty your concern so just get it out of there and talk to a different Yamaha authorized service department. You are doubling down after the cards are already shown. Dealers are fine with the warranty work cause they get paid. If you got a legit warranty issue that's demonstrable, there's no reason a service department would waste time on the diagnostics stage of the issue. They'd have a hard time getting the manufacturer to pay for those hours of diagnostics if/when they found the problem.

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