Winter Storage: Tires

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sunnyCBR

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Quick question for everyone: I'm planning to store my bike in the underground parking at my place. Wont drop bellow about 10c in there...

Regarding the tires, I have a rear stand - but should I be looking at getting a front one to keep the front tire off the ground? Or just go down and move it a bit every couple weeks? Does it matter?

Sorry if this is a really obvious question - wrapping up my first season and haven't stored the bike before. Gearing up to do the seafoam and oilchange/get a battery tender as well.
 
LittleSaki said:
Place a piece of wood below tire ; that should suffix
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Combustible material is not allowed in underground parking as per the fire code, and the fines are hefty, I just received a notice to that effect. Not sure if it is actually enforced or not but we have fire inspection once or twice a year by the fire department, and monthly by the contractor.

I would suggest to either use both stands or lift it up on blocks just an inch off the ground and use a slice of vinyl between the bike and the blocks. That's what I am planning to do.
 
If you were to get a flat spot on your tire, it would go away during the first ride next season.
 
MadPoet said:
Combustible material is not allowed in underground parking as per the fire code, and the fines are hefty, I just received a notice to that effect. Not sure if it is actually enforced or not but we have fire inspection once or twice a year by the fire department, and monthly by the contractor.

I would suggest to either use both stands or lift it up on blocks just an inch off the ground and use a slice of vinyl between the bike and the blocks. That's what I am planning to do.
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If you feel you must park bike on something, Home Depot carries a ceramic tile subfloor backerboard called Fibe Rock. Unlike plywood, it is cement and fibreglass based, and water and moisture area approved. It's about $15/ 4' x 4' sheet. Two sheets would be more than enough.
 
Just get a stand. They're transferable from bike to bike so you could sell it or keep it if u get a new bike
 
MadPoet said:
Combustible material is not allowed in underground parking as per the fire code, and the fines are hefty,
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When my property manager at my condo told me that, I laughed my head off.

Seems that they've completely disregarded the fact that the car/bike itself is full of combustable materials, from gasoline, to oil to tires.

I challenged her on it: what makes the cardboard any more of a fire hazard than the tires???
she looked at me dumbfounded.

I'm sure the intent was to prevent people from using their garage space to store boxes of paper, oil, paint, etc. (people in my building have tried to do this)

as for your question, don't bother with cardboard or stands. Just move it back and forth every couple days and you'll be fine.

another thing about storing the bike on stands: it makes it easier to steal with your handle bars unlocked. that's why a lot of motorcycles get stolen this time of year.
 
MadPoet said:
Combustible material is not allowed in underground parking as per the fire code, and the fines are hefty, I just received a notice to that effect. Not sure if it is actually enforced or not but we have fire inspection once or twice a year by the fire department, and monthly by the contractor.

I would suggest to either use both stands or lift it up on blocks just an inch off the ground and use a slice of vinyl between the bike and the blocks. That's what I am planning to do.
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BWhahhahahahahhaha ..

Ever heard the phrase " blowing smoke up your ***" ..

For one piece of wood, under a tire is minimal fire load compared to all the cars parked under there, along with all the junk people store in the storage lockers.

No FD is going to fine you for having a piece of wood under your tire, when there are so MANY other pressing issues with buildings these days.
 
just park it on the rear or kick stand, once a week move it a bit. problem solved.
 
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rukus said:
just park it on the stand, once a week move it a bit. problem solved.
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Seems to be somewhat of a consensus - thanks guys! I'll use the stand to finish off the winterizing maintenance and then move it around once and a while. Will make me miss riding days more during the winter though I imagine!
 
sunnyCBR said:
Seems to be somewhat of a consensus - thanks guys! I'll use the stand to finish off the winterizing maintenance and then move it around once and a while. Will make me miss riding days more during the winter though I imagine!
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don't leave it on the race stands (which require you to keep the handle bars unlocked) as it makes it much easier to steal.
 
With my triple tree stand I am able to lock my bars to the left. Are they what u consider race stands or are the front fork stand is what your referring to?
 
daisoman said:
With my triple tree stand I am able to lock my bars to the left. Are they what u consider race stands or are the front fork stand is what your referring to?
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i meant the fork stands, where the bars have to be centered (unlocked) to use them.
 
I haven't had a problem in 15 years of bike ownership with parking the bike on the side/rear stand in my garadge that's not heated nor insulated. Your bike will be fine, do whatever makes you feel good :)
 
Sorry double post, but who actually had a tire go bad (just curious not being a jerk)
 
dricked said:
I haven't had a problem in 15 years of bike ownership with parking the bike on the side/rear stand in my garadge that's not heated nor insulated. Your bike will be fine, do whatever makes you feel good :)
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did you roll the bike slightly every other day during the winter storage period or just leave be?
I'm parking my bike on a piece of wood in my garage. I don't care how much of a fire hazard the city deems it to be! :cool:
 
You're not going to get a flat spot in one week so I wouldn't worry about moving it that often. Maybe once a month.
Permanent flat spots may occur after ~6 months, depending on the tire, age and load.

A piece of wood will not change anything. There's nothing in concrete that magically sucks life out of tires - urban myth. The whole thing is mainly for storing outdoors or unheated to keep tires out of moisture and frost. In a dry garage, where temperature is 10 degrees, you don't need any barriers.

It's more important not to get tires in touch with any petroleum based products so watch for oil spots where you park for winter.
Also away from electric motors and other sources of ozone. And if parked outside, out of UV rays' reach.
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