Should I garage my bike??????

JWAFC · L Plate Warrior Joined: 03 Aug 2008 Karma :

Hello all

Just wanted to get a general opinion on something....

In a city, do you feel it's necessary to keep your bike in a garage?

I know there's lot of factors to take into account, like the bike's worth, or crime statistics, etc, etc but I just wanna get a feel for what most people do.

The reason I ask is that I'm looking for a new flat in London and I don't know whether I should restrict my search to only those with garages.

Cheers
JW Mr. Green

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Whosthedaddy · Super Spammer Joined: 11 Dec 2005 Karma :

Bike theft has never really crossed my mind as if they want it, they'll have it. That said it was nice when we got a house with a garage for those winter starts with no more soggy seats and frozen locks.

Polo · World Chat Champion Joined: 05 Sep 2007 Karma :

It makes insurance cheaper and reduces policy excess's.

As with most things though, it depends on the area.

Stay away from Croydon.
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Bendy · Mrs Sensible Joined: 10 Jun 2002 Karma :

I kept my CBR onstreet in central London cos of necessity.

It was a bit of an arse, faffing around with locks and covers, trying to get it parked near enough to the flat that I'd hear the alarm (my neighbours seemed pretty good at leaving the sole lampost space clear enough for me to fit in but sometimes it didn't happen), random bumps from parking cars setting off the alarm... Had to pay for a parking permit that cost the same as a small car too, since it was residents parking. But overall, it wasn't too much hassle... until someone tried to nick it. The alarm scared them off but it got me quite paranoid and I hated leaving it out there after that.

Of course there was also the 20 parking tickets I got cos Westminster council parking attendants are a bit thick, but that's another story.

I don't know if a garage is strictly necessary, but it's nice to have somewhere you know you can lock it up, and ideally be out of sight of passers by.

t121anf · World Chat Champion Joined: 23 Feb 2007 Karma :

imo if you can you should.

kawakid · World Chat Champion Joined: 15 Mar 2005 Karma :

Always.

And as much security as you can.
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NSR Mick · World Chat Champion Joined: 26 Jun 2005 Karma :

Have always had mine in a garage since I left home. Would never buy a house without one. Thumbs Up

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JWAFC · L Plate Warrior Joined: 03 Aug 2008 Karma :

Ok cheers guys, that's pretty much what I was thinking.

So it seems the only problem now is to find a one bed flat with a garage Confused

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The Disapproving Brit · World Chat Champion Joined: 10 Sep 2008 Karma :

For me, I have an easily accessible back yard but no garage. I pick up my first bike on Monday (yay!), so the weekend is set aside for security. Plan so far is:

- CCTV and floodlights covering the back yard
- Big feck-off hasp and staple on the back gate
- ground anchor
- curtain runners to house and yard wall (yards only about 4ft wide), and fix tarp to it to provide a retractable cover that doesn't make it obvious whether or not the bike is in there (since I live alone, I prefer people to not be able to easily see whether or not I'm home)
- possibly get a second IR CCTV to go under the tarp