council garage

[RichieZX6R]

Hi,

Just wondering if any one has any experience with them that they can pass on? I've got an opportunity to hire one for £5 a week. Its about a 3 min walk from home (no real space for a motorcycle apart from side of house) and its got maybe 6 garages either side and its a dead end. Seems reasonably quite but if any one see's me taking a 636 to it may that change?

Just wondering if any one else keeps a motorcycle garaged away from the home.

Guess it comes down to the whole, will it be safe cos i cant see it thing!

Thanks for any feedback in advance!
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Current: Kawazaki ZX6R 51
Past: Kawazaki ZX6R 96 - Honda CBR 600F4 05 - Dragstar 125 02 - Honda CB 400 SF 94 - Honda NSR 125 51 - Gilera Runner XV125 04

[Ichy]

Not something that I would be too keen on. When I lived in Birmingham it was quite common to see garages with the door torn off. If you go overboard with security then you are pointing out that something interesting is in there. In your case it may be a better area but the only person who is interested in protecting the contents is 3 minutes walk away.
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https://www.metacafe.com/watch/1972097/how_to_behave_on_a_forum/

[mfactor]

[fatjames]

I've got one, but it's in a locked compound. Someone was telling me that you can get cheap alarm that will text you if you have a break in. You can also use a ground anchor and a decent sized lock in a garage.
It gives me somewhere to do my servicing / repairs etc which I'd have to go roadside otherwise.

£5 a week is quite cheap, in Bristol they're a fair bit more than that!

HTH

[RichieZX6R]

thanks for the replies guys! The alarm that texts you is a good idea! I like the idea that i can do my servicing etc in the dry. Do they have electricity?

I was going to take the tyres off this weekend to get them changed by if i cant move the bike i cant get the bin's past and the misses complains!

Also yeah its a great price. Really not bad at all. Might ask for the one with the most internal security! ha

Attached a quick map of the garages (hopefully this doesn't give too much away!).
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Current: Kawazaki ZX6R 51
Past: Kawazaki ZX6R 96 - Honda CBR 600F4 05 - Dragstar 125 02 - Honda CB 400 SF 94 - Honda NSR 125 51 - Gilera Runner XV125 04

[nowhere.elysium]

Mine's been fine for the past couple of years. Don't make the security too obvious - two slide bolts with padlocks should be more than enough. I would say that if you're in a particularly rough area that filling something large with concrete and chaining the bike(s) to that would make the most sense, though - it's not immediately visible, and it does mean that they're less likely to get away with your stuff.
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'10 SV650SF, '83 GS650GT (it lives!), Questionable DIY dash project, 3D Printer project, Lasercutter project

[mfactor]

[fatjames]

It wont have power. I recently bought a petrol generator from aldi for £60 and I've just hooked up some lights and stuck a socket on the wall. It's quite loud though, so I'm looking at getting some super big batteries and running them from that instead.

[RichieZX6R]

bolts sound good. Also would get the old man to make up some sort of anchor for the wall. Didn't realise about the power but it shouldn't be a massive problem. Only for sort of oil changes and storage anyways. Dont wana loose the 636 a few weeks after buying it!
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Current: Kawazaki ZX6R 51
Past: Kawazaki ZX6R 96 - Honda CBR 600F4 05 - Dragstar 125 02 - Honda CB 400 SF 94 - Honda NSR 125 51 - Gilera Runner XV125 04

[MarJay]

[RichieZX6R]

[Flying Tiger]

I keep a few bikes in a council garage, inside i've put a motion sensor alarm (just remember to de-activate it when you go in!) This is on the back wall, and it cant be got to to be smashed off. Also the bikes are chained together.

Also fitted a 'Garage defender' a the bottom of the door, as already mentioned sometimes security like this can make it obvious there is something of value inside, but again as mentioned take into account the area.

[Joncrete Cungle]

I am thinking of renting a garage 2 mins from the good ladys abode from a housing association. An old wheelie bin filled with concrete, hardcore & bits of metal should suffice as a ground anchor. I am on the lookout for something like a second hand gas cylinder cage but cheaper and stronger. If big enough to keep the bike in, or secure any tools &/or kit that may be left in side.

[MarJay]

[Nick 50]

I've got one too, which is in a locked compound of about 15 garages.

Not had any issues.

When I rang the housing association up they had 2 garages free so told me to come down and pick the keys up and choose which one I wanted. By the time I got down there a 3rd had become available. Picked up 3 sets of keys and went and had a look.

The 3rd garage that just came up was the last one I looked in. Opening up I spotted the poster of Lucy Pinder on the wall and then got even better when I spotted 2 ground anchors bolted to the floor at the back.

Speaking to a few of the other garage owners, my garage was rented previously by a bloke with bikes too.
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Current Bikes: ZX7r 97 (Black Beauty), VFR400 NC24 (The banana)
Previous Bikes: Aprilia Tuono 03 (The Beast), CBR600f (97)
First bike: A GZ125 Lemon.......

[RichieZX6R]

so they let you look round all the free ones? I'm yet to go and look at them so i'll see if i can pick the best one!

Thanks for the advice lads!
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Current: Kawazaki ZX6R 51
Past: Kawazaki ZX6R 96 - Honda CBR 600F4 05 - Dragstar 125 02 - Honda CB 400 SF 94 - Honda NSR 125 51 - Gilera Runner XV125 04

[Nick 50]

[Noxious89123]

[stevo as b4]

Get the door lock changed from day one as a precaution, and use decent locks chains, to secure your bike to an internal ground anchor, preferably a concreted in one, but a decent tamper proof bolt down version should be nearly as good too.

If your 3mins away, a std alarm is pointless, but internal CCTV or cleverly concealed external CCTV would be worth having, but the problem is powering it. If your going to be doing much work in there then id use a couple of decent Leisure batteries, and make up a trolley for them so that you can lug them home to re-charge as required.

Oh and seeing as you've already got the generator, then you could look into building it a proper wood clad soundproofed enclousure, like they do for air compressor's etc. You should with a bit of effort be able to quieten it down by a noticable amount. Obviously youd need to provide through the wall some sort of exhaust and intake ducting, but i don't see it being a big problem or require big holes in the wall for a small generator either.

[_mjs_]

Another bit of advice; check it doesn't leak! Even the least bit of dampness will soon mank your bike up... tell the council to get any leaks sorted BEFORE you sign the tenancy agreement. Chasing it up after will inevitably result in finding your rent money has already been spent on jenkem and mud-pies for council estate scruffbags.
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Previous Bikes: 2006 Honda XR125L > 2003 Yamaha DT125R > 1996 Honda CB500
Current bikes: 1997 Kawasaki ZZR 600 E5 > 2006 Honda Varadero XL125V

[RichieZX6R]

Some brilliant replies here! Never thought of the leak problems will look into that!

Thanks for the replies everyone! It's all helped keep my pride and joy safe! Thanks again.
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Current: Kawazaki ZX6R 51
Past: Kawazaki ZX6R 96 - Honda CBR 600F4 05 - Dragstar 125 02 - Honda CB 400 SF 94 - Honda NSR 125 51 - Gilera Runner XV125 04

[Pie-Roe]

I rent a council garage in a relatively nice student city (Canterbury) so can't really comment on crime rates and whatnot.

I just put two normal door locks on the bottom corners of the garage that open with the same key, so it can't just be kicked in at the middle.

Bikes are with steering lock. Have a couple ground anchors which I should use I guess.
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[fatjames]

[DMCpro]

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