Leaving bike outdoors

[DonDino]

I normally keep the bike outside but always covered with a big thick rainproof cover which keeps it dry.

Starting from next month I will be able to ride to work every day, as we will move to new premises and finally have secure bike parking.

The most convenient of two possible parking places is outdoors, and it's just a matter of me riding in, off the bike and into the building, no fuss.
The other parking place is indoors but it involves getting off the bike to open gates and shutters on the way in, and closing those on the way out.

So I'm wondering how bad it will be for the bike if I leave it out in the rain 5 days a week for 9 hours a day.
I know many people leave their bikes parked outdoors without covers regularly, so I'm wondering... how much faster will things deteriorate? Is it just a case of brake discs going rusty sooner and the chain needing more frequent oiling? Other factors?
Or is it going to be so much worse that it's actually worth the trouble going through the shutters & gates locking and unlocking every day just to keep it indoors?
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First bike: CBF125, Feb. - Oct. 2012
Currently riding: ER-6N since Oct. 2012

[BigDan1190]

I leave mine outside when I leave it at work, but if I had the option of putting it indoors, even if it took an extra minute or two, I would.

Impossible to say what effect it will have - my Tiger saw some pretty bad weather but never deteriorated, whereas the SR125 i had as my first bike rusted daily.

Play it safe and use the indoor area Or get a bike barn!

[gaffa]

More to the point is the outside car park secure?

If not i'd rather go throught the fuss of opening the gates, knowing it is secure?
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MOD 1 passed 30/07/12, MOD 2 passed 13/08/12. Current bike: 2008 Kawasaki ER6f

[moppy]

I leave mine outside all the time under a cover and it does rust up pretty quickly. It is a battered old ZZR so I don't care too much, but I do get surface rust on pretty much every single bit of metal like chain, discs, all bolts etc.

I have left it uncovered in the pouring rain a few times though, just to stop the wind using the cover as a sail.

[DonDino]

[moppy]

[darthbuttchin]

Since I moved back to uni in september, until about a week ago, my bike sat outside in all weathers, all day. Soon as I could, I gave it a good going over, bike cleaner, wd etc, got rid of the new rust (it's a 35 year old bike, and came with plenty of rust when i bought it two years ago). It's covered now, but I'm under no illusions that it wont need a going over when I'm back - fortunately that coincides with an engine strip down, so it's not a massive issue haha.

If you can, I'd take it into the covered storage, if not, just make sure you keep on top of how it's looking - which you ought to fairly regularly anyway.

As for rusty chains, have a look into the SDoc100 chain lube - turned my rusty chain back to how it should overnight - just sprayed it on and left it. WD works aswell tho!

Remember, plastic bike covers and hot engines/exhausts = a mess.
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CG125-K1 (1978) - 35 years old and (mostly) going strong! (Restored and rebuilt by my own fair hands).
Call me Tomsk - I am the Flying Womble after all.

[Im-a-Ridah]

I'd be more worried about it rusting from driving on the road than sitting outside parked.

[_Troy_]

The extra few minutes would be worth it in my mind. It makes it much nicer to get kitted up in the dry too, which would be the killer for me. Can't stand warming up the bike and just sitting in the rain.

I don't even use my cover anymore. My bike is outside 24/7. It is a 14 year old, 50k mile winter hack though.
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Current bike: ZX6R J1
Previous bikes: CLR 125 | GS500 | ZX6R G2 | SV650

[BigDan1190]

Covers aren't great for regular use btw - if you put the cover on with it wet, it keeps all the moisture trapped and speeds up the rusting.

If you put it on a dry bike, it will keep it dry - if the bike is wet it'll kill it lol.

[DonDino]

[BigDan1190]

I always preach the benefits of the Bike Barn. Its the perfect solution.

[ScaredyCat]

[Vincent]

Indoors in the winter.
I wouldn't worry too much about surface rust on the disc and chain - the rust on the disc will just come off with use and the chain will wear out long before it rusts through. If you dislike the look of rust on the chain, keep it lubed or buy a gold one.
As far as covering a wet bike, I run mine over with a micro towel before covering if possible.......and make sure the cover has some "breathing" holes.
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Space Is Deep

[craigs23]

I only keep one of my bikes inside, the other 20 or so I've had over the last few years haven't come to any harm living outside.

I only cover a bike up after it's been cleaned - and only if I'm not expecting to use it for a while.

Other than that, my bike only sees the inside of a garage when I'm working on it. I tend to clean them only before a dry period is expected (I used to be much worse), use a bit of WD40 and ACF50 for protection, but other than that, they seem no worse for it.

[DonDino]

[hazza]

The rust you get on your chain from leaving it in the rain will be microns thick. Nothing to worry about. If you leave it in the same place outdoors at work everyday I have a bike tent for sale for cheap. Used it the last 18 months on the bandit and it worked a treat. PM me if interested.
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3 Honda NC50's(Sold)-->'72 Puch Maxi S (Sold, want it back!)--> '90 Yamaha RXS 100 (Stolen)--> '87 Honda Cub 90(Sold) --> '95 Kawasaki Eliminator (Sold) --> '98 Bandit 600 (Sold) -->'07 SV650S (Current)

[ScaredyCat]

[Spudly]

[pinkyfloyd]

My bike gets left outside constantly, Its never had a cover in the 2+ years I have owned it and the previous owner done the same and it still isnt dead.
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illuminateTHEmind wrote: I am just more evolved than most of you guys... this allows me to pick of things quickly which would have normally taken the common man years to master
Hockeystorm65:.well there are childish arguments...there are very childish arguments.....there are really stupid childish arguments and now there are......Pinkfloyd arguments!
Teflon-Mike:I think I agree with just about all Pinky has said.

[petechett]

If it bothers you to leave it outside just take a tarpaulin & drape it over the bike.

[Hetzer]

[LordShaftesbu...]

I'd love to have the option of an indoor parking space, even if it did take a little bit of extra effort to use it.