Air-Shed Outside Storage vs Cover

Mountain_Man86 · Borekit Bruiser Joined: 09 Dec 2020 Karma :

Sadly, I have to store my bike outside on my driveway as I have no access to a garage.

I currently use a waterproof, stretchy cover to protect it, but this is far from perfect during the winter months. Condensation still builds up and the bike freezes.

I've come across what looks like a brilliant product from an American company called Carcapsule.

It's basically an air-shed, with a fan that continuously flows air throughout. When closed, the fan pressurises the interior with constant airflow. If the bike is stored wet, the fan dries it out. The bike won't freeze and nor will condensation ever be an issue. It will also do a much better job at keeping the bike cool in the summer sun, which would otherwise bake a bike under a close fitting black cover.

Has any got experiance with this product? It's not cheap, and shipping from the USA is expensive, but I love my bike and want it looked after. So if anyone can recommend this, or conversely, advise me why it's a bad idea, please comment.

Thanks in advance.

jeffyjeff · World Chat Champion Joined: 02 May 2020 Karma :

How does the fan dry out the air? Is there some sort of dessicant filter that the air passes through? If it just has a fan blowing air into the structure, then I think that condensation will still be an issue on rainy days.
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Kawasaki Jimbo · World Chat Champion Joined: 09 Oct 2015 Karma :

chickenstrip · Super Spammer Joined: 06 Dec 2013 Karma :

Treat the bike with ACF50, or even wipe over the engine and cycle parts with WD40. That's how I've kept my bikes from getting corrosion under covers in the past. I'd only consider something like you're suggesting for something particularly valuable, like an old good condition classic, wouldn't bother with the expense for a more everyday sort of bike.
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t121anf · World Chat Champion Joined: 23 Feb 2007 Karma :

Just get one of these
https://www.argos.co.uk/product/8728047?clickSR=slp:term:greenhouse:4:16:1

And a fan/heater.

Mountain_Man86 · Borekit Bruiser Joined: 09 Dec 2020 Karma :

Mountain_Man86 · Borekit Bruiser Joined: 09 Dec 2020 Karma :

Polarbear · Super Spammer Joined: 24 Feb 2007 Karma :

You would do better getting a decent permanent shed. Insulating it properly and being able to lock and alarm it.
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xX-Alex-Xx · World Chat Champion Joined: 12 Sep 2019 Karma :

Robby · Dirty Old Man Joined: 16 May 2002 Karma :

Looking on their US website - couldn't immediately see UK distributor - that thing costs over $1000, for what appears to be a tent with a fan in it.

That's the price of a very good shed of a similar size, with less chance of getting blown away in the wind.

ThunderGuts · World Chat Champion Joined: 13 Nov 2018 Karma :

With ambient air being blown in, how effective it will be will depend entirely on the state of the bike vs the conditions outside. Yes, if you parked it up wet and it's a dry day the next day, it'll help dry it, but if it's still close to 100% humidity outside then it won't do much. Worse will be if there's been a cold night and then milder wet weather comes in; in such circumstances the bike will be cold and possibly cold enough for condensation to form on it. Forcing air into the tent will actually worsen that issue.

I'm not completely convinced myself.
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