Gear overview: 'bike barn'

[Cadbury]

Howdy folks,

It will probably a relatively long, pic heavy overview, so:

TL:DR version - tougher than anticipated, ok alternative to a permanent structure

Apologies if I waffle on a bit, anyway, here goes.

I have been storing my bike (98 600 fazer) under an oxford stormex cover in my back garden, whilst i save up a bit of cash to redo the patio/shed for somewhere permanent to store my bike, this has been ok except for a few pet peeves i have - the cover isnt quite big enough to reach fully all the way to the floor, as a result, some fixings here and there had started to show a little rust spots, its a pain having to wait for the bike to cool so it doesn't stick to the exhaust, and the wind up in Scotland recently has meant a few trips outside to re-secure the cover. Anyway, I saw those 'bike barns' from the USofA, and thought they looked good, albeit very expensive. After a bit more searching, i found a UK company that make essentially the same thing, for a much more reasonable price.

Found the company selling them on ebay for slightly cheaper than on their own website, so i plumped up the £85 including postage, and 2 days later it arrived.
Officially, its called the 'bike home' but is essentially the same thing as the bike barn. Its design reminds me of those rain covers you can get for push chairs. It came double boxed, and the whole kit is inside a green canvas carry case. Once unpacked, you are greeted by this:
(iPhone pictures ahoy!)
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7171/6843665089_3fc4cfa531.jpg
You get 2 pre constructed sections, a load of curved poles, some instructions and the grey canvas cover.
The only tools i needed where a small spanner, and a phillips screwdriver.
Basically, the large groups of poles are the base, and the curved section attach the two 'sides' together
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7024/6843667467_b7751ce524.jpg
This section is what gives the structure its rigidity, and is the only part that doesn't hinge. The downward braces are held all in place using the included screws and the aforementioned tools.
Once that part is secure, it is really just a case of popping the curved sections onto the other 'arms'.
Ready for the canvas:
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7167/6843672395_b34efe34d6.jpg
Now, on to the canvas itself. It is pretty much the same type of material as my oxford stormex, a slightly rubberised canvas. I tried to take a close up to give a bit of a comparison:
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7159/6843675573_16ba577c91.jpg
If anything it is slightly thinner, but my no means cheap feeling.
Once the cover is unfolded, you have to drape it over the frame, then, at the bottom is a thick velcro strip that needs to be looped around the bottom bar, and goes all the way around
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7001/6843681275_62ec87d790.jpg
This probably took as long to do as it did to build the thing! the velcro is very tough, and i cant see it coming off easily.
So, thats pretty much it, the finished article, open:
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7161/6843689307_f180893c4c.jpg
And, closed: https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7147/6843692039_b2a397d157.jpg
They do provide a set of bolts to anchor it to concrete, but at the minute as its partially on grass, its tent pegged down.

I've been using this now for about 2 weeks, and so far, so good. It's stood up to the wind much better than i thought, is perfectly weather resistant, but is soooooo much easier than a soft cover. ride it in, chain it up, pull the cover down. It even has a securing point on the outside to pop a padlock through for an extra deterrent.

During this cold spell, there has been a slight bit of condensation on the inside of the 'roof' although, as its not touching it, nothing that has got onto the bike. The interior and bike have stayed dry through heavy rain, and the recent snow.

Is it better than a shed? No, of course not. But, for any of you who might not be able to erect a permanent structure for whatever reason,I think it could be a viable alternative to a traditional throw over soft cover.
And yes, I know it is blocking my back door, thankfully my wife is understanding enough for it to stay there

If anybody would like to see any more pictures or has any questions, just give me a shout.

[G]

Nice to see a review as always wondered about these .


Be interesting to hear how it's faring a year down the line too.

[hornetmike]

nice review now i am thinking of one
____________________
87 Honda CG 125 - 97 ER5 - SR 50 -81 Z250- 96 CBR 600 F- 94 GPX600R 88- GPX 400R- 87 GS 125 - 2006 Honda CB600F- 2003 ER5 - Honda CBF 1000 2009 - Honda CBR 600 RR 2011
Current BMW R1200GS 2010

[Hyaon]

Could be just what I need if the garage assault I'm doing doesn't work out.. One question I have to ask, how is the air circulation? As I'm concerned moisture rising from the ground will get trapped in the cover and so

NAPALM!

but seriously a damp bike would cause corrison over time.
____________________
Mod2 Passed 30/03/2011!
CBF125>GSF650 Bandit K8>B-King 2008+R1 2002

[WannaBeDude]

I'm guessing the few inches of grass it's on will aid the condensation build up.

Nice review as have also been considering one of these.

Wheres the link for 85, as have seen them between 1 -120 ..

??
____________________
Jogging on, destination living.

[Villers]

Didnt we see the bike barn equivalent of these that had big cruisers in them and claimed to have space for you to work on the bike crouched down under cover? Or am I thinking of something completely different?

Either way, for £85 that looks pretty good, Id probably even consider one to go in the garage to keep the dust off etc.

Nice review
____________________
RS125 > CBR6 > SV650S > ZX636R > GSX1300RZ Hayabusa > 06 RSVR Mille > SV1000S > Street Triple 765 RS

[WannaBeDude]

Think a dust cover will do for that job !! any old sheet .... throw on throw off .. wax on wax off !!
____________________
Jogging on, destination living.

[Cadbury]

@Hyaon - Air can get in underneath, and those flaps you seen on the closed photo, have mesh windows underneath. you can tie them back to allow an air flow. So far though, if there is any condensation on the inside, leaving it open all day whilst the bike is out of it, and its usually fine by the time I get home.

@Covdude - I got it from ebay. It was 69.99 + 15 shipping. Do a search for 'bike barn' and there are loads at that price.

@Villers - I can just about squeeze inside with my fazer with the lid closed ( I checked for you last night!) its plenty enough space to give the bike a quick wipe down after a ride if its raining, I think you would struggle to do any work on it whilst its in there though. I believe the 'official' bike barn does come in several sizes, so they may do a big one.