Bikes & Council Garages

getyerkneedow... · Trackday Trickster Joined: 25 Aug 2004 Karma :

As you may be aware ive got a rather battered ZXR400 in a mates garage which is a project bike of mine. It aint started yet, but im wanting to get cracking with it so that its road worthy for when i get my license back.

Problem is my mate lives 30 miles away, so im getting the bike into York. Which poses another problem - where the hell to store it.

My house only has one of those small terraced house back yards, with the gate opening into a tiny alley way - too small to get a bike down, even with mirrors off.

So im looking at getting a council garage to keep it in.

Just wondered if anyone else on here keeps their pride and joy in a council garage and if so, how much you pay for it, and what kinda security measures you've put in place?

Confused

Any advice greatly appreciated Karma

Mark_petty · Brolly Dolly Joined: 01 Jun 2005 Karma :

good post - I would like to know this too
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[Rides: Suzuki GSF600sx]
[CBT: Passed] [Theory: Passed] [DAS: Passed]

Cillit-BANG · World Chat Champion Joined: 05 Oct 2005 Karma :

Chances are you won't be allowed to fit a ground anchor. Best alternative is to fill a large plastic Stakka-box with concrete and various other random lengths of metal bars to reinforce it, and set a ground anchor into this.

When you come to leave, if you have 3-4 burly mates then thread a scaffold pole through the eye and carry it away. Chances are because you bike will be tethered to it, the thieves won't be able to move this and your bike in one go with this method though.

Prices vary greatly on location. Round our way, £30 a month gets you a simgle brick built garage.

Sadie · World Chat Champion Joined: 14 Jul 2004 Karma :

I have a council garage in St Albans. It is about 100 yards from my house.

It costs me £30 per month, and I have fitted a battery operated contact alarm system (about £12 from Robert Dyas) and a padlock to the bolt.

Thumbs Up

PS: no-one has tried to break in during the six years I've had the garage.

I also have another council garage four miles from home which has a padlock on the bolt and gets visited about once a year. No-one has broken in there in 7 years.
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With experience comes age.

Mark_petty · Brolly Dolly Joined: 01 Jun 2005 Karma :

how do you find out about garages to rent off the council?
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[Rides: Suzuki GSF600sx]
[CBT: Passed] [Theory: Passed] [DAS: Passed]

Sadie · World Chat Champion Joined: 14 Jul 2004 Karma :

Mark_petty · Brolly Dolly Joined: 01 Jun 2005 Karma :

bish777 · World Chat Champion Joined: 11 Nov 2004 Karma :

find a local council housing office.

Walk in

say "can i ave a garage please?"

Hand over your ID

Get handed keys and a rent card.

Took me 20 minutes to fill the forms out, pay some rent and walk out with some keys.
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GSXR1100J

Mark_petty · Brolly Dolly Joined: 01 Jun 2005 Karma :

nrml76 · Brolly Dolly Joined: 05 Nov 2005 Karma :

I bought a shed alarm for 7 quid on ebay and fitted it to my garage. I did not get an infrared sensitive type, as I was afraid that the warm bike engine would keep setting it off. The one I got has a magnetic switch. It runs on 3 AAA batteries, and screams at 120 decibels. Eventhough it is an indoor alarm, with a time delay, I've mounted it outside, inside a tuppware box with holes on the lid, to keep the rain out. It is an additional security measure, at a very small price.

element · World Chat Champion Joined: 23 Jan 2006 Karma :

Ours is £40 a month I think. Its about 100 yards down the road too but its quiet round here and everyone knows our family and see me or my dad working on our bikes in the garage all the time so we have people that keep an eye out Thumbs Up

Also my bikes are chained to my dads through the frames/wheels and the garage is padlocked.
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04' DT125RE (run-a-bout) // 89' DT125R (rebuilt + supermoto conversion)
SPARES FOR SALE. 2RK TZR // 82 DR125 // DT125R/E .... PM ME...

plugger147 · World Chat Champion Joined: 13 Mar 2005 Karma :

the last one we had was great for years no sign of any trouble then some skanky twats broke in through the roof didn't steal anything but set his half built 1602 ti on fire Sad

.

Its a safer option than leaving the bike out in the open though and the above anchor is a good idea, as are the alarms and if you are a bit of a distance from the garage look out for some busybody type who lives near it and give them your number in case of any suspicous goings on. If they really want it they'll get it so as long as you aren't advertising you got the bike in there you should be ok.
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Tristan the wrote: just whipped off my trousers to find a big bruise on my arse, caused by matt rear ending me...

Silver · World Chat Champion Joined: 03 Oct 2004 Karma :

Black Knight · World Chat Champion Joined: 22 Feb 2005 Karma :

Hi,

I've two garages from York council. The first I got in about two weeks. They subsequently changed the system so people who claim benefits get priority. To get the second garage I was on a waiting list for two years. Rolling Eyes

The cost is a little under £30 a month.

I have two bolt down ground anchors fitted also.

The worst thing is there is no feasable way for getting permanant power to the garage.

Rick.
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Where does a turn end? 'Where you can do anything with the gas you want to, where you are brave again, where your attention is free from the turn, where you are sure you can do it better next time; that's the end' - Keith Code.

Sadie · World Chat Champion Joined: 14 Jul 2004 Karma :

Black Knight · World Chat Champion Joined: 22 Feb 2005 Karma :

Ant · World Chat Champion Joined: 24 Feb 2003 Karma :

i wanted one in tamworth and the answer was council tennants get first priority and if non of them want it then homeowners get a chance (made me think that only dodgy ones would be left) so spent £500 on a secure shed!
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04 ZX10R ~