A Question from a Garage-Challenged Rider...

[JohnCVermont]

I am one of those Vermonters that live in a condo which does not have carports, garage, or any assigned structure that keeps the elements off your vehicle or bikes.

I have gotten pretty good at putting the cover on & taking it off but I was wondering if there were some new things that might be good.

I can't build a hut-shed-leanto because of the condo rules but I recently saw in the parking lot of the Hideaway Restaurant/Condos near Land-Air (formerly aka Wilson Inn) a mobile portable light weight shell for motorcycles that might be nice. I will take a picture of it next time I drive nearby. Does any one have any tips or tricks or gear that would be of interest to the Garage-Challenged rider.

ah ha...I found the shelter/shell/whats-it... http://www.cycleshell.com/ Anyone used one of these?

Thanks in advance.

john

[NobodySpecific]

I think I saw a thread a little while ago with some glowing reviews of the Cycleshell. I'll see if I can find it.

Edit: I think this is the one http://www.nestreetriders.com/forum/...ycleshell.html

[sandros]

I'm pretty sure DarkDuc has one that he covered his 749 with. He's headed to pengiun today tho so he make take a bit to reply.

[tonyd]

can you have an enclosed trailer on site?

[kbroderick]

I've looked into these a bit, and I like the idea...but you might want to check with the HOA before buying one.

(Or "proceed until apprehended" might be a better option, but I'd expect some HOAs to not look kindly upon anything other than a car or truck in the lot. I know that my girlfriend's HOA regs prohibit trailers, for example, and I rather doubt a CycleShell would fly.)

[NobodySpecific]

I'm pretty sure DarkDuc has one that he covered his 749 with. He's headed to pengiun today tho so he make take a bit to reply.

He has the second post in the thread I linked with his opinions on it

[ranette]

I've been told that my Cycleshell will be shipping tomorrow and should arrive late next week. I'll let you know what I think once I get it. I can tell you that if you want one you should start trying to contact them(Mark) a while before you hope to have it. Email is pretty much useless, and most calls go straight to voicemail-and not returned. However, the product is supposed to be excellent and I can't wait to finally have it.

[JohnCVermont]

I've looked into these a bit, and I like the idea...but you might want to check with the HOA before buying one.

(Or "proceed until apprehended" might be a better option, but I'd expect some HOAs to not look kindly upon anything other than a car or truck in the lot. I know that my girlfriend's HOA regs prohibit trailers, for example, and I rather doubt a CycleShell would fly.)

You perceive my quandary correctly but I didn't want to proceed any further with the HOA before I had done my due diligence on the product. I live at Fort Ethan Allen's Officer's Row which has some odd rules & regulations, however, we have permitted trailers & such. Because the cyclehut is not permanent, it would be more paletteable to the HOA & it would be removed when I store the bike for the winter.

I would like to add according to the HOA rules. Each unit is allocated two parking spaces. My family has a single car & one motorcycle. so, my bike is not "taking away" a spot for any of my neighbors. In fact, it is a space that is little used. When it was, it was our second car & about 80 yards from my unit. Of course, we could create a small motorcycle parking area...oh the firestorm that would create. Parking can be such a visceral topic.

I might ask if the color of the color can be changed...the bright silver is a little *loud*. There is another bike in a parking space nearby, maybe we could share a single parking space.

I would like to get a newer bike in a year so I can go a long multi-day rides ...a cyclehut would be a lot cheaper than trying to buy a new house with a garage.


Thank you all for your opinions & attention regarding this odd topic.

[JohnCVermont]

I've been told that my Cycleshell will be shipping tomorrow and should arrive late next week. I'll let you know what I think once I get it. I can tell you that if you want one you should start trying to contact them(Mark) a while before you hope to have it. Email is pretty much useless, and most calls go straight to voicemail-and not returned. However, the product is supposed to be excellent and I can't wait to finally have it.

Exciting...Let us know what you think. I have seen a couple in use already. I hope it is a wild success for you.

[JohnCVermont]

Another question in the vein of the "garage-challenged"...

I have used a rope & rafter in a car port, etc to heft my front end off the ground to change my front tire... since I don't have a garage or car port, I am looking to buy a front stand.

Any one have a extra front stand that don't want any more?

[yesterdayze]

I don't but you can get them wicked cheap on ebay. I picked up a few and they are wicked solid.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BIKE-...Q5fAccessories

Both:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Motorcycle-Unive...item3f0681c9c8

[JohnCVermont]

I don't but you can get them wicked cheap on ebay. I picked up a few and they are wicked solid.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BIKE-...Q5fAccessories

Both:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Motorcycle-Unive...item3f0681c9c8

Holy Smokes...thanks for the excellent referral. I had checked a few catalogs.

Just checking locally first, if some local Vermonters had an extra one (or both) kicking around, I would be interested in purchasing.

Thanks for the suggestion.

[JohnCVermont]

Ordered a front stance & will be working on pulling my wheels this week, now that it looks like it stopped raining for a few hours. This is when a garage or car port would be soooo nice.

[JohnCVermont]

Thanks to the referral by Yesterdaze... my front stand has arrived & ready for action.

[yesterdayze]

Thanks to the referral by Yesterdaze... my front stand has arrived & ready for action.

Sweet! So much easier to work on bikes when you have the right stuff! If you ever need to borrow tools or need a hand just pm me!

[JohnCVermont]

Sweet! So much easier to work on bikes when you have the right stuff! If you ever need to borrow tools or need a hand just pm me!

How true...having tools is nice... but having the right tools is great

Just need a need a better assortment of metric box end wrenches for those tight spots (easier to remove the chain guard so I can see better, to get the chain lined up just right) .. I should have all the various tools collection completed... until then the next maintenance challenge.

Thanks for the encouragement & offer of assistance.

Update : tire on, bike inspected, all is good.