Topic: To cover or not. That is the question

[Phoenix]

I have a waterproof cover and a damp. unheated garage.  Am I better with or without?  The answer didn't seem to be in the winter setup thread.

[Kaze]

I am from Seattle, so I am a dampness expert. 

You already have the cover, so absolutely use it. Just make sure the bike is fully dry before covering it. A cover does more than keep water off. It will keep off dust and whatever flies around in the air in your garage. Like... if you're using the garage for projects, creating sawdust and such.

Damp air is still damp whether you cover the bike or not, and even if it were heated. Our house is plenty warm but we'll get mold in the corners of the house if we aren't vigilant (behind water heater, in closets, etc. The bike should be fine for a few months so long as you put her away dry. And of course you can always take the cover off at the new year and check her out.

[jonda500]

As long as your floor is sealed from the ground, what Kaze said.
   Decades ago when I had no garage, I tried to preserve a Benelli 250 project by storing it in the back yard in an old canvas army tent with no floor. When eventually I got to it I was horrified to discover that it had badly corroded and rusted at an accelerated rate - the chrome all rusted beyond saving and the aluminium pitted and corroded terribly - turns out it would have survived better uncovered! I sold it for $200 in the early nineties.
John

[HondaMan]

I have a waterproof cover and a damp. unheated garage.  Am I better with or without?  The answer didn't seem to be in the winter setup thread.

The cover is always a good idea, except I have sometimes discovered it tends to extend the time the bike is left alone too long.
Maybe it's just me?

[calj737]

I have a waterproof cover and a damp. unheated garage.  Am I better with or without?  The answer didn't seem to be in the winter setup thread.

I’d say that using a cover will prevent dust and debris from landing on your bike, but it will trap moisture beneath it since it’s waterproof. You should expect to find mold on the seat, airbox, and depending how long it’s stored, even on the electrical tape.

Air needs to move. Even your damp and unheated garage will see temperature fluctuations weekly and without circulation, the air beneath the cover will cause the mold. You could run a portable dehumidifier and just plumb the line to the outside. The cold won’t hurt the bike, but cold moist air will. You can get a decent unit for less than $200 to do up to a 700 sqft garage.

I am from Seattle, so I am a dampness expert. 

Our house is plenty warm but we'll get mold in the corners of the house if we aren't vigilant (behind water heater, in closets, etc.

Your problem is thermal bridging, not vigilance. The cold, moist air outside draws the warm air inside to it. Then it condensates on the interior wall because likely there’s no vapor barrier installed and insufficient insulation. Simple thermal dynamics.

[Kelly E]

Around here it is better to suspend a tarp over the bike in a damp garage. Not draped on the bike. Bike covers trap the moisture around the bike causing way more damage. Spreading a tarp on the floor under the bike is also a really good idea.
Some kind of roof is better even if the rain can get in from the side sometimes. If it gets wet the wind will dry it out. I didn't have indoor bike storage for my first 3 bikes but I was able to build a crude roof that made a big difference keeping the rust at bay.

[RAFster122s]

Concrete that isn’t sealed or painted with a water resistant or epoxy paint is porous allowing moisture to migrate through. Also it tends to be dusty. Always a good idea to seal the concrete to do an epoxy floor kit…it will make a difference in the dampness.

[newday777]

Either way that you go with, spray on an anti corrosion formula if you have a dampness problem in your storage area. You can also use WD40(Water Displacement formula 40), I know a couple of old Yankees that use it on their old bikes, one found his 1923 JD Harley under an oiled tarp in an old barn the had been kept preserved through the damp winters and years because of the oiled tarp. He used the WD40 to highlight the patina of the old paint.

[Keith]

I use a sealed bag, closed with a zipper. I add several bags of silica gel in the bag, then one Bullfrog brand rust blocker sheet.  20 years…. Perfect

[Keith]

Storage bag unzipped

[70CB750]

I cover most of the time. I uncover after rain to dry out.  Also ants build nests in my bikes when under cover.  Not really good solution but I have no garage. 

[newday777]

I have a waterproof cover and a damp. unheated garage.  Am I better with or without?  The answer didn't seem to be in the winter setup thread.

Ed
Does the floor get wet, have standing water or is it dry? Concrete or dirt?

[Don R]

 A friend had a 70 monte carlo, he used layers of cardboard and plastic sheeting under it to keep the moisture from the floor at bay. A cloth cover let it stay pretty clean but breathe too.

[BenelliSEI]

If the garage is damp and wet I’d store my bike somewhere else.

Given no other option, make sure there is some decent air flow through the place. Park the bike on a sheet of scrap plywood and only use a lightweight dust cover (maybe an old sheet?).

Give it a good wash and use some of the sprays as recommended above.

[Phoenix]

I have some cracks in the garage floor but none near the bike.  I also have a solid floor mat under the bike so maybe I'm ok with the cover.  The mat may be the solution.

[BenelliSEI]

I’d still just cover with an old sheet. The “water proof” cover will trap moisture.