Long term bike storage- Scotland
 

Ok, this is probably an odd request, but here goes:

Long story short- Just back from a long Americas trip. I'm back in Scotland till mid Jan'08 working and paying off credit card bills, my flat is still let out so I'm now back living with family (and yes it is crap). In Jan, I'm planning on going to Oz for a year or two and then doing the ride back to the UK- but I'll buy a bike there.

Now here's my problem: I don't really fancy selling my bike (GS1150) because:

A) now is generally the wrong time of year to be selling bikes in Scotland
B) not many people will want a bike with 100,000miles on the clock though theres bugger all wrong with it, and
C) well, because I like it! It's done me proud and all that.

Now I've still to ask around friends and family, but ideally, I'd like to find someone who has some suitable storage space for a GS for potentially a couple of years. Maybe someplace similar to what they do at Dakar Motos where folks seem to leave there bikes for a fee.

Anyone got any suggestions? If I can't find anything suitable , then I guess I'll have to sell the bike but I'm not really too keen on that.

Hi Mike,
I would look around for the local storage places, farms etc, that take in, say, caravans - they may be advertising in the small ads, internet etc.
It's about now that caravans, for instance, go into storage, hence the possibility of ads.

However, also ask around your area; many people who put vehicles into storage for the winter will do it through a regular contact.
You could also try your local garages - probably not the main dealers, but any small local bike or car repair place.
How about the Yellow pages; the TV has run articles in the past on storage companies, not garages as such, who will store anything - the capital of Scotland must have some of them!

ps I don't think it is an odd request; maybe there is a business in this for the UK, just as there is in South America.
Many years ago I kept a bike of mine in an old barn for quite some time and it did not even have a cover over it (what's one of them?) - it was covered in chicken s**t though.:rolleyes2:

Three times we have left our bike in a European country (3 different countries and up to six months) and each time we have contacted the local GoldWing club in advance and asked for help. We have gotten free secure storage each time from club members although each time we only asked for rental storage places. Try contacting your marque's Scottish club and ask for help finding a place.

Take a loan, any piffling amount.

Put up your bike as collateral.

Pay your installments on time.

Close the loan and pick up your bike when you need to.

The bank is unlikely to park it on the street.