So, yes it will be locked up as well. my Specialized Carbon Comp has been outside under a cover for several months, and so far no sign of corrosion anywhere,....so wondering how weather proof my 2017 Bulls Bikes E-Stream Evo 3+FS electronics are and if I can get it out of my living room and outside under a proper bike cover?
Any reason I can't keep my E-MTB outside under a good cover
- Thread starter Bcolins
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BiggKidd
Well-known member
Where I live leaving something under a tarp or similar hanging to ground level will trap tons of moisture. My bike stays under a three sided lean to.
Annieolnie
Well-known member
You have a very expensive ebike with a lot of proprietary parts and no IPX rating. I would leave it in my living room and just consider it something gorgeous to look at. From what I can see it has a lot of crevices to take on condensation. I'd move my bedroom chest of drawers into the backyard before I would that bike.
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yuup
@Annieolnie and @BiggKidd have summed up the reasons perfectly!
I will add one more reason: Security. It's probably more secure to keep your ebike indoors, at least no one will go looking what's under the cover.
BiggKidd
Well-known member
Joecrow
Member
I have to keep my bikes outside in a one covered side and roofed bike parking stand. No problem with damp or water but I have to remove the batteries in winter as it can get cold here (below 0 deg. C).
Annieolnie
Well-known member
Just be glad raccoons haven't figured out how to ride a bicycle.
Chumley
Well-known member
I have mixed feelings about outside storage. I stored my pedal bikes outdoors, covers, and corrosion was still an issue. I wouldn't worry about frame and wheels, but electrical connections and chains take a beating when outside, even covered. In any case, though, the battery should be kept in a controlled environment. If you ride the bike frequently, you will likely be OK. But in Northern NJ, for my bike, the corrosion would definitely be a problem.
If your environment is more favorable, I would still put dielectric grease on electric connections so they don't corrode. Bring the battery indoors.
If your environment is more favorable, I would still put dielectric grease on electric connections so they don't corrode. Bring the battery indoors.
BiggKidd
Well-known member
It's not just the weather that causes all that corrosion it's also the sand and salt we put down to help make the roads passable. I've been keeping my bike minus battery in a three sided lean-to for a solid year now. While no where near as good as being in a climate controlled setting its far better than out in the weather or with a tarp draped over it.
Bobh
Member
Have been keeping my e-bike kit trike under a cheap trike cover for a year now. Now issues with corrosion to date. Still works OK.
I had a standard hybrid bike I used leave parked out in the elements in the bike racks at the back of Waterloo station every weekday night and over the weekends. The only thing that went rusty were the two noodles. The seat post and stem nearly seized in but fortunately someone gave me the heads up to remove, clean and grease them and they were fine after that. I used spray lithium grease on the chains, gears and bearings.
After 7 years outside it it looked worst for wear but never let me down..
I had a standard hybrid bike I used leave parked out in the elements in the bike racks at the back of Waterloo station every weekday night and over the weekends. The only thing that went rusty were the two noodles. The seat post and stem nearly seized in but fortunately someone gave me the heads up to remove, clean and grease them and they were fine after that. I used spray lithium grease on the chains, gears and bearings.
After 7 years outside it it looked worst for wear but never let me down..
When we summer camp for 3 months on Pismo beach (Cal south/central), we keep our 2 under the front section of our Escape 5.0 bed hitch trailer. It mists up overnight, but not on our bikes. We've done it 3 times so far, all good.
spower
Member
I have no place else but outside to keep my bike. It is under a good cover and locked up. I have already done this for the last winter and it was fine.
Lovetoride
Member
For one thing, leaving a eBike outside exposes it ongoing to the ambient Humitity.
I do not know what all your circumstances are, what I can tell you is what my experience is. I bought a brand new quality new eBige in May 2023. Since then I put allmost 4000 Km (2400 miles) of mostly paved or hard surfaced Road on it.
Once I am done riding I put it back in his place inside my heated House. I belive this practise is the primarely reason I never ever had any issues besides a Flat Tire during a ride. Furthermore arround in this Town (Victoria-British Columbia-Canadas) there are way to many unsavory People arround which steal anything not weldet down.
Cheers
I do not know what all your circumstances are, what I can tell you is what my experience is. I bought a brand new quality new eBige in May 2023. Since then I put allmost 4000 Km (2400 miles) of mostly paved or hard surfaced Road on it.
Once I am done riding I put it back in his place inside my heated House. I belive this practise is the primarely reason I never ever had any issues besides a Flat Tire during a ride. Furthermore arround in this Town (Victoria-British Columbia-Canadas) there are way to many unsavory People arround which steal anything not weldet down.
Cheers
Cool, we also have an Escape 5.0 fifth wheel ours is a 2018. Pismo beach sounds nice is it in a private campground?
We live outside Ridgway CO not far from you down in Durango @Bcolins we keep our e-bikes outside all year on our front porch which keeps them out of the sun, rain and snow I just take the batteries inside in the winter months. It's such a dry climate here in sunny south west Colorado I don't think you will have any trouble, we haven't seen any corrosion or any problems after several years of this.
Re. outdoor storage.
When I lived in an apartment several years ago and had a Honda Silverwing 600 maxi-scooter that had to be stored outdoors, I bought a motorcycle cover for it made by Nelson-Rigg. They make several tiers of covers. The top tier ones are a rugged material with heat-resistant fabric where the mufflers would be, and weather proof vents near the top (the silver triangular panels shown below) so it could breathe and not retain moisture. It had a built-in bungee all around the bottom, as well as grommets for a bungee or something to cinch it up across the bottom to mostly keep the wind from getting under it.
It worked a treat. I think it was the Defender All Weather model from here:
https://www.nelsonrigg.com/motorcycle-covers/defender-all-weather-cover-detail
Only thing to watch for is that rodents like to shack up in there for the winter. Many motorcyclists who have to store their bikes outside reported that having the bike covered by one of these makes them less attractive to thieves, as they can't immediately size up the value of what's underneath, not to mention the extra hassle of getting it off without drawing attention to oneself.
Imagine their disappointment if they were to pull it up and find that "only" an eBike lies underneath...
When I lived in an apartment several years ago and had a Honda Silverwing 600 maxi-scooter that had to be stored outdoors, I bought a motorcycle cover for it made by Nelson-Rigg. They make several tiers of covers. The top tier ones are a rugged material with heat-resistant fabric where the mufflers would be, and weather proof vents near the top (the silver triangular panels shown below) so it could breathe and not retain moisture. It had a built-in bungee all around the bottom, as well as grommets for a bungee or something to cinch it up across the bottom to mostly keep the wind from getting under it.
It worked a treat. I think it was the Defender All Weather model from here:
https://www.nelsonrigg.com/motorcycle-covers/defender-all-weather-cover-detail
Only thing to watch for is that rodents like to shack up in there for the winter. Many motorcyclists who have to store their bikes outside reported that having the bike covered by one of these makes them less attractive to thieves, as they can't immediately size up the value of what's underneath, not to mention the extra hassle of getting it off without drawing attention to oneself.
Imagine their disappointment if they were to pull it up and find that "only" an eBike lies underneath...
Chumley
Well-known member
Using a cover....Put mothballs in a pervious bag and hang up under cover. Rodents are adverse to the smell. (So are Moths...lol)
Ah yes a cover, I have also used a motorcycle cover when I had to store my Suzuki DR200 outside for a number of years. It protected the bike from rain, sun and leaves very well. I'm in the tropics where it pours like crazy and the humidity is off the scales. The only bad thing is the moisture and rain on the rims, but I didn't notice anything bad happening to the rims or the rest of the motorbike over that time.
Good tip, luckily I didn't have to deal with rodents. I have seen a mouse make a nest in the airbox of an old ag-bike which had been sitting for many years.
The answer , if you have yard space , is to buy a pre-fab Shed , and store anything you want to keep dry in it . That being said , I have to keep my Aventon outside , under cover , and it is still without corrosion 18 months later ...
Rawly Old
Well-known member
I'm jealous, but I can still be a hermit in this one horse dorp. It's wonderful to dispense with non essentials.
I'm not a very good little consumer.
Add possums to the list.Just be glad raccoons haven't figured out how to ride a bicycle.