Dirtbiking is a quintessentially American pastime. It is something most people encounter in their youth. And some fall in love with it. Due to dirtbiking’s immense popularity, bikes sell for a lot on the secondhand market. Their resale potential motivates criminals to steal and sell them on.
If you are a dirtbike enthusiast, now’s the time to start thinking and protecting your bike. The last thing you want is to wake up and find it gone, especially if you don’t have theft insurance. This post will explore why indoor storage is undeniably better than keeping your bike outdoors.
What Are Your Options?
You might be wondering, ‘What indoor options are there?’ In truth, there are many different places you can store a dirtbike. You could even store yours in your living room if you wanted to. However, the best place to store a dirtbike is a storage locker, which you can learn more about by visiting the website of a storage unit rental agency. Here are some qualities to look for in a storage unit:
- If you are storing your dirtbike in a storage unit, you don’t want it to come into contact with water. Water can cause it to rust, which can cause serious damage and affect its resale potential.
- Climate control. Indoor humidity can also cause rusting. Find a storage unit that is climate-controlled. Keeping your dirtbike at a comfortable temperature and preventing excessive cooling and overheating can ensure it remains in perfect condition throughout its time in storage.
- The storage unit you ultimately rent needs to be protected by cameras, alarms, and security guards. A unit that is properly protected is unlikely to be targeted by criminals.
- 24/7 access. Ideally, the unit you rent should be accessible around the clock. Try to find one you can visit whenever you want, so you can access your bike at any time of the day or night.
- Affordable rates. Storage units can be expensive, which is why you need to find one that you can actually afford to pay for long-term. If you default on your payments, there is a chance your locker could be auctioned off.
- If you plan on storing a dirtbike inside a storage locker, you need space. The more space you have, the better. More space means you will even have somewhere to work on your bike if you need somewhere quiet to perform maintenance.
What Are the Benefits of Indoor Storage?
Protecting Your Bike from Rain
When you keep your bike outdoors, rust is guaranteed. Over time, rain will cause corrosion and ruin your bike’s internal components, as well as its appearance. Storing your bike in an indoor unit with climate and temperature controls will ensure you never have to worry about water damage.
Preventing Rust
As mentioned in the previous section, keeping your bike in a storage unit will prevent it from rusting due to rain exposure. It can also prevent humidity from causing rust and corrosion, assuming you have a locker that is climate and temperature-controlled. Humidity can be just as damaging to a dirtbike as rain can.
Keeping Paint from Fading
If your bike is stored outdoors, its paint could begin to fade. Paint fading can be a big problem for dirtbikes, especially ones that have received expensive paint jobs. Pageantry is an important part of dirtbiking, and many riders put a lot of effort into painting their bikes. Preserve your bike’s paintjob by keeping it indoors, out of the sun.
Avoiding Vandalism
Criminals come in all shapes and sizes. Some steal dirtbikes to sell them, while others steal them to ride them. And some damage them for the sake of it. If you want to keep your bike away from people with bad intentions, keep it indoors. A storage locker situated on a secure complex is the best way to deter criminals.
Theft Deterrent
Storage complexes are often highly secure and patrolled by guards and sometimes even dogs. Keeping your bike in a locker situated in such a complex is the best way to protect it. It simply isn’t worth most criminals’ time to attempt such an audacious heist just for a dirtbike. With that said, if your bike is an expensive one, it’s a good idea to invest in theft insurance just in case.
Preventing Rodent Damage
Rodents can pose a significant threat to the structural integrity of your dirtbike. While you can never fully rule out rodent damage, keeping your bike inside a storage unit is a good way to put a barrier between them and your bike. This is especially true if it is properly sealed and temperature-controlled.
Enhancing Security
When it comes to your dirtbike’s security, why take chances? Keeping it in a locker on a secure complex means you’ll never have to worry about criminals taking liberties and damaging your bike. Always speak to the manager of a complex before renting a unit there, so you can find out more about how seriously they take security.
Preserving Resale Value
Who knows what the future holds? While your bike may be everything to you today, you may want to sell it in the future. Keeping your bike in a storage unit can preserve its resale value for all of the reasons mentioned above. Not only will you not have to worry about it deteriorating in quality or appearance, but you won’t have to worry about it being stolen from you, either.
Providing Peace of Mind
Peace of mind can go a long way. Studies show that one of the biggest killers in the world today is stress. If you live in a state of chronic stress, you are bound to die early. So, why not take steps to mitigate stress? If your dirtbike means a lot to you, keeping it in an indoor locker can save you the hassle of obsessing over your bike, its appearance, how safe it is, and weather damage.
Dirtbikes can be a fantastic way to get outdoors, have fun, and make friends. However, just because they are enjoyed outdoors does not mean they have to be kept there, too. Keeping your dirtbike outdoors can cause significant damage, especially if it is left unattended for long periods of time. Storage units are, without a doubt, the best way to keep your bike safe, so consider renting one today.