Bike indoors

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The major concern of inside storage would be the fuel. Evidently according to the Ontario Electrical Code your garage requires explosion proof wiring within 2" of the floor (don't ask why I know), due to concerns of a fuel spill and vapours igniting. I would have the same concern indoors, so draining the fuel would probably be required. For a warm and comfy feeling I would check with the home insurance as well.
 
RodneyBR said:
But, did you check your home insurance policy? I'll be calling both my bike insurance and home insurance company if I decide to put my bike(s) inside. I really can't see how they would care, since their in your garage, which is in most cases attached yo your house.
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Sorry I wasn't clear, yes I called my home insurance company. Didn't think to call the bike insurance company, can't imagine why they would care either.

Many advantages to storing indoor. The greatest one is having a place to park my car during the winter. I hate clearing snow and ice off the car.
 
Um come on. Fuel will ignite easire in a closed envioirnment.
What actually catches fire is the fumes.
How many ignition sourses are found in a home?
 
I store my bike in the basement - the gas tank stays in the garage for piece of mind.
 
Low rider said:
Um come on. Fuel will ignite easire in a closed envioirnment.
What actually catches fire is the fumes.
How many ignition sourses are found in a home?
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Well, let's see:

Every electrical switch (lights, etc)
Every electrical outlet (though these won't always arc, the switches will normally arc)
Every electrical appliance
Your furnace
Your hat water heater
Your gas fireplace
Candles
Cigarette lighters

hmm, I'm running out of ideas off the top of my head. But I think you get the point.
Although the risk of ignition is moderate to low at any given time (gasoline needs to be between about 14-20% mix in the ambient air for it to ignite, which is fairly substantial but you do need to consider that the vapours are heavier than air and will collect over time) it's a risk a wise person wouldn't take.

In the garage, any fumes tend to be ventilated out the openings before you are likely to get a dangerous buildup. Also, there are somewhat fewer sources of ignition. Also, you don't sleep in your garage. For those reasons its a relatively low risk. In the place that you sleep? Not so much.

Simple precaution is to drain the fuel. Not a big deal.
 
Griffin said:
Well, let's see:

Every electrical switch (lights, etc)
Every electrical outlet (though these won't always arc, the switches will normally arc)
Every electrical appliance
Your furnace
Your hat water heater
Your gas fireplace
Candles
Cigarette lighters

hmm, I'm running out of ideas off the top of my head. But I think you get the point.
Although the risk of ignition is moderate to low at any given time (gasoline needs to be between about 14-20% mix in the ambient air for it to ignite, which is fairly substantial but you do need to consider that the vapours are heavier than air and will collect over time) it's a risk a wise person wouldn't take.

In the garage, any fumes tend to be ventilated out the openings before you are likely to get a dangerous buildup. Also, there are somewhat fewer sources of ignition. Also, you don't sleep in your garage. For those reasons its a relatively low risk. In the place that you sleep? Not so much.

Simple precaution is to drain the fuel. Not a big deal.
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Nice start .. dont forget static buildup as well.

That is the one where they thought cell phones were starting fires while pumping fuel ..
 
Low rider said:
Um come on. Fuel will ignite easire in a closed envioirnment.
What actually catches fire is the fumes.
How many ignition sourses are found in a home?
Click to expand...

When I was a kid this happened to a neighbour-

Union Gas did some work to the supply lines to her house one day.

Union Gas turned the gas back on.

Woman came home, opened up the front door, switched the lights on. ( source of igintion )

BOOM!

Roof of house was lifted 4 feet and woman was blown accross the street, ( she was unharmed )
 
gwelfmike said:
When I was a kid this happened to a neighbour-

Union Gas did some work to the supply lines to her house one day.

Union Gas turned the gas back on.

Woman came home, opened up the front door, switched the lights on. ( source of igintion )

BOOM!

Roof of house was lifted 4 feet and woman was blown accross the street, ( she was unharmed )
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It's not unique. Usually the house is completely levelled. There was a classic on Woodbine Avenue about 20 years ago where the gas company was notifying residents of a leak. The gas company guy went to the front door of a house and allegedly pushed the doorbell (he denied it because it was such a stupid thing to do but the circumstances say he was lying due to embarassment and not following basic rules). He ended up across the street relatively unharmed, the house disappeared and the houses on both sides were lifted off their foundations.

I don't think the issue with cell phones was static but the thought that the phone could generate an arc if a call was received. This is not a realistic threat and there's been no documented case of a cell phone causing ignition at a fuel pump. Static in the house is possible but the sure thing is every time you flip a light switch there IS an arc.
 
Griffin said:
Well, let's see:

Every electrical switch (lights, etc)
Every electrical outlet (though these won't always arc, the switches will normally arc)
Every electrical appliance
Your furnace
Your hat water heater
Your gas fireplace
Candles
Cigarette lighters

hmm, I'm running out of ideas off the top of my head. But I think you get the point.
Although the risk of ignition is moderate to low at any given time (gasoline needs to be between about 14-20% mix in the ambient air for it to ignite, which is fairly substantial but you do need to consider that the vapours are heavier than air and will collect over time) it's a risk a wise person wouldn't take.

In the garage, any fumes tend to be ventilated out the openings before you are likely to get a dangerous buildup. Also, there are somewhat fewer sources of ignition. Also, you don't sleep in your garage. For those reasons its a relatively low risk. In the place that you sleep? Not so much.

Simple precaution is to drain the fuel. Not a big deal.
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I don't know why the fumes never crossed my mind. Maybe because I don't even smell that the bike is there :dontknow: Unless I showed you it, you wouldn't know it was there. Now I am concerned over my choice. I'm in a bit of a pickle for this year but I just put that storage shed build to the top of the spring to do list. I'll make sure the area is well ventilated. Glad I stumbled on this thread.
 
Makes for nice conversation pieces during winter parties.

15383637_large.jpg
 
mma01 said:
Makes for nice conversation pieces during winter parties.

15383637_large.jpg
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Yes, very interesting conversation pieces, even more so if there is a fire in another area of the house and it spreads to this area.
 
Mine is going in the living room this weekend... now where the hell am I gunna put that damn couch??
 
gwelfmike said:
Yes, very interesting conversation pieces, even more so if there is a fire in another area of the house and it spreads to this area.
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Drained of gas.. so not really more combustible than anything else in the house... but thanks for the concern.
 
As mentioned, unheated but dry garage is fine. Nothing on the bike needs to be at room temperature when stored, especially not the battery. That said, I roll mine into the basement after the first snow so I can work on it in comfort.



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I hauled my bike into the house about 3 weeks ago with a stabilized tank of gas and the thought that it could combust didn't even cross my mind until now. I'd rather leave it with a full tank, but I guess I don't have much choice now that its already in the house. Guess I'm going to have to take a crash course in siphoning gas ASAP :P
 
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