God knows!!! - I'd go and speak to a few local estate agents and get their view. Is it freehold, leasehold? Who owns the access road etc, etc......

I'd try to get a lease deal on it and just pay monthly, then you won't get the **** and hassle of purchase etc....

Tim

If it's too much trouble to get a garage, you can buy those bike metal sheds that are very secure...

www.secure-a-bike.com

I know someone who's got one and they even have a pull out trailer bit on and take less room than a real garage! and you get money of insurance company...He bought his from the NEC

Hi all, thanks for the replies.

Most of what's been mentioned has already been bugging me, but I'm pretty desperate for a garage now, and have had no luck in finding one nearby. This one looks excellent - providing I can make it secure.

Rattler - I've yet to look into leasehold/freehold/insurance etc. but will learn more on monday. Renting isn't really an option, since I'd need to dig holes everywhere for sentry posts/ground-anchors/barriers etc.

Chris - I thought about long-term storage when I decided to keep my Strada, (after buying another bike) but couldn't bear the thought of it just sitting there in a vac-bag when I could maybe ride it occasionally.

Melnie - I live in a flat, and haven't the space for one of those purpose made sheds. Wish I had! Mind you, I've two bikes to lock away, so I'd need a couple.

Philthy - So far as I can gather, the current owner doesn't live in the house next door - but a few doors along the street. Old couple live next door. Strange situation I know!
As to my not being 'on the premises'; it's not ideal. I'll just have to make the place practically 'bomb proof' and hope for the best. I've had a few ideas already. I'll be fitting the usual ground anchors/chains/alarm etc. And maybe one of these removeable barriers across the door opening (see pic). I'm even prepared to buy an old car if need be, and park it in front of the bikes. (Wheel-clamp it too!) It'll probably take me twenty minutes to get the bikes out, but what the hell.

Steve

Steve,

Just a thought, but the more you make the place look like Fort Knox, the more you're advertising that the contents are worth a closer look. And by the very people you don't want to draw attention to those valuable contents.

Not helpful, I know. Just my £0.02 worth

My mate is selling his lock-up at Liphook in Hampshire, part of a block, no electricity, for £9,000. You can't buy or rent here locally very easily , there's such short supply.

You're right Rob, but they'd see me coming and going anyway. I'll be keeping an SP4 in there too, and it's not a bike I could creep around on. Maybe an old van with a flat tyre parked on the driveway would lower the tone a bit, and hide the garage front? It'd mean keeping a footpump handy of course, but I'd do it if it would help!!

(Update - the guy's now said he'll take £6500. Doesn't seem too bad then Henners?)

[Edited on 8-1-2006 by weeveetwin]

It looks a beauty compared to my mates one - if it's freehold I'd take his hand off, you're never going to lose money on it in the long run, also there's no rates to pay so no other expenses other than upkeep. One thing - if the walls are single brick thieves will simply knock a section out with a sledge hammer to gain access so your ideas on internal security are sound.



[Edited on 8-1-2006 by Henners]

Henners much more quieter to remove a few roof tiles and cut through one lath;)

Oooooooooooo - er :o







:lol: