Long time lurker...now ready to pull the trigger

[Stan1966]

Hello from Richmond VA! I have been a long time lurker on this forum (since about 2006, I think), but getting ready to start a much needed garage. Looking more for motorcycle usage garages, but ideas from ALL in-use garages is most welcome. Bought this house in 1981 and put up with this little 10x10 for years.

It had to go when I went back to riding after a 5 year hiatus on doctor's orders. Decided I could ride, so re-built my old '66 Harley and then got this to replace the 10x10.

The 10x10 served me well, until I got the 12x24, as you can see. and was OK for one bike, but when I started adding more, even the 12x24 started feeling too small.

With these, we need more room.. . Tough to get'em all in here.

And then, we added these...now I really need to build something!
Hope it's not too many pictures....

 

[drivesitfar]

Stan: i don't think you can post too many pictures on a post about motorcycles and garage and tools. for that matter take up several posts and post more if you have them. I've seen several garages with racks of motorcycles on racks above the working space so maybe if you are confined by a certain building size maybe make taller ceilings if possible like 14 feet.

i'll try to find the threads that have the motorcyles on racks later when i have some time or if you have time to search in the garage gallery see if you can find some.

let me (us) know if you need any help using the forum and welcome to the group.

cheers

 

[RedRabbit]

Those bikes look nice. I'm personally a sport bike guy but those Harleys are nice. welcome to the GJ.

 

[rburke65]

Hello and welcome from Ohio! They are never big enough. A 40' by 60' is a nice size to start! Good luck.

 

[Stan1966]

Thanks for the Welcomes!
I am limited on footprint of the garage to 26x32 max...so, I have decided that I'm going to build this one. Monitor style with workroom above. Figure I can get all 4 bikes, the BMW sidecar rig and the three trikes in the two car garage space.
The wife's car and my truck are gonna be relegated to the driveway!

 

[Stan1966]

Stan: i don't think you can post too many pictures on a post about motorcycles and garage and tools. for that matter take up several posts and post more if you have them. I've seen several garages with racks of motorcycles on racks above the working space so maybe if you are confined by a certain building size maybe make taller ceilings if possible like 14 feet.

i'll try to find the threads that have the motorcyles on racks later when i have some time or if you have time to search in the garage gallery see if you can find some.

let me (us) know if you need any help using the forum and welcome to the group.

cheers

Yes, I am limited by the location to a 26x32 ft footprint. I have several sheds(6x8, 8x8 and 8x16) to store my lawnmowers and blowers and wheelbarrows and stuff, plus I need space beside the garage for my 8x20 trailer and my 6x10 utility trailer. I have considered racking, but I ride all my bikes and trikes (or better, my wife and I ride all our bikes and trikes) so I fear racking any of them would lead to "too much trouble to get it down" syndrome. LOL At 70, I want to ride all I can!

 

[MattVette89]

Welcome! Nice group of bikes you have there.

 

[1/2 Cup]

Hi and welcome Stan from Australia, thanks for posting.

 

[Stan1966]

Hi and welcome Stan from Australia, thanks for posting.

1/2 Cup...thanks for the welcome. I made the mistake of clicking on your Downunder shed link....2 days and 85 pages later, I finished the thread.

Awesomness, is all I can say. I feel like I have known you for years now, and have been under some expert tutelage! Good job, "Mate"...please keep'em coming!

 

[drivesitfar]

Stan: in case 1/2 cup doesn't see your post here on your thread you might want to make a similar post on his Shed thread that i know he checks fairly often. i still have yet to read his thread from start to finish like you just did, but i can tell you i totally agree with your thoughts.

cheers and welcome

 

[Stan1966]

Stan: in case 1/2 cup doesn't see your post here on your thread you might want to make a similar post on his Shed thread that i know he checks fairly often. i still have yet to read his thread from start to finish like you just did, but i can tell you i totally agree with your thoughts.

cheers and welcome

Thanks for the tip....I'll do just that. However, I just know that if I go to his thread again, another day just might be spent! LOL
Stan

 

[dlcwent]

welcome stan. very nice first posts. i'll be checking in to see how you progress with your project.

 

[drivesitfar]

Stan: i bet it was a day well spent learning more than a thing or two if you read 1/2's Shed thread and some other ones. might i suggest you don't read the main vise thread all in one day because short doses is addicting.

cheers and again ask questions if you have any on how to use the forum or when reading a thread if you don't quite understand something.

 

[Zeke]

So, are you getting rid of the 12 x 24 and building on that spot? Being on a slab will help with rolling bikes in and out but built up might be warmer.

Can't help too much with the in-use part but laying out your thoughts on paper including lighting and outlets is a very good idea. Include a lean-to for your compressor and and make a partition to store flammables that won't freeze. Sit on this plan for a time as new ideas pop into your head and you can put them down. I like to make cut outs of benches and boxes to move around on the plan. Then do some quick elevation sketches. You'll be surprised how much things might change before you break ground.

 

[Stan1966]

So, are you getting rid of the 12 x 24 and building on that spot? Being on a slab will help with rolling bikes in and out but built up might be warmer.

Can't help too much with the in-use part but laying out your thoughts on paper including lighting and outlets is a very good idea. Include a lean-to for your compressor and and make a partition to store flammables that won't freeze. Sit on this plan for a time as new ideas pop into your head and you can put them down. I like to make cut outs of benches and boxes to move around on the plan. Then do some quick elevation sketches. You'll be surprised how much things might change before you break ground.

Yep, either moving it to our farm (50 miles away) or selling it. I have an 8' x 16' sitting beside the one shown in the pics that I will "spin around" behind the new garage. There is also an 8' x 8' shed that will end up taking the remaining 8 ft behind the garage. The 8x8 will hold my sandblast cabinet and my stationary compressor (that one is LOUD). The 8x16 will hold all the garden and yard stuff. There won't be much of that...I've paved half of the backyard! The ground level of the garage will be just for the bikes and trikes with maybe one workbench. The room upstairs will be the primary workshop for what little metal fab and woodcarving I still do. All my bikes nowadays only require maintenance; my days of fabricating and building bikes is OVER; I'd rather spend the remaining years riding rather than wrenching. Besides, the new bikes now require computers and stuff! Can you believe that!?!


This shot, you can see part of the 8x8 behind the current 12x24. And you can see I need the remaining space for the two trailers. I have the other two trailers down on the farm now.

I received my package of plans today from the garage designer, so I will be perusing the drawings and playing with cut-out shapes for a while! We are doing a major update to the house right now, so the actual garage build is looking at summer 2016...guess I will have to put up with what I have 'till then. I will start a planning build thread as it gets closer. Thanks for tips Zeke, I appreciate it.

 

[XxToolAholicxX]

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