9 tips for setting up your shed

1. Floor
Starting from the ground up, a hard, clean floor makes for the best surface to work on your bike. Not only is it going to make for a stable and safe motorcycle, whether it’s on a sidestand, paddock stand, ramp or hoist, but it’s going to make your life easier, too. Drop a nut or washer on a dirt floor (or worse – grass!) and you’ll spend the rest of the day trying to find it. If you’re confined to the gravel carport, and intend to do a lot of your own basic maintenance, invest in something to put underneath the bike. There are all sorts of click-together temporary flooring systems available these days, just make sure it's hard enough that your bike won’t topple over.

2. Lighting
Good lighting is really important when working on a motorcycle. As well as having decent overhead lighting in your shed, it’s a good idea to have a secondary source to diffuse dark shadows created by you or your bike (or that pesky mate who’s always in the way!). The secondary source could be a light mounted on an adjustable pole that can be moved and directed where you need it, and keep a torch handy, too, for when things get closer to the middle of your motorcycle where the shadows are the darkest. A good natural light source is invaluable, too.

3. Workbench
You probably won’t need a big workbench as most of your basic motorcycle maintenance happens on the bike itself, but it’s handy to have. If it’s deeper than your arm’s length, then it’s really only a waste of space (that could be used for more motorcycles!). If it’s kept clean it can be a good place to lay out anything you’ve removed from the bike in the correct order so you remember exactly how it goes back together. Ideally it’s going to be about belt height – anything lower and you’ll get a sore back after a while, and anything higher you’ll end up feeling it in your shoulders.

4. Power
Easy access to power can save you time. Instead of constantly swapping over plugs from one power point located away from your workspace, consider mounting a power board at your workbench. You could mount it on the wall behind your workbench or on the face of your bench closer to your workspace. Before you plug too many things in at once, maybe get someone to check the shed’s power capabilities are up to it.

5. Basic toolkit
There are myriad tools you may or may not need when working on your motorcycle, but a basic kit including all or some of the following should see you through most general jobs. A set of combination spanners (with ring and open-ended spanner on each end) and a set of sockets with an extension for the hard-to-reach bolts. Add to that a set of Allen keys, a shifting spanner, a set of screwdrivers, a few of pairs of pliers (needle-nose, side cutters and the standard type), a hammer as well as a set of multi-grips is a good start.

6. Stand
While there isn’t a motorcycle owner in the world who hasn’t coveted a hydraulic hoist, it obviously isn’t necessary to carry out basic maintenance. If your bike doesn’t have a centre stand, consider getting a paddock stand to place your bike on while working on it. Not only does it ensure the bike stays upright to make working the left-hand side of your bike easier than when it’s on its sidestand, it means the rear wheel’s off the ground to make chain maintenance (and wheel cleaning) far easier. And your bike’s going to be sturdier, too.

7. Stool
That’s the bike sorted out, think about you. If you’re going to spend a bit of time in the shed, consider getting a stool so you’re not always bending down to the bike’s height. There are all sorts of types, including ones on wheels (you’ll need a clean hard floor!), and ones which include parts trays so you always know where you left that nut, bolt or spanner.

8. Fire extinguisher
The likelihood of a fire while carrying out basic maintenance is slim (Ed: that didn't stop my father on multiple occasions!), but in the case of a fire extinguisher you’re better off looking at one than looking for one. Never use water to extinguish and oil or petrol fire, you’ll only make it worse, a carbon dioxide extinguisher is the best way to put out a fire in your shed.

9. WiFi
Having a WiFi connection in your shed could save you a bit of time. Especially if you need to google help on how to crack that rusted-on bolt, or find out if the doozy in the whatsy is meant to be there or if it needs replacing. The internet can be a useful tool in the shed, but be careful. Everyone might think they’re an expert, but they’re not so take advice carefully. Aside from help, it’s a great source to look up prices of parts while it’s on your mind, and it can give you tunes, too. And by not having to walk inside the house every time you need to look something up means you’re banking time.