Motorcycle winter storage: which bike is where, and what it costs
When winter comes, riders leave their bikes with you; in spring the questions start: which one is mine, how many months was it, what do I owe? In Baktam's motorcycle workshop panel you put a bike into storage by its number plate from the “Winter storage” menu: its spot (e.g. Bay A-3), monthly fee, mileage, a note and the care it gets (battery charging, fuel stabiliser, tyre pressure, cover, wash, indoor spot) are recorded. The planned pick-up date defaults to the next 15 April. When the bike goes back, every started month counts as a full month and the fee is added as a line to the bike's open work order; payment, receipt and customer balance follow the usual flow.
Store the bike
Spot & fee
Pick-up soon
Add to work order
Example scenario
Example: in early November a Honda PCX goes into storage at Tom's workshop. He types the plate, enters “Bay A-3”, the monthly fee and the options battery charging and cover; the pick-up date fills in as 15 April. In early April the bike moves to the “Pick-up soon” list and Tom calls the customer from the list. At pick-up the fee is counted month by month and added to the bike's spring service work order.
What is it for?
In the workshop
Lots of bikes are in storage; whose is which and where it stands is written in a notebook, and the notebook goes missing.
With Baktam
Every bike is saved with its plate, owner and phone number, with its spot (like Bay A-3), mileage in and a note next to it. Search by plate, name or phone.
In the workshop
How many months it stayed and what the fee comes to is worked out in your head on pick-up day, and it ends in an argument.
With Baktam
Every started month counts as a full month: a bike stored on 15 November and picked up on 15 March is 4 months, on 16 March 5 months. The months and the total are shown on screen and added to the work order as a line at pick-up.
In the workshop
In spring nobody knows which bikes are going out, and when the customer arrives the bike isn't ready.
With Baktam
The “Pick-up soon” list shows bikes due within 14 days, and the count is on the home screen. The care the bike gets in storage (battery charging, fuel stabiliser, tyre pressure) is on the record, so it is ready in time.
How does it work?
- 1
Put the bike into storage
“Winter storage” > “Store a bike”. Type the plate; if the bike isn't saved yet, add the plate, make, model, owner's name and phone on the same screen.
- 2
Enter the spot and the fee
Enter the spot, the monthly fee (excluding VAT), mileage in, a note and the care it gets. The planned pick-up date fills in as the next 15 April; you can change it.
- 3
Follow the list
Tabs for In storage, Pick-up soon and Picked up. Each row shows the time so far, the fee so far and the days left; call the customer in one tap or message them on WhatsApp.
- 4
Hand the bike back
Pick the pick-up date: the months and the total fee appear. The fee is added to the bike's open work order, or a new work order is opened if there is none. Payment, receipt and customer balance then follow the usual work order flow.
Who uses it?
Workshop owner
Sets the monthly fee; sees the bikes in storage and the fee added to the work order at pick-up.
Front desk / cashier
Puts bikes into storage, calls the customer as pick-up gets close and hands the bike back.
Technician
Sees where each bike is and what care it needs; can't see or change the fee.
This feature is part of Baktam, the garage management software that keeps the whole workshop in one place.
Frequently asked questions
How is the storage fee calculated?
Every started month counts as a full month, with a minimum of 1: a bike stored on 15 November and picked up on 15 March is 4 months, on 16 March 5 months. The total is months times the monthly fee. The monthly fee is entered excluding VAT; VAT is added on the work order as usual.
Where does the fee go, and how do I get paid?
At pick-up the fee is added as one line, with the date range and number of months, to the bike's open work order; if there is none, a new work order is opened. Payment, receipt and customer balance follow the usual work order flow; there is no online payment. A record can't be handed back twice, so the fee is never billed twice.
Does the customer get a message when pick-up is close?
No, there are no automatic messages for storage. The “Pick-up soon” list shows bikes due within 14 days; call the customer from the list in one tap or message them on WhatsApp.
Can I record the work done in storage, or add photos?
The care is ticked as options: battery charging, fuel stabiliser, tyre pressure, cover, wash, indoor spot. You can also add a note (e.g. key on the board, helmet next to it). Storage records don't take photos; record the bike's condition on arrival on the work order with photos and the damage diagram.
Who gets it, and does it work on the phone?
Winter storage appears in the menu for businesses whose type is Motorcycle workshop; plans and prices don't change. It works in the web panel and in the Baktam app for Android and iPhone. Mechanics see the list but not the fee.
Related features
Motorcycle workshop
A 14-point bike checklist, tyre tread depth, a damage diagram with the customer's signature and an automatic service reminder.
Work orders & vehicle check-in
Plate, complaint and mileage on one job card the moment the car arrives; parts, labor and tax add up on their own.
Payments, cash & receivables
Who owes what, which cheque is due, which job an incoming transfer is for — on one screen.
One click is all it takes to try everything.
14 days free, no card needed. Set up in 5 minutes, learned in half a day.