By: Pete Crusoe

Shopping for a motorcycle cover is as easy as selecting whether you want a rain or dust cover and then finding one that fits your bike, right? Well, actually, no – it’s not.

In addition to the standard group of full sized indoor / outdoor covers featuring different material weights, there are also plenty of specialized covers available.

Sunshades – also known as half-covers or bikini tops. Most are simple, easy to install, woven nylon/lycra covers that stretch over a portion of the bike. They provide partial coverage and help prevent damage caused by the sun.

Full Enclosures – These are often used for long-term storage and provide excellent protection from sun, rain, snow and dust.

Full enclosures feature sturdy frames and a rugged base, which can be anchored. These vented enclosures get your bike up off the ground and provide total protection from the elements. They collapse to only inches high and weigh in at about 60-70 pounds.

Dust Covers – These lightweight covers are strictly for use indoors. Made of soft materials they provide excellent dust protection and won’t scratch surfaces.

Depending on your individual needs, the specialized covers listed above are all great choices. All of these products are good quality and since these are for specialized markets, cheap knockoffs are not as much of a concern: if you stick with reputable sellers, you will most likely do well.

High-end full-sized covers, such as DowCo’s WeatherAll Plus incorporate features such as overlapped and double stitched waterproof seams, strong waterproofed fabrics such as heavy-duty urethane coated polyester. These fabrics will resist punctures and tears as well as provide outstanding water repellency.

Aluminized heat-resistant coatings prevent cover damage and allow the placement of the cover before the engine and pipes have fully cooled.

Other important features:

Elasticized hems along the bottom help keep the cover tight to the bike. In addition, many covers feature reinforced grommets to allow for the use of alarms or cable locks.

Many manufacturers try a “2 sizes fit all” approach that may not work for you. Higher quality covers come in several different sizes and many are custom fit to your bike.

Covers that are sized for your bike will provide more protection. In addition, any standard cover worth considering must have adequate moisture vents.

Lighter material weight covers fit into smaller spaces and are easier to pack. They tend to dry faster than their heavyweight cousins. However, the lighter the material the more prone the cover will be to punctures and many are only water resistant rather than waterproof.

Unless you are planning on buying more than one cover, you may want to consider a cover that is rated for both indoor and outdoor use.

It’s worth noting that only a few covers are designed for use while trailering your bike.

Motorcycle covers come in many different designs and materials. Because of this diversity, Motorcycle Cover comparison guides are almost impossible to create. In addition, many manufacturers have proprietary features that may not be directly comparable to that of another brand.

However, with a little bit of research, good comparisons can be made and you’ll quickly be able to drill down to the one that’s right for you .

See related posts:

Article – Motorcycle Covers – Cost vs. Quality.
Product Reviews – DowCo WeatherAll Plus

These days there are more choices than ever when shopping for a motorcycle cover. Selecting what type is only the first step to buying the right motorcycle cover for you.

Choosing the right one need not be difficult – but you’ll need to do a little research.

As the choices grow in number, the ability to see beyond the marketing hype becomes more difficult, add cheap knock-off’s that look like name brand covers into the mix and the decision becomes that much harder.

The internet forums are full of stories from people that have tried 2, 3 or even more covers until they found the “one” that worked. The stories vary slightly but usually the initial purchase decision was based largely on low price. Due to clever marketing and similar looking products – the “perceived value” was there. Unfortunately, many times this was just an illusion and the covers invariably failed to perform.

Some buyers learned from the first mistake, others needed another lesson or two. This situation need not happen to you.

As with most things in life, you get what you pay for and when it comes to motorcycle covers, it pays to do your homework. That’s not to say that your mission for the next week is to read mounds of documents, but – a little research is in order.

Everyone wants to save a buck, however …

There’s a big difference between “good value” and “low cost”. Good value refers to more “bang for the buck” when compared to items that are similar in quality. The problem for buyers is that some off-brand cover manufactures are experts at making their product appear to have similar quality.

What cheap covers DO can be worse than what they DON’T DO.

So, what’s the risk of buying low cost motorcycle covers?

Well, for starters, most fail miserably as protective covers. Color fading, seams falling apart, and failure to repel water are some of the things you may experience with cheap covers.

However, performance failure and product degradation won’t be your only concerns. It’s also what cheap motorcycle covers do that makes them a poor choice.

Many low cost covers are poorly designed or made of inadequate materials. This can translate into your bike experiencing damage created by long-term moisture buildup. Inadequate windshield protection can result in abrasions and scratches. Improperly sized covers, as well as lack of or misplaced grommets can also produce abrasions and scratches as a result of the cover flapping in the wind.

Keep in mind that inadequate or no lower heat shields will mean that you will have to wait for your pipes to cool or risk damaging your cover.

Bottom Line

Whether you’re looking to protect you bike from the harmful rays of the sun, driving rains, or swirling winds – you’re going to need a cover that not only protects your ride, but also doesn’t damage it in the process.

Remember – When a cover manufacturer offers a short warranty or the ad fails to mention important features such as fade resistance, moisture vents, waterproof seams, elasticized hems, windshield liners, and aluminized heat shields – this may be a sign that you need to look closer.

Related articles:

Article: Selecting a Motorcycle Cover.
Product Test: DowCo WeatherAll Plus