cover necessary?

[alexXx]

hey all, i was wondering if a cover for your motorcycle is really necessary, ie what would happen if you just left it uncovered...

i have no covered parking for my bike, and had used a cover until a few days ago...someone yoinked it and i was wondering if i should go buy another one, or if its okay just leaving the bike out

thanks all


- alex

[scratch]

Sun is bad.

Sun is bad for the seat (the seat will split); bad for all the rubber parts (the carburetor boots are $, the fork dust covers are a pain to replace). Your instruments will fade. It will dehydrate your battery. The sun will fade your paint, crack your tires, fade the color on your switches, not to mention graying the switch clusters.

[weaselnoze]

i use a big ass tarp to cover my bike.  not ideal but at least it keeps the sun/rain off..

[airbrush]

plus it keeps prying eyes off it

[juggernaught]

Cover it.  People are tempted to do some really stupid sh*t when they see an uncovered, unattended bike.

[alexXx]

okay, buying another cover asap...lol

- alex

[Phaedrus]

I bought a cheap cover for like $20 at Walmart  at thie beginning of this season. I personally think it is a big piece of crap.

The cover itself looks nice, has tie downs for windy days, and fits the bike pretty well. HOWEVER...

The damn inside lining is always falling apart and leaving a white powdery residue on my bike. So every time I go to ride it, I have to wash the entire bike by hand first.

Sure, the cover keeps it protected from sun, rain, prying eyes, bird crap, etc. And it was cheap so it is definitely worth the $20 I'd say.

I guess you get what you pay for. If you have the money, buy a better cover. But even a cheap cover is better than no cover!  

[scottpA_GS]

I got a really sweet cover from JC Whitney $27. w/ shipping. It fits the bike like a glove! Its better than a tarp in the sense that it is designed to shed off water, but it allows air inside to keep moisture from building up  

[97gs500e]

I think a dirty cover might ward off theives more effectively..
I just talked to managment about getting a garage this afternoon,  does $65 a month sound too steep?  My carport is $40 a month..




..not riding today.  Its coming down out there!

[gazingwa]

$25 a month is cheap security if you can fit your cage and your bike in there

[97gs500e]

$25 a month is cheap secutirty if you can fit your cage and your bike in there

I should hope so, cars don't get much smaller than mine.  

Like your sig

Burn-inating-the-country-side.  Trogdor!!

[scratch]

I think a dirty cover might ward off theives more effectively..
I just talked to managment about getting a garage this afternoon,  does $65 a month sound too steep?  My carport is $40 a month..

That would be worth it to me. And, I would still cover it. At least, with a clean, old bedsheet to keep the dust off, while still being breathable (and washable).

[RVertigo]

The damn inside lining is always falling apart and leaving a white powdery residue on my bike.

I have the same problem!  I only bother to wipe off the mirrors.   :lol:

[Toledo Jim]

I bought a cheap cover for like $20 at Walmart  at thie beginning of this season. I personally think it is a big piece of crap.

The cover itself looks nice, has tie downs for windy days, and fits the bike pretty well. HOWEVER...

The damn inside lining is always falling apart and leaving a white powdery residue on my bike. So every time I go to ride it, I have to wash the entire bike by hand first.

Sure, the cover keeps it protected from sun, rain, prying eyes, bird crap, etc. And it was cheap so it is definitely worth the $20 I'd say.

I guess you get what you pay for. If you have the money, buy a better cover. But even a cheap cover is better than no cover!  

Turn the cover inside out? :dunno:

[Phaedrus]

I was actually thinking of ripping the liner out completely and giving it a good wash, so it is just the cover and no liner.  :dunno:

[Vball24]

My thinking on the bike cover from Walmart is that the liner will eventually come all the way off, unless I stop being lazy and cut it off then it will still do it's job and no more white stuff.  I like the ability to put it on the bike when it is still hot.  So I think the $20 was well worth it.

[fueddy80]

$40 for a carport     wow that sounds like alot to me (maybe just me) at my apartment its en extra $15  

[Phaedrus]

My thinking on the bike cover from Walmart is that the liner will eventually come all the way off, unless I stop being lazy and cut it off then it will still do it's job and no more white stuff.  I like the ability to put it on the bike when it is still hot.  So I think the $20 was well worth it.

Yeah, I got ambitious and turned it inside out and ripped all the white liner crap out finally, then washed the inside with a washcloth to get the residue out. Works great now  

[The Antibody]

Just be carful about wind. The cover makes your bike a sail. I live on a hill and the wind has knocked my bike over when it's covered, so now I park next to something that breaks up the wind.

 -Anti