Motorcycle cover for the winter suggestions....

[Guest]

Hey guys,

I have taken the advice of Chuck Hahn on this forum and bought a bottle of Wizard's Power Seal Metal Sealant. I'm going to apply it to all the chrome and aluminum pieces on both my Honda and my Suzuki this weekend. In addition to the treatment, I'm going to cover both bikes. I already have one Nelson Rigg covering the Honda, but I want a 2nd cover for the Suzuki. Does anyone have a suggestion of brand to buy? The Nelson Rigg seems to have done its job, but I'm wondering if maybe there's an even better brand that I'm not aware of. Does anyone have a favorite brand? And maybe even a good used cover they're looking to sell? I'll be continuing to store the two bikes in my carport, so they'll never be subjected directly to rain or snow, but it does get pretty damp in the carport at times - sometimes for days at a time.

Cheers y'all,

Scott

[Jordan]

Hey, I have the OXFORD RAINEX, SIZE L for my GS and it fits nice. It's been durable, and it has a waterproof outer...

Hope it helps.

[Guest]

Hey, I have the OXFORD RAINEX, SIZE L for my GS and it fits nice. It's been durable, and it has a waterproof outer...

Hope it helps.

That's good info. Thanks!

[alke46]

Are you making sure to get the tires off the bare ground? I always used to make sure when storing the bike for longer periods of time the center stand was used and the front end was always lifted off the surface. Just my way of making sure no flat spots ever happened.

[alke46]

And also, the Dowco Guardian cover is what I have used in the past and I really liked the way it worked. Check it out, it's the only cover you will ever need.

[Guest]

Are you making sure to get the tires off the bare ground? I always used to make sure when storing the bike for longer periods of time the center stand was used and the front end was always lifted off the surface. Just my way of making sure no flat spots ever happened.

No. I store both bikes parallel to each other, nose-to-tail and very close together, at the back of my carport, in front of my car. I maneuver the Honda into place on its wheels right up against the wall (and underneath a shelf), and I keep the Suzuki on a dolly so I can maneuver it right up against the Honda. Both of those facts negates being able to put them on their center stand. But thanks for the suggestion!

[Guest]

And also, the Dowco Guardian cover is what I have used in the past and I really liked the way it worked. Check it out, it's the only cover you will ever need.

Thanks for the suggestion Larry. On your advice, I bought a new Dowco Guardian Weatherall Plus on Ebay for $40.00. Size Medium. I spent a few hours this weekend "gooping up" both of my bikes and getting them ready for the winter.

[allojohn]

Hey, I have the OXFORD RAINEX, SIZE L for my GS and it fits nice. It's been durable, and it has a waterproof outer...

Hope it helps.

+1 Oxford covers are excellent quality and are a superb fit.

[Mickeymoe]

It seems to me that when stored inside, as in a garage, motorcycle covers can do more harm than good, trapping moisture. For example, I store my bike in the corner of a 1.5 car garage all year 'round, and when it gets very cold overnight and then it's humid outside say in the morning, if I open the garage door and leave it opened for too long the bike condenses all the moisture out of the outside air onto the chrome, paint etc. and causes rust to start. In order to avoid this from occuring, I don't leave the door open long enough to change the humity inside if possible, I just drive the car in and close the door quickly.

The previous owner of my bike said that he used to store it every year in a "bag" that you drive into (partially on the floor) and then you zip up the top closing the bike off completely from the ambient air. He said he also puts bags of descant inside to absorb moisture. His storage method sure seems to have worked because I have a 1980 GS1000G with 17k on it and it has not one spot of rust, even on the exhaust system.

Has anyone heard about this "bag" type of cover? For me, the only reason to put a cover on my bike would be to keep the dust off because if a cold bike attracts moisture, I don't want it under a cover where it will take even longer to evaporate.

LOOKS LIKE I ANSWERED MY OWN QUESTION- I'M GOING TO BUY ONE OF THESE!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Zerust-Anti-Rust-Garage-Motorcycle-Storage-Bag-Large-size-w-No-Lining/382214451254?hash=item58fdc1b036:g:Qm0AAOSwv~NZpy3s&vxp=mtr

Mark

[Guest]

Hi Mark,

Thanks for that suggestion. Yeah, I am a little worried about condensation sneaking under the cover and causing rust while I'm thinking all is well. I don't have a garage; only a carport. So even though it keeps the rain and snow off the bikes (I live in Michigan), it still lets in plenty of dampness when the conditions are right - and it can take literally days for it to evaporate. I'm hoping that the covers will keep at least most of that dampness off. I gave all the painted parts a good waxing, and all the metal parts a good coating of WD-40 before covering them, so hopefully, that'll be sufficient.

I looked at the listing for the "bike bag" on Ebay. It states that it has an "airtight seal", but it also states "The manufacturer recommends indoor use only, as moisture may build if used outside. Safe for use in a garage. Not waterproof."

It seems to me that if it's "airtight", it's also waterproof. So to work as your friend suggested, with a desiccant, it would have to be airtight. Otherwise, my desiccant would have to absorb all the moisture in Michigan - for six months!

[Mickeymoe]

Hi Mark,

Thanks for that suggestion. Yeah, I am a little worried about condensation sneaking under the cover and causing rust while I'm thinking all is well. I don't have a garage; only a carport. So even though it keeps the rain and snow off the bikes (I live in Michigan), it still lets in plenty of dampness when the conditions are right - and it can take literally days for it to evaporate. I'm hoping that the covers will keep at least most of that dampness off. I gave all the painted parts a good waxing, and all the metal parts a good coating of WD-40 before covering them, so hopefully, that'll be sufficient.

I looked at the listing for the "bike bag" on Ebay. It states that it has an "airtight seal", but it also states "The manufacturer recommends indoor use only, as moisture may build if used outside. Safe for use in a garage. Not waterproof."

It seems to me that if it's "airtight", it's also waterproof. So to work as your friend suggested, with a desiccant, it would have to be airtight. Otherwise, my desiccant would have to absorb all the moisture in Michigan - for six months!

Hey MIguy,
Actually, I am speaking from experience. About 25 years ago I bought an "almost new" 1980GS850G from a dealer with 7k on it. At the time, I owned a condo with no garage, and I had one assigned space and there were some visitor spots. During the first summer and riding season, I used the bike as my primary transportation, keeping it in a metal storage rental garage where I'd swap if for my car. On the days that I kept it at the condo, I always covered it with a good quality cover. Many times I'd sit on my balcony eating dinner and looking at it "nice and dry" under the cover as it rained. The following days, many times it was really hot and sunny. Well, without knowing, the cover was holding the moisture from the rain all day in the sun, heating it up no less, if I did not use the bike. By the end of the first summer virtually every small nut and bolt had rust on it. The cover was acting like a petre dish in a laboratory. Even the exhaust rusted out internally very quickly after that one year. So I learned my lesson the hard way. In order to keep the bike from really rusting when being stored outside in the elements, you have keep taking the cover on and off as it rains and then ground dries so as not to trap moisture and accelerate rust.

BTW, you might be interested in this MUCH MORE INEXPENSIVE option if you are storing outside and you won't be using it:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/MOTORCYCLE-WINTER-STORAGE-BAG-CYCLE-SAC-DRIVE-IN-SEAL-OFF-PROTECTION/350948717825?epid=1632070792&hash=item51b62c7501:g:~wsAAOxydlFSo2Pf&vxp=mtr

You could close it up and duct tape the crap out of it. Has to work better than a cover that is completely wide open at the bottom. Will keep the mice out too! MAKE SURE TO GET GORILLA BRAND DUCT TAPE! It's FAR SUPERIOR to any of the cheapie stuff! I actually use it to grout my bathtub it's so waterproof!!



P.S. I agree, the manufacturers are trying to have it both ways- say it's waterproof, water resistant etc, etc. and always leaving a way out if you end up with an issue. I think the above will work perfectly for you. I will be storing in a good garage so the more expensive one will be my choice.

Good luck. Mark

[Guest]

Hi Mark,

This is what I ended up with. It sure seems like a nice one.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Dowco-51223-00-Guardian-Weatherall-Plus-Motorcycle-Cover-Cruiser/302154707151?epid=171332448&hash=item4659d2f0cf:g:O1AAAOSwiDFYQJ2w&vxp=mtr

[Mickeymoe]

Looks like a nice cover. Good luck.

[Steve]

If you keep it inside (I know you said "carport", so it's really outside, but sheltered), all you really need is an old sheet to keep the dust off. That allows moisture to come and go as necessary, without getting trapped.

On the other hand, our fellow riders that are a bit south of us will say that the best thing to put over your bike would be your butt, while you are riding it, but we are not all that lucky.

.

[Guest]

Hi Steve. Last winter, I kept my Honda in the carport with NO cover, and the beautiful polished cases I had on it all corroded badly enough to discolor them. They'll require re-polishing to repair them. That's what I'm trying to avoid. There were days when there was so much moisture in the air that everything was dripping with water - even though it hadn't rained - and it would stay that way for three or four days at a time. And with all the salt they put on the roads around here, I suspect that moisture was heavily laden with it. My poor Honda is still angry with me!