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    Motorcycle Covers: A Simple Way to Protect Your Bike

    By on Last modified: August 20, 2021

    Are you a motorcycle owner? Yes? Then I’m sure you’re in love with your bike and you feel pretty protective over it. There’s just something about bikes that hits differently than owning a car or another type of vehicle, right?
    If you’re anything like the motorcycle riders I know, you probably take great care of your bike, worry about its proper maintenance, always make sure everything is in complete order both inside and outside, and not to mention – you keep the overall appearance of your bike and accessories intact. One of the best accessories for protecting your precious ride is motorcycle covers.

    Here are a few tips to help you choose the perfect cover for your bike.

    Find the Right Model

    Motorcycle-Covers-Right-Model
    Source: sailrite.com

    Motorbike covers are such a simple, yet ingenious invention. Simple to use, they protect your bike from a lot more than just unpleasant weather conditions. Dust is known to also cause damage to motorcycles, so buying a motorcycle dust cover is beyond a “must-have”. Still, for your motorcycle dust cover to work as intended, you’ll need to choose one that fits your bike perfectly.

    First, consider the size of your motorbike. Make sure your entire bike, including the wheels, can fit under the material. Some people disregard the wheels and leave them uncovered which can result in damage to the tire and the wheel itself and may end up costing you quite a bit of money.

    Next up, you’ll need to keep in mind any accessories your bike has. Do you have a top box? What about any other additions? If so, make sure the model you’re looking at includes these things as well and not just the bike itself.

    Choosing the Material

    Motorcycle-Covers-Material
    Source: specialisedcovers.com

    Even if you’re planning on storing your bike indoors, a cover is preferred, as no matter how well the place you’re using is insulated and protected, there are still things in there that might damage your bike. If you’re storing your bike indoors you can choose a motorbike cover intended for inside use that will provide just the right amount of protection. These covers are usually stretchy, so you have some room to work with when it comes to the size, but you’ll still need to pay close attention to it. Stretchy doesn’t mean one-size-fits-all and I’m sure you’d like to avoid damaging parts like rearview mirrors and the like.

    If you’re storing your bike outdoors, however, protection that’s a bit heavier is in order, so forget all about the soft and stretchy covers and concentrate on covers that will really have your bike’s back. Make sure that the material used to make the cover itself is waterproof and dustproof. You’ll also need to check the manufacturing and ensure the cover is sturdy and well-made, so it doesn’t rip if subjected to strong winds or rain.

    There is usually a clear declaration stating if a cover is for indoor or outdoor use, especially if you’re shopping online. But just as a reminder – indoor covers are stretchy and softer, while outdoor covers may resemble raincoats.

    Choosing the Colour

    Motorcycle-Covers-Colour
    Source: motor1.com

    It may seem obsolete, but colour can really make a difference. Just like with clothing, if you choose a dark-coloured shade for your bike cover, you’ll actually be attracting sun rays towards your bike which will contribute to an increased temperature under the cover, which might end up damaging your precious ride. When choosing an outdoor bike cover, make sure you get one that’s either reflective or matte but is made out of white or grey-coloured material. This way you’ll keep your bike protected and the temperature within the cover will stay as low as possible.

    This rule doesn’t apply to indoor covers, so if you’re buying such a cover for your bike, you have complete freedom in this department. Manufacturers know this well, so they usually make dark covers to use indoors and lighter ones for outside use, so you won’t really have to bother all that much when making your choice. However, this is still useful information, just so you can know what to steer clear of and what to definitely buy.

    Finally, if you’re not sure whether you’re going to be keeping your bike inside or outside, I’d recommend getting an outdoor cover anyway as it is the only one that works in both environments. Keep in mind that you may need to protect your bike when you least expect it, so carry your cover with you. They’re foldable and easy to store!