Bike covers?

[Neilisin]

Hey guys,

I've been a keen motorcycle cover-er, and for years I've been down the trail of buying cheap crap covers that with luck last 12 months. I'm really feeling quite sick of this, both in an ecological sense (throwing away crap), and financial sense.

Has anyone got good experience of a brand of bike cover that lasts? I see Oxford (here in the UK) make a range of different covers but they all seem to look the same and the prices vary dramatically, so my question is... can anyone recommend a cover that'll last me more than a year? Like I say, I am keen to cover my bike a lot, and that could mean, covering it driving it into work/town etc. and covering it when I get home (if I'm leaving it outdoors).

Thanks in advance!

 

[JollyRoger]

I have used Oxford Aquatex on my last 2 bikes, they are great covers. Light weight and pretty much waterproof (although with enough hard rain some moisture gets through), but dries out with no problem. I don't have a garage space so the bike has to stay outside and have always been happy with them. Even when wet it dries very quickly and also there i no problem putting the cover on straight after the bike has been turned off (ie melting it). That said I have no tried it on a naked bike, even though some of my casing is exposed.

Anyways, Oxford is the way to go for me.

 

[JollyRoger]

Also, it scrunches up REALLY small, so very easy to travel with.

 

[Neilisin]

Hey there, cheers for the reply, I've noticed they have them at Halfords. I'm going to have a look at them later on.

 

[LeedsRider93]

I use a R&G Superbike cover, best one I've had yet. Might be a problem getting it to fit Daisy though :lol:

 

[thunderous71]

I use the Oxford StormX, it costs a bit but its heavy, soft lined and resistant to heat/sun. Its no good for travelling as its big and doesn't compact down so you need to store it somewhere when not in use. Otherwise its very good.

 

[Neilisin]

I'll look into both, I would probably like a heavy duty one, as I go through phases of wanting to ride one all the time and leave the others neglected, so maybe one of each. I'm so sick of buying these £10 jobbies that I don't see lasting me a year.

 

[sstimmyy]

Mine is from Poundland Does the job when I've just cleaned my bike and it starts pissing it down.

 

[Neilisin]

Mine is from Poundland Does the job when I've just cleaned my bike and it starts pissing it down.

Yeah I'm steering away from that, I've spent a few too many pounds on cheap covers that don't last very long, I feel both guilty that I'm contributing to landfill and guilty that I'm encouraging manufacture of crap inferior products. But mostly, I'm sick of buying and owning crap that doesn't last me.

 

[NastyEvilNinja]

I have used Oxford Aquatex on my last 2 bikes, they are great covers. Light weight and pretty much waterproof (although with enough hard rain some moisture gets through), but dries out with no problem. I don't have a garage space so the bike has to stay outside and have always been happy with them. Even when wet it dries very quickly and also there i no problem putting the cover on straight after the bike has been turned off (ie melting it). That said I have no tried it on a naked bike, even though some of my casing is exposed.

Anyways, Oxford is the way to go for me.

That sounds like the same one, but when I've bought them they've been called Oxford Rainex?

Anyway, they're lightweight and pretty waterproof (they do let moisture in from stupidly heavy rainstorms) and you can top that up with a cheap can of waterproof spray, and can be had for under £20 new from Ebay.

I've had loads of covers in my time (a fleece-lined heavy Motrax one was also excellent but seams did split after about 4 or 5 years!), but the last 3 have been Rainex. So that should say a lot for them!

I actually need another to cover it whilst parked at work, and another Rainex is my first thought!