Leaving your motorcycle exposed to the outside elements could result in damages and premature wear. That’s why motorcycle covers are absolutely important. Alongside our tips for choosing the right motorcycle cover, we’ll also explore some of the best ones on the market today.
How to Choose the Right Motorcycle Cover
Depending on the features, size, and quality, motorcycle covers can be slightly pricey. So, before shopping for a cover, there are a few things you need to consider to avoid wasting your money.
Material Type and Thickness
Motorcycle covers are typically made from heavy-duty polyester, a synthetic fiber derived from petroleum. The surface of the fabric has a film of polyurethane to prevent water from seeping through and cause damage.
Since most protective covers for motorcycles are made from polyester, the fabric material shouldn’t be your only deciding factor. You also need to pay attention to the thickness of the polyester, which is expressed as “denier” (represented as a lowercase “d”).
The rule of thumb is the higher the “denier” number, the thicker (thus, sturdier and more weather-resistant) the motorcycle cover. Heavy-duty fabrics—like those used for making tents—have a denier ranging from 100d to 600d. Lightweight fabrics usually have a denier rating of 5d to 30d.
In addition to the type and thickness of the cover’s fabric material, you also need to check the seams. They need to be at least double-stitched or reinforced to make sure water doesn’t easily get into the material.
And it’s also important to take note of the fact that the thicker the material used, the heavier the motorcycle cover. This would make it difficult to carry and handle the cover. So, if you’re going to use it most of the time, you might want to look for a cover that has a slightly lower denier.
Size of the Cover
It’s often difficult to find a protective cover that’s specific to a motorcycle model, except if you buy it directly from the motorcycle manufacturer. Fortunately, there are universal protective covers that fit a wide range of motorcycle models.
So, to make sure you won’t end up throwing the protective cover that you buy, it’s a great idea to measure your motorcycle first. Here’s how:
- Height: Make sure your motorcycle is unloaded before measuring the height. The height of a motorcycle is measured from the top of its head stock to the ground. The cover you buy should have a ground clearance of around 10 to 20 centimeters to allow proper ventilation.
- Length: Start measuring in a straight line from the left side to the right side of your motorcycle. Don’t measure the contours of your motorcycle. The cover you buy should be at least 5 to 10 centimeters longer than your motorcycle.
- Width: Start measuring from the left side to the right side across the widest part of your motorcycle, including the tires. Don’t include in your measurements the side mirrors.
Now that’s done, let’s focus on the 8 best covers to protect your motorcycle.
The Best Motorcycle Covers to Protect Your Bike
R&G Racing Outdoor Cover
The “R&G” in R&G Racing stands for Richard & Gene. The company specializes in designing and manufacturing a range of bolt-on accessories for motorcycles and other products for crash protection.
R&G’s motorcycle cover is a well-crafted item that’s made from a waterproof shell. As advertised, it provides excellent protection from harsh weather elements, such as dust, heavy rains, and sunlight.
The bottom of the cover is elastic, which provides a good fit for your motorcycle and prevents strong winds from blowing it off. It also has loopholes on the front and back, so you can attach a lock for added security.
The R&G Racing Outdoor Cover is available in two colors: black and silver (preferable option if you want excellent protection from UV rays). R&G manufactures this motorcycle cover in different sizes for different categories of motorcycles, specifically adventure, scooter, and superbike racing.
CoverMax High Pipe Sportbike Cover
The CoverMax High Pipe Sportbike Cover boasts of a good blend of cost and quality. It’s best used on sport motorcycles and superbikes with high-pipe and under-tail exhaust systems.
With a denier of 420, the thick polyester with polyurethane (PU) coating makes this cover exceptionally durable and watertight. CoverMax heat sealed the seams to make it even more water resistant.
The bottom portion of the CoverMax High Pipe Sportbike Cover is made from breathable and tear-resistant poly-cotton fabric with PU coating. There are sewn-in elastic cords at the bottom of the cover to provide a good fit and firmly fix it in place.
The inner lining is made of a soft material to prevent it from scratching the paintwork of your motorcycle. There are also vents that are open at all times to prevent the accumulation of excess moisture, which invites corrosion, mold, and rust.
The CoverMax High Pipe Sportbike Cover includes a storage bag that comes in two different sizes. The cover itself also comes in two sizes: medium (for small to mid-sized sport motorcycles with high exhaust pipes) and large (for large sport motorcycles with high exhaust pipes).
Oxford Protex Stretch Motorcycle Cover
With more than four decades of experience in manufacturing essential rider equipment, Oxford’s Protex Stretch Motorcycle Cover is a testament to the brand’s commitment to quality. This cover sports a ventilated, three-layer shell construction with a soft lining. This means it’s not only going to protect your motorcycle from harsh weather elements, but it also absorbs the impact from minor bumps.
The Oxford Protex Stretch Motorcycle Cover comes in four sizes: small, medium, large, and extra-large. It has a good stretch, allowing it to perfectly hug every contour of your motorcycle. The bottom of this cover is elastic and has an adjustable belly strap to make sure it stays in place even in strong winds.
In addition, it has strategically placed reflective panels to keep your motorcycle visible at night. There are pouches at the back and front for holding your padlock. The color-accented holes (back and front) allow you to wrap a security chain around your motorcycle.
Another unique feature of the Oxford Protex Stretch Motorcycle Cover is a pocket at the upper front that can be used for Oxford’s Solariser battery chargers (not included). There’s also a transparent rear window (optional) that allows police officers passing by to see your license plate.
Nelson Rigg Defender Extreme Motorcycle Cover
If you’re looking for the best all-weather motorcycle cover at a good price, the Nelson Rigg Defender Extreme Motorcycle Cover is one of them. This cover can withstand almost all weather elements, thanks to its well-thought design and top-notch materials.
The shell is made from their UltraMax fabric that’s valued for its resistance to premature breakage and fading caused by harsh weather elements. Aside from the exterior and interior polyurethane coating, it has heat-taped seams to ensure your motorcycle stays dry all the time. Their Perma-Venting system helps reduce condensation and moisture buildup.
Like most motorcycle covers, the Nelson Rigg Defender Extreme Motorcycle Cover has a full elastic hem and quick-release belly strap to allow a snug and secure fit. It also has 1-inch security grommets that allow you to secure your motorcycle better with a cable lock (not included). And to let others see your motorcycle in low-light situations, it has reflective strips at the back and sides.
VEVOR Folding Motorcycle Shelter
With its tent-style frame, the VEVOR Folding Motorcycle Shelter literally stands out from its competition. The frame is made up of 0.9-inch galvanized-coated poles, which allow it to stand upright or fixed on the ground. When you’re not using it, it easily breaks down and stows away in a carry bag with a grab handle.
Draped over the frame is a heavy-duty, 600-denier polyester Oxford fabric with polyurethane coating. The inner lining is also coated with the same material to make sure ultraviolet rays and water don’t pass through and damage your motorcycle.
This premium shelter can keep your motorcycle free from dust, rain, snow, and other elements. It can accommodate motorcycles as long as 103 inches, as well as bicycles, tools, your children’s toys, and much more.
Dowco Guardian Weatherall Plus Ratchet Motorcycle Cover
Backed by Dowco’s lifetime warranty, the Dowco Guardian Weatherall Plus Ratchet Motorcycle Cover is best suitable for cruiser motorcycles. The rear zipper allows easy installation on larger motorcycles and access to your saddlebags and side cases.
Protecting your motorcycle is a 300-denier fabric that’s constructed using the ClimaShield Plus technology, which offers superior color retention, fabric breathability, moisture- and water-resistance, thanks to its proprietary marine-grade, triple coating.
The bottom of this cover has an elastic shock cord and polyester belly strap to prevent it from coming off in strong winds. There are also sewn-in grommets for your security padlocks.
Inside this cover is the same soft cotton material that protects your car’s windshield from scratches. Plus, Dowco placed a heat shield in specific places that might come in contact with warm pipes.
Seal Skin Supreme Motorcycle Covers
The Seal Skin Supreme Motorcycle Covers is an all-weather motorcycle cover that’s designed using the SEAL-TEC Technology. Fabrics made from this technology are built to last for years and offer excellent protection against different weather elements, from rain to sunlight to hail. The seams are ultrasonically welded to create a smooth and water-tight seal. The interior lining is made from amazingly soft, breathable, and warm fleece.
Seal Skin backs this item up with a 10-year warranty. The warranty covers tears, breathability, and waterproof.
Dowco Guardian Weatherall Plus EZ Zip Motorcycle Cover
The Dowco Guardian Weatherall Plus EZ Zip Motorcycle Cover is designed for large cruiser and touring motorcycles. But unlike other covers on this list, which need to be pulled down over each side of a motorcycle, it has a zippered shell to make it easier to put on and take off.
Not to worry. Dowco made sure the location of the zipper won’t damage your motorcycle’s paintwork.
For this motorcycle cover, Dowco used a 300-denier polyester fabric made with ClimaShield Plus technology to ensure superior protection from fading, mildew, and rain. Every seam is also taped to provide better water protection.
