What you really need to know before buying an outdoor Motorcycle cover

I have a garage, so I really don’t need a Motorcycle cover

It doesn’t matter whether it’s in a normal garage or an underground car park: dirt, dust and soot with their fine particles tend to settle on the motorcycle, which will cause unsightly scratches the next time you wipe it over – even if you only see it in the sun! An animal likes to get lost in such a “safe” place.

Bikers also regularly tell us that unauthorized people simply sit on the motorcycle and, as a thank-you, leave a few scratches in the paint (from handbags, belt buckles, keys, etc.). Or you come back from shopping and a child greets the motorcycle with a car door flung open with gusto.

humidity in general

Since modern motorcycles no longer work without their electronics, electronic problems occur here not only in the long term, but sometimes also in the short term. Moisture easily creeps into all openings and cracks, which is why additional protection is necessary here. A good example here is a motorcycle manufacturer from Germany, which regularly has problems with the start button due to moisture, which unfortunately often makes the proud owners look stupid.

rain and acid rain

Due to water and remaining moisture on and in the motorcycle, the components rust much faster. Regularly drying, cleaning (especially after a rain shower) and maintaining your motorcycle can prevent many problems such as rust. But honestly: Who really dries and cleans their motorcycle regularly? Especially since there are on average ≈130 rainy days a year in Germany.

snow and frost

When snow melts or rain freezes, the moisture creeps into all openings and cracks and can then freeze again. This is a significant burden, especially for the electronic components. Freezing water expands and in the worst case, components can break and be literally “blown up”. A good example of this is the previously chromed engine or transmission cover, where the chrome often flakes off quickly.

hail

Depending on the region, it hails up to 5 times a year on average. Hailstones fall from the sky at a speed of 20 to 30 m/s and can be up to 5 cm in diameter. If such hailstones hit the tank, the windscreen, the display or other painted parts unprotected, the motorcycle can be badly dented and damaged.

Dirt, grime, pollen and pebbles

If your motorcycle is parked on the road, in a carport or garage without a Motorcycle cover, you will have to clean it much more often. Unfortunately, the dirt and grime swirled up in the environment sticks to the motorcycle far too quickly and can cause expensive scratches.

When parking outdoors, you not only have to watch out for falling branches, acorns and chestnuts, but also for the particularly stubborn pollen dust, which gets stuck on your motorcycle suit or clothes. Animal excrement is particularly aggressive and can, for example, permanently damage the paintwork and must therefore be removed from the motorcycle immediately.

Damage caused by careless road users

Cars driving by, children playing or the “final boss” for your paintwork: cleaning and gritting vehicles from the city cleaning department. Your motorcycle is not only exposed to the weather, but also to the careless actions of our fellow human beings.

Strong wind and small parts flying around

In Germany and all over the world, we are seeing that wind and storms are becoming increasingly violent and frequent. This makes it all the more important that your motorcycle is well covered. Whether small branches, hard chestnuts or acorns: in strong winds at high speeds, these are hurled through the air and can cause considerable damage to the paintwork, sheet metal or plastic components of your motorcycle. Therefore, make sure you have a sufficiently thick Covers that can absorb such impacts.

Would you like to know which motorcycle lock is right for you?

What material should a Motorcycle cover be made of?

The choice is great! There are a variety of different materials on the market that are suitable for various areas of application: polyester, polyamide, polyethylene, other microfibers and many more.

For permanent outdoor protection, polyester has emerged as THE synthetic fiber with the best properties. It is tear-resistant and UV-resistant than polyamide. Only absorbs very little moisture and can dry more quickly.

Polyester is also very durable and breathable, making this material particularly suitable for outdoor use. An important property is the high UV resistance, so that the material is not degraded and damaged by UV rays (a common problem with cheap Motorcycle covers).

How cover manufacturers cut costs with tricks

In order to save costs, manufacturers in the lower price segment usually only re-dye the fibers on the surface instead of dyeing the entire fiber. If the fibers are not dyed through, the color will fade much faster and an initially dark black will quickly turn pale and grey!

Unfortunately, as a layman, it is difficult to separate “the wheat from the chaff”. As a customer, you have to rely on the manufacturer. Before we founded MYCOVER®, we were unfortunately too often deceived and disappointed by well-known brands and manufacturers – hopefully just because of their ignorance!

Motorcycle cover workmanship: Only quality really protects!

What makes a Covers resistant in the long term are the seams with which the fabric panels are sewn. Manufacturers who offer their Covers at competitive prices have to save on production: Thin threads are used for the seams, the seams are only sewn once (instead of a sturdy double seam) and the time for sewing is often so short due to time and cost pressure that errors often occur during processing and the work is not done properly.

The result is seams tearing open after a short time and Motorcycle covers that leak.

1. Weatherproof and breathable

The right material for your Motorcycle cover should not only be waterproof, but also breathable. High humidity, e.g. when it rains, always causes moisture to get under the Covers. Breathable materials have a clear advantage over PE covers, for example, so that this can escape as quickly as possible and air can be exchanged.

2. UV protection

To protect your motorcycle, the paintwork and the add-on parts from UV rays, a good cover should be impermeable to UV rays. However, make sure that the material itself is also resistant to UV radiation. This is usually not the case with cheap Motorcycle covers, which means that the motorcycle is protected from UV radiation in the short term, but the material usually shows the first signs of wear after just a few months: The color fades, the material loses its elasticity and becomes brittle before it finally tears.

3. Cold and heat stable

Protection against heat: On the hottest summer days of the year, surfaces can reach up to 80°C due to direct sunlight. The material of a durable Motorcycle cover must be able to withstand this. Bikers have often told us about Covers that have melted and stuck in the sun. You can really do without that cost and hassle! It’s no coincidence that some manufacturers even talk about Covers melting on headlights and warn customers in the user manual that a cover should not be pulled over a hot headlight.

4. Durable material

Whether in strong winds, as additional protection against theft or as scratch and dent protection. The thicker and more durable the material of the Covers, the more protection it offers. We recommend a hard-wearing material with a thickness of 300 denier, often abbreviated as “300D”. As this material is significantly more expensive than 190D or 210D, for example – but also significantly more resistant – this is where the wheat is separated from the chaff. But here, too, we must mention once again that 300D is not the same as 300D! As already mentioned in the material section, the quality of the processed raw materials is crucial here.

5. License plate or viewing window

According to § 10 para. 2 GZV and § 23 para. 1 StVO, a viewing window is mandatory in Germany and can be admonished in the event of non-compliance. So there is a risk of a ticket or, in the worst case, your motorcycle will even be towed away. Just make sure there is a license plate window and save the money for a tour with your friends!

6. Stain Resistant and Coated

An additional coating on the outer material significantly increases the longevity of a Motorcycle cover. A repellent and water-resistant nano-coating not only allows raindrops to run off better, but also prevents the material on the outside from absorbing water.

7. Night visibility

Motorcycle covers are often black or dark. So that your motorcycle is clearly visible at dusk and at night to cars pulling out and other road users, bright reflectors should be visible from every angle (all four sides). If, for example,
there’s only a reflector strip on two sides of the cover, your chances of being seen by other road users drop to 50:50! It’s also worth looking out for the latest technology and having extra-bright reflector strips on your cover. (UHRS – Ultra High Reflection Stripes)

8. Good fit elastic hems

For an optimum fit and to reduce frictional forces on the painted components, a Motorcycle cover should – in addition to the right size – have an elastic hem at the bottom. This allows the material to adapt to the individual shape of your motorcycle. This not only looks better, but also prevents loud flapping in the wind.

9. Safety straps

To ensure that the cover remains stable on the motorcycle in strong winds and cannot be blown away by the wind, there must be additional fastening options, e.g. two quick-release straps. These not only secure your Covers, but also ensure a better fit and less friction on the sensitive paintwork and other components. They also prevent the Covers from fluffing up in strong winds, significantly reducing the risk of tipping over.

10. Heat protection material

After a “sporty” ride on your motorcycle, the manifold can get over 800°C and a muffler over 250°C. Before you can cover your motorcycle, they must first cool down sufficiently so that neither the cover nor the motorcycle is damaged by the heat. If there is residual heat, an additional heat protection material on the inside can help to reduce the risk of heat damage (usually up to 200°C).

11. Theft Protection

The more resistance there is for a thief, the less likely it is that your motorcycle will be stolen. If the cover offers the option of using a motorcycle lock through additional openings, this not only makes the theft of the motorcycle more difficult, but also the theft of the Motorcycle cover itself.

Advantages of a Motorcycle cover

• Protects your motorcycle from dirt, scratches, rust and the weather all year round
• Makes it harder to steal your motorcycle
• Stable value retention from the motorcycle
• privacy screen
• Deter unauthorized persons from getting on the motorcycle

Disadvantages of a Motorcycle cover

• Cheap Covers can damage the motorcycle (the paintwork, rims, and other components)

In summary, a high-quality Motorcycle cover can make life as a biker easier and save you a lot of hassle, money, and time. Since the beginning of our biker days, we’ve unfortunately had many negative experiences with Motorcycle covers ourselves, which is why in 2017 we decided to develop what is probably the best Motorcycle cover—by bikers, for bikers!

Moisture under the cover: Probably the most discussed topic

The topic of “moisture under the cover” is hotly debated by bikers again and again in forums, blogs, and videos. But what’s actually true? Is moisture under Motorcycle covers normal? Does that mean a cover is bad or unusable?

Now is the end of half-knowledge and assumptions: we clarify!

Example no. 1: The Motorcycle cover and the morning after…

If your Motorcycle is parked outside overnight, it cools down and the temperature of your motorcycle adjusts to the ambient temperature. When the sun rises in the morning, the surrounding air warms up first, creating a temperature difference between the cooler motorcycle and the warmer ambient air. Once the so-called dew point is reached, condensation forms on cold surfaces (also known as sweat or dew). Since a Motorcycle cover does not enclose the motorcycle 100%, this process naturally also takes place under the cover, and condensation forms there too.

And now? What can or must I do?

Now the properties and functions of the Covers are in demand! Your motorcycle – like the ambient air – will continue to heat up and the moisture should then be removed as quickly as possible. As already mentioned above, a Covers needs good ventilation, e.g. through ventilation zones. If these are correctly dimensioned, there is a continuous exchange of air between the ambient air and the air under the Covers, so that the moisture can be removed quickly! Good Covers have extra stabilized ventilation zones to prevent the “ventilation ears” from closing unintentionally as far as possible.

Example no. 2: Rain and the Motorcycle cover

The more and the longer it rains outside, the higher the relative humidity rises. This can quickly rise to 100%, so that the so-called “water vapor capacity” is reached. If the saturation of 100% is exceeded, the excess moisture creates fog, for example.

Of course, this humid air also makes its way under the Motorcycle cover after a while, and the relative humidity on the motorcycle or under the cover increases.

“But what good is a Motorcycle cover to me then?”

Short answer: A lot! When it rains, not a single drop of water touches your motorcycle. If you don’t use a cover, your entire motorcycle will be “under water” within a few minutes and will not be protected. Even if it rains heavily and for a long time, the humidity under the Motorcycle covers increases, but your motorcycle is protected from the falling rain. This not only has a very positive effect on value retention, but also saves you wet jeans or slippery grips as soon as the rain shower is over and you want to get back on your motorcycle!

A high-quality cover is usually additionally coated on the outside so that water beads off easily and dirt can’t stick as easily.

This of course destroys the coatings and properties of the Motorcycle cover and should never be done. Normally, a cover is only lightly soiled on the outside, e.g., by dust, bird droppings, or light dirt. Here we recommend lukewarm water and a soft microfiber cloth, which makes it easy to clean the cover in no time. For all bikers who also have issues with tree sap, pollen, and similar, we recommend a Motorcycle covers cleaner.

Attention: Material coatings can be damaged by heavy scouring and scrubbing, therefore only clean carefully and only use the recommended materials for cleaning!