A motorcycle cover protects your bike from dirt, UV rays, and moisture.

Protecting your bike with a motorcycle cover is a simple, cheap way to keep it looking good and prevent weather damage. Different types of covers are available, depending on how you store your bike and where you ride.

Motorcycle Travel Cover

Need a compact bike cover for the road? Motorcycle travel covers are designed to protect your bike from rain, UV rays, and the elements while away from home.

Since travel covers are compact and lightweight, you can easily store them in a saddle bag with room to spare.

Motorcycle Dust Cover

If you store your motorcycle indoors, all you may need is a breathable cotton cover that repels dust and dirt. A motorcycle dust cover will not keep out moisture, so if your bike will be sitting out in the rain, you’ll need a waterproof cover.

Lined Storage Cover

A fully lined, water-resistant motorcycle cover provides protection from sun and weather exposure. The soft lining protects your bike’s finish, while the water-resistant, breathable outer cover protects your bike from rain and snow.

Some motorcycle covers are specially coated to protect your bike from UV rays. In sun-drenched states, UV protection is especially important.

Lined motorcycle covers can be used for travel, but they will take up more space in your luggage than a travel cover.

Spring is in the air at DuraShield Covers, and we’re ready to peel off the motorcycle covers, tune up the bikes, and hit the pavement. Here are a few pics that got us reminiscing about last year’s rides.

Take any pics lately? Post them on our Facebook page.

Rick's Ride 2011

Showing off a brand new Harley

Protect your bike during storage with a motorcycle cover.

If you plan to store your motorcycle for over a month, it’s important to take the right steps to winterize and prepare your bike for storage. You want your bike to be clean, purring, and ready to ride when warmer weather rolls around.

Storage Options

Where can you store your bike? Your storage options will depend on whether or not you’re willing to pay for storage, your connections (friends and neighbors who have extra storage space), and whether you want to store your bike indoors or out.

Assuming your wife puts her foot down when it comes to storing your motorcycle in the living room, your best option for protected storage is a shed or garage. A climate-controlled environment is best, but any four walls and a roof is better than outdoors.

Storing your motorcycle in a garage or shed means you can lock up your bike and keep it out of sight, which gives you peace of mind when it comes to keeping your bike from getting stolen.

If you don’t have a shed or garage, you might be able to rent space from a friend or neighbor. The next best scenario is to store your motorcycle underneath an awning, covered porch, or carport. Overhead protection is better than nothing.

Winterizing and Cleaning

If you plan to store your bike for a few months, you’ll need to winterize it and protect it before storage. Wash, dry, and wax your bike to remove road salt, chemicals, grime, and dirt. Protect exposed metal parts to prevent rust or corrosion. Winterize your bike to prepare it for storage, following your own winterizing routine or this checklist from Road Runner magazine.

Cover Protection

Regardless of where you store your bike (indoors, outdoors, shed, or carport), it’s important to protect your bike with a motorcycle cover. The type of cover you need will depend on where you store your bike. A dust cover protects your motorcycle in a climate-controlled, indoor environment. A storage cover protects your bike in a garage or outdoors.

Your outdoor storage motorcycle cover should be breathable and waterproof. A venting system allows condensation to escape and prevents rust, corrosion, and mold.

Dust Motorcycle Cover with PolyPro

DuraShield’s Motorcycle Dust Cover is now available with breathable PolyPro material. This soft polypro material is designed to prevent moisture buildup while keeping dust and dirt off your bike.

The double-stitched seams make this motorcycle cover durable, and integrated grommets allow you to use tie downs to secure the cover. A matching storage bag makes it easy to store your cover when not in use.

Features:

• Breathable PolyPro Construction
• Integrated Grommets with Tie Downs
• Color Matched Storage Bag
• For motorcycles with windshields, fairings, sissy bars, and/or back rests/tour packs
• Available in Medium, Large, and X-Large

New! DuraShield Standard Motorcycle Cover

DuraShield Covers has a new motorcycle cover available. The Standard Motorcycle Cover is similar to our Lined Motorcycle Cover but without a cotton lining for a lower price. The Standard bike cover is lightweight for travel and folds up into a tight package for storage.

The DuraShield Standard Motorcycle Cover is versatile for indoor and outdoor use. The 300 denier poly fabric is waterproof, dustproof, and UV resistant. The lower portion of the cover is constructed with heat-resistant material that will not melt on hot pipes. No need to wait for your bike to cool down before installing the motorcycle cover!

A premium “Vent X” venting system allows condensation to evaporate without damaging your engine, pipes, or chrome, while effectively blocking rain and snow from seeping through the cover.

Grommets and tie downs are included for keeping the motorcycle cover secured in windy conditions. You can also thread a cable lock through the grommets to secure the cover and act as a theft deterrent for your bike.

A matching storage bag comes with the motorcycle cover at no extra cost. Use this handy storage bag to store your cover when not in use. This cover is available in X-large, large, and medium sizes. Free shipping on all orders to the continental United States!

Use soft lower covers in cold weather to protect your legs.

If you ride your bike in cooler weather, engine guard chaps are a great way to protect your legs from the cold. Soft lower covers are handy, since they fold to fit in your saddle bags for easy storage.

One of the features you should look for in a pair of engine guard chaps is a pocket or two on the inside of the soft lowers. The extra storage space comes in handy, especially on a cold or rainy day.

The soft lowers should be easy to put on and take off. Complicated straps or lacings will make it a pain to install or remove the covers, so choose a simple snap, buckle, or Velcro system if possible.

The soft lower covers should fit snugly to keep them from buffeting in the wind. The better they fit, the more aerodynamic they will be and the more they will protect you from the cold. If you have highway pegs, make sure the lower covers will fit before you buy them.

When the temperature rises above 50 degrees, take off the engine guard chaps to avoid overheating the engine. You’ll also get better mileage without the chaps in place when you don’t need them.

Wash your motorcycle cover by hand with warm soapy water.

Your motorcycle cover will provide the best protection if you keep it clean and use it properly. The following tips will help you take care of your motorcycle cover so that it can fully protect your bike.

How should I clean my motorcycle cover?

The best way to wash your motorcycle cover is to hand wash it with warm soapy water and a soft sponge. Machine washing and harsh cleaning products can degrade the waterproof and UV coatings on the fabric. Let the cover air dry. Do not tumble dry. For tough stains that don’t wash out with soap and water, use a mild liquid detergent to spot treat the stains. Rinse thoroughly and air dry.

Can I install the motorcycle cover on a hot bike?

Motorcycle covers with heat-resistant panels are safe for hot pipes. The panel is designed to withstand high temperatures and won’t melt on your pipes. If your motorcycle cover does not include heat-resistant panels, wait until the pipes cool down to install the cover.

Can I install the motorcycle cover on a wet bike?

We recommend letting the bike dry (or using a soft towel to dry it) before installing the cover. Although your motorcycle cover is breathable, it is designed to keep moisture out. Too much moisture trapped underneath the cover can affect the cover’s performance.

The motorcycle cover should be tight enough to prevent excessive wind flapping.

In windy conditions, your motorcycle cover should be tied down tightly to prevent flapping in the wind. Excessive wind flapping can shred and destroy the cover and even damage the finish on your bike. Whenever possible, park your motorcycle in a sheltered area that provides at least some protection from the wind.

Fabric and Fit

The more snugly your motorcycle cover fits your bike, the less the cover will flap in the wind. Extra fabric can snap violently in strong winds. If the wind is strong enough, you’ll want to use more tie downs to secure the cover tightly to your motorcycle.

A heavier weight fabric performs better in windy conditions than a lightweight motorcycle cover. Air vents also help to prevent excessive lofting by allowing airflow underneath the cover.

Towing

Wind turbulence during towing is another problem. Make sure the motorcycle cover you use for travel is approved for towing. The cover must be snug and securely attached to the motorcycle. DuraShield motorcycle covers are not approved for towing on an open trailer. The wind flapping could easily rip apart the cover or damage your bike’s finish.

Classic Accessories Motorcycle Cover

Need a cover for your motorcycle, scooter, or trike? Classic Accessories motorcycle covers are now available from DuraShield! Don’t let garage debris or outdoor exposure get the best of your bike. Shield it from the elements with a Classic Accessories motorcycle cover.

Lined Motorcycle Cover

For outdoor storage, the Classic Accessories Lined Motorcycle Cover provides all the protection you need, with an interior heat shield, non-scratch windshield liner, and air vents. All-weather, UV resistant ProtekX™ Plus fabric protects against sun, rain, dirt, pollutants, and other elements. A matching stuff sack and two tie-down cords are included.

Travel Motorcycle Cover

For protection on the road, take cover with Classic Accessories Travel Motorcycle Cover. This lightweight outdoor cover protects against weather, dirt, and pollutants. Ultra-soft material in the upper panel protects against scratches, and a heat-resistant lower panel protects the cover from contact with hot pipes. An integrated stuff stack and two elastic tie-down hooks are included.

Motorcycle Dust Cover

For indoor protection, baby your bike with the Classic Accessories Motorcycle Dust Cover. This scratch-proof storage cover keeps your motorcycle dust-free while stored indoors. The PolyPro™ breathable fabric allows moisture to escape without damaging your bike, and an elasticized bottom hem and tie-down cords keep your cover secure. A matching stuff sack and two elastic tie-down cords are included.

Trike Cover

Need a cover for your trike? Get rugged, all weather protection indoors and outdoors with a Classic Accessories Trike Cover. This heavy-duty cover provides all-season protection against sun, rain, dirt, and pollutants with ProtekX™ Plus fabric. A soft windshield liner protects against scratches, and a metallic heat shield panel prevents the cover from melting on hot exhaust pipes. Dual vents allow for breathability and moisture control. A matching stuff sack and two hooked elastic tie-downs are included with this trike cover.

A motorcycle dust cover keeps dirt and dust off your bike.

One of the questions we hear motorcycle riders ask is, “Why do I need a motorcycle cover if my bike is stored in the garage?”

If you keep your motorcycle outside, the reasons for a cover are more obvious: protection from rain, dew, dirt, dust, and other elements. But if your motorcycle is pampered enough to earn a spot in the garage or even in the house, you might think you can get by without a cover. But a motorcycle cover still serves an important purpose, even if you store your bike indoors.

Dust and Dirt Protection

After washing and waxing your bike, you’ll want to keep it clean with a motorcycle cover. Dust and dirt can build up on your bike if you don’t protect it. When the garage door opens and closes, it stirs up dust that will settle on your bike, so it’s especially important to keep your motorcycle covered in the garage. During winter storage, a motorcycle cover will keep your bike clean and ready to ride when spring comes again.

Moisture Protection and Humidity

The more humid the environment where you live is, the more breathable your motorcycle cover needs to be. The higher the humidity, the more moisture that builds up underneath the motorcycle cover. With a breathable indoor motorcycle cover (such as 100% cotton), the moisture can escape easily without causing rust or other damage. The cotton cover keeps dirt and dust off your bike but allows condensation to evaporate easily.