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problems with motorcycle covers

Posted: Wed Dec 26, 2012 2:13 pm
by bubbachicken
How do those of you who do NOT have a garage, shed, or other physical structure protect your bike from the elements? I used a Xelement motorcycle cover, and the result was not good.

I want to be more proactive in protecting my baby, but I have no idea what to do at this point, unless it is to strap a windshield-scratchy tarp onto her... I might be able to find a better cover at work today, but I am open to options if someone has a better idea.... The picture did not load, something about an internal server error, but the result was that the wind shredded it and now my bike has an inch of snow on it, plus a newly applied blue tarp....

Re: problems with motorcycle covers

Posted: Wed Dec 26, 2012 5:46 pm
by cb650
I bought some decent ones from bike bandit years ago. Their brand and logo. Mostly my bikes are in but when out they seem to have held up well for the price.

Re: problems with motorcycle covers

Posted: Wed Dec 26, 2012 9:17 pm
by Folsoml
Have you tried moving to Florida? It's crisp today, but I rode yesterday in jeans and a T-shirt.

Re: problems with motorcycle covers

Posted: Wed Dec 26, 2012 10:20 pm
by bubbachicken
Folsoml wrote:Have you tried moving to Florida? It's crisp today, but I rode yesterday in jeans and a T-shirt.


Ha ha!! I left Florida about 5 years ago, with intention never to return. I admit the weather was usually nice relative to everyplace else, but that sun will KILL your seat and paint. The salt is hard on all metals, and the sand gets into everything. The drivers are horrible, and the elderly who cannot see over the dash are lethal. No thanks. Not to mention the illegals and the drug trade drivers giving the cops reason to stop everyone on the road, the lack of work, affordable housing, etc....

Maybe times have gotten better since 5 years ago, I don't know. I DO know that I don't want to go through all of these moves again just to keep the bike dry, I would rather build a barn and donate it to my landlord... And I DON'T want to do that at all...

I bought a fabric cover at work today, the lower half is supposed to be hot pipe resistant too (not that the pipes get that hot on this bike, only the headers do, and they cool pretty rapidly, the mufflers don't heat at all). At least it will help while the folks at Leatherup.com get their thoughts straight about whether they are going to warrant my cover or not. It is not like I am asking for my cash back, I am ok with a store credit even, especially since I replaced it with a local solution. There are some more things I could buy there anyway, so if they work with me, I will still give them the money anyway...

Re: problems with motorcycle covers

Posted: Wed Dec 26, 2012 10:21 pm
by bubbachicken
I am still riding by the way, just layering on the clothing, that's all...

Re: problems with motorcycle covers

Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2012 1:21 am
by Folsoml
bubbachicken wrote:Ha ha!! I left Florida about 5 years ago, with intention never to return. I admit the weather was usually nice relative to everyplace else, but that sun will KILL your seat and paint. The salt is hard on all metals, and the sand gets into everything. The drivers are horrible, and the elderly who cannot see over the dash are lethal. No thanks. Not to mention the illegals and the drug trade drivers giving the cops reason to stop everyone on the road, the lack of work, affordable housing, etc....



NORTH Florida. I'm practically in Georgia.

Re: problems with motorcycle covers

Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2012 11:34 am
by bubbachicken
Yeah, I lived in Jacksonville for a while, then Keystone Heights area. Jacksonville IS South Georgia, not North Florida.... :lol:

Re: problems with motorcycle covers

Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2012 11:35 am
by bubbachicken
To get to the Blue Haired Knuckle crowd you do have to get to Ocala though...

Re: problems with motorcycle covers

Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2012 6:18 pm
by cb650
Got a flyer in the mail today from Cycle Gear. They have a bilt brand onsale for $18 5 year guarantee. I might get on just to see. Depends on shipping. Hate shipping prices.

Re: problems with motorcycle covers

Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2012 12:58 pm
by bubbachicken
cb650 wrote:Got a flyer in the mail today from Cycle Gear. They have a bilt brand onsale for $18 5 year guarantee. I might get on just to see. Depends on shipping. Hate shipping prices.



Yeah, shipping sux, especially when it is so high it becomes a goodly portion of overall cost to your door. I ended up getting a cover at work, it has a 2 year warranty, has the heat panels (to keep from pipe damage) and elasticized bottom (pulls it in nicely). It is also made of fabric, not PVC, so it should not have the tearing issue. The destructions say to spray it with repellent after a year if it starts to leak, but I will likely do it before then. It sure is a LOT more sturdy than the one I got at Leatherup, that is for sure. It is a shame too, I like Leatherup, they just seem to have some sort of agreement with Xelement, because they carry a LOT of Xelement merchandise.

They are debating at this moment what to do about my issue there, I sent pics as requested, they got them and called me back to tell me so, and that the problem had been forwarded "up to management" along with my photography. I am not sure what that means, it would seem a simple "sure, you can have a store credit" would be easy enough, or even a "heck no, we aren't warranting CRAP!" would also be simple. A pass the buck response is not what I had anticipated though.. We will see what happens. Maybe they are a smaller company and one person (the owner) has to approve every store credit. I have no idea. I do know that what I get there for now on will be examined more closely before purchase, especially vis a vis warranty.

The new cover (made by Budge) seems to work, but is a tad on the large side (we only carry the XL at work, the box says for full dresser up to 1500 CC) so I may have to put my fairing on just to make the cover fit! :lol:

So far, I am happy with it. The cost was something like $35 retail, but I get a discount, so it was considerably less. I am thinking that about the best benefit of this job is the price edge. I sure don't make much hourly... :roll:

Re: problems with motorcycle covers

Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2013 2:31 am
by bubbachicken
Well, looks like my new cover is working fine so far. It really keeps fitted on the bike in the wind, though it is a bit too big for the thing. Only one place (centered at the centerstand pivot) is connected, the entire bottom edge however is cinched with some sort of elastic, so it really closes up around the bike nicely, though as I said, it is a size or two too big. I am happy so far in any case!

Re: problems with motorcycle covers

Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2013 12:11 am
by bubbachicken
By the way, Leatherup.com did give me credit for the shredded bike cover. They gave me full credit upon examination of the pictures, and I spent it already on a leather neck/face cover (a sort of balaclava I suppose) and the fleece lining sure makes it feel nice! Smells good too! Keeps that neck and chin warm when the wind is howling up into the full face helmet! I still like that company, they have some great stuff, but some is not so great, and that cover would be on the latter side of the table....