Keeping motorcycles dry and safe are the main concerns of every motorcycle enthusiast. But, not all of us are fortunate enough to have a garage to keep it safe and dry whenever we return home from work or from an adventure ride.
So, what we should do?
As we know, buying storage space is quite expensive and can lead straight to costly expenses for you and your family. And most of us don’t even think about renting space or buying a garage to store the motorcycle. However, there is a cheaper way to fix this problem – A motorcycle cover!
Yes, we are talking about a lightweight and breathable motorcycle cover that provides protection to the bike from the harsh outside elements and keeps moisture at bay. On top of that, you can very easily afford a motorcycle cover.
So, what are you waiting for?
You better find the best motorcycle cover to prevent theft and to give your bike all-weather protection. In fact, that’s why we are here to help you with this.
I know, you have no idea about a motorcycle cover and how it will serve your motorcycle, but don’t panic… We have a full buyer’s guide here to tell you about everything, from the importance of a motorcycle cover to factors you need to consider while choosing one. Plus, you can go through our Best Motorcycle Covers 2023.
See Also: Best Motorcycle Oils – A Complete Buyer’s Guide
List of the Top 8 Motorcycle Covers
Best Motorcycle Cover Reviews
Velmia Outdoor Motorcycle Cover Review
The Velmia Outdoor is a waterproof motorcycle cover designed in Germany. It has earned numerous awards for being the best all-around cover for motorcycles. It is available in multiple different sizes ranging from M to XXL. Therefore, you can use it even for big bikes such as Harley Davidson or other cruisers. It can fit a big touring bike with or without a windscreen.
The Velmia Outdoor motorcycle cover will protect your machine from rain, wind, sun, snow, dirt and other elements. And the best thing about it is that it is made out of a heat-resistant material that can withstand temperatures up to 575 °F. This means you don’t have to worry about burning the cover with your exhaust.
Thanks to its heavy-duty, scratch-resistant material, the Velmia Outdoor cover is extremely durable and it will last you for years, or even decades. On top of that, the cover is UV-resistant and breathable. This will ensure very good sun protection and proper ventilation of your motorcycle under all weather conditions.
In terms of fitment, The Velmia Outdoor cover is very flexible. It is equipped with 3 adjustable straps and 2 elastic hems, so you can easily adapt it to the exact shape of your motorcycle. In addition, there is also a pair of reinforced lock openings for securing the cover with a chain lock.
Velmia Outdoor Cover
️Pros: Waterproof, Heat-Resistant up to 575 °F, Scratch & UV-Resistant, Adjustable Straps, Lock Openings
Cons: –
XYZCTEM All Season Motorcycle Cover Review
The XYZCTEM all-season waterproof motorcycle cover is made with 180T polyester taffeta coated with PU materials that provide non-abrasive, mildew-resistant, and water repellent features. It is a super soft, lightweight, and very breathable material that is portable enough to carry while riding.
It provides protection from rain, dust, excessive heat, tree sap, harmful UV rays, and inclement weather. XYZCTEM did a remarkable job while installing 2 aluminum lock holes and 1 windproof buckle to enable you to lock your motorcycle.
This is one cover you can use everywhere, in any circumstance. Plus, it comes in a universal size, so it doesn’t matter if you own a Harley, Suzuki, Honda, Yamaha, or any other on or off-road motorcycle.
XYZCTEM All Season Cover
️Pros: Universal Fit, WeatherAll Protection, Storage Bag, Lock Openings, Very Affordable
Cons: Not 100% Waterproof
Dowco Guardian WeatherAll Plus Motorcycle Cover Review
The Guardian from Dowco is a premium cover that has top-notch fabric quality, which is made of heavy-duty polyester with a special Color-Lock fabric treatment to prevent fading. It’s ClimaShield Plus fabric protection repels water and provides heat-sealed security.
You can use this motorcycle cover in any weather. It has a Moisture Guard Vent system that allows moisture to escape in the winter season and Aluminized heat shields allow to use after riding on hot sunny days.
For additional security from thieves, it equipped with the Guardian Alarm function, which keeps it safe from prying eyes.
If we discuss the sizes, then like the XYZCTEM, it works with multiple motorcycle types such as Touring, Cruisers, sports bikes, etc.
Dowco Guardian WeatherAll Plus Cover
️Pros: Heavy Duty Polyester, Moisture GuardVent System, Lifetime Warranty
Cons: A little costly
Oxford Stormex Motorcycle Cover Review
The Oxford Stormex Motorcycle Cover may seem a little short in a number of features yet it is one of the best outdoor motorcycle covers that has a tough outer body, which protects against heavy weather and falls too.
Plus, its soft heat-resistant lining protects against scratches. It has a tough outer and soft inner area, which protects the paint and sensitive parts of your motorcycle. It has a wrap-around splash protector that prevents water from being absorbed in the lining.
The Oxford Stormex has a UV color-fast installed in it which stops the color from fading. Overall, I can say it may not look all that impressive, but this cover is one hell of a protector of motorcycles.
Oxford Stormex Cover
️Pros: All-Weather Protection, UV Protection, Tough Outer Protection
Cons: Size Issue
Nelson-Rigg Defender Motorcycle Cover Review
The Defender motorcycle cover designed by Nelson-Rigg is made of high-quality tri-max polyester, which is a UV-treated full-strength polyester that ensures your motorcycle will get full protection against natural elements like rain, wind, dust, and debris. This also includes protection against continuous exposure to harmful UV rays that damage the paint of the motorcycle.
The Nelson-Rigg Defender motorcycle cover has all seams electronically heat-sealed, which makes it waterproof. Although no one does it intentionally, you can feel free to park your bike outside without any worry of rust because the cover will repel 100 percent of the water. Unfortunately, some customers have reported that the cover is not actually 100% waterproof and the humidity can still get under the cover.
Sometimes, when we keep our motorcycle out in the open, the debris and dust mixed with the wind can scratch the top surface of the bike or make it become hazy. To ensure you get protection against scratching and hazing, the Nelson-Rigg Defender motorcycle incorporates a soft windshield liner so that the debris mixed with the wind won’t scratch your bike.
The defender motorcycle cover also has silver heat-resistant lower panels that protect your cover from the hot parts of your motorcycle. But, we would recommend that you let your motorcycle cool down for a couple of minutes.
The Nelson-Rigg Defender cover comes in four different sizes (Medium, Large, X-Large, and XX-Large), which fits any 1200-1500cc bikes, touring bikes with saddlebags, and tall travel trunks among others.
Nelson-Rigg Defender Cover
️Pros: UV-treated, Made from tri-max polyester, Silver heat resistant lower panels
Cons: Not 100% Waterproof
Tour Master Elite Motorcycle Cover Review
The Tour Master Elite motorcycle cover is designed for the sole reason of protecting your investment of thousands of dollars. It may be overstating it a bit but a motorcycle cover is as important as other motorcycle parts and accessories.
The Tour Master Elite motorcycle cover is made from a very high-quality 300 Denier Carbolex material that is a fully vented and 100 percent waterproof motorcycle cover. The Tour Master Elite cover is another option you might want to consider since it is committed to providing protection in heavy rain, dust, and other debris mixed with the wind.
Give thanks to Tour Master for double stitching this motorcycle cover and provided taped seams to ensure a 100 percent waterproof solution. The motorcycle cover has aluminized heat panels to ensure the cover won’t be damaged from the heated parts of the motorcycle such as the exhaust pipes and engine.
The cover material is soft around the windshield area, which provides protection to your motorcycle against a strong wind. Apart from this, the Tour Master Elite cover has a carrying bag included.
The Tour Master Elite motorcycle cover comes in four different sizes:
| Size | Type |
| Medium | Sport/Standard Motorcycles: Fits 500 to 1000 cc standard motorcycles without a windscreen or accessories & sports bikes. |
| Large | Sport/Standard Motorcycles: Fits up to 1300 cc standard motorcycles with fairings and saddlebags. |
| X-Large | Fits touring bikes with fairings and luggage. |
| XX-Large | Fits touring bikes of up to 1800 cc with full dress accessories. |
Tour Master Elite Cover
️Pros: 100% Waterproof, Fully vented, Aluminium heat panels, Stuff bag included
Cons: A little expensive
Oxford Umbratex Motorcycle Cover Review
The Oxford Umbratex is a popular motorcycle cover that protects the top half of the motorcycle. The cover comes at a very affordable price and ensures that the seats and controls of your motorcycle remain dry.
The cover is capable of providing protection against rain, dust, and debris that are mixed with the air. The Oxford Umbratex motorcycle cover also takes very little space when not in use. One can store it under the motorcycle seat, inside the saddlebags, or in your motorcycle backpack. Personally, the thing I like about the Oxford Umbratex motorcycle cover is the Velcro straps that help to prevent the cover from blowing off in the wind. It’s easy to install and fits most bikes really well.
The medium-sized cover fits most sports bikes, the large size cover fits touring bikes, and the extra-large cover is suitable for both touring and cruiser bikes.
Oxford Umbratex Cover
️Pros: Extremely compact, Can be inserted into bike seats, Easy to use fitting straps
Cons: Covers only half of the bike
Why Is It Important to Have a Motorcycle Cover?
There are many motorcyclists among us who don’t use a motorcycle cover for their motorcycle and leave it open to harsh elements and circumstances that can damage a motorcycle. But, it is not entirely their fault. That is because many motorcycle enthusiasts don’t know the importance of motorcycle covers. But, don’t worry! We are here now. We can tell you the benefits of motorcycle covers and the various reasons why you need it for your motorcycle.
Some motorcyclists believe they don’t require motorcycle covers because they have a garage to take care of it.
But, I am not so sure, if they are right.
Because, even I have a garage but still I require a motorcycle cover to protect my motorcycle from the elements in the garage such as dust, dirt, and insects, etc. Besides, most garages don’t have a breathable space and are not always at a stable temperature. So, if you are looking for an indoor motorcycle cover, then a lightweight and breathable cover will do just fine. Plus, it can help in the event of condensation build-up.
However, if you park your motorcycle outside, then you need to take more precautions because outside parking will leave your bike open and it will have to withstand the harsh weather elements, as well as insects or dust. If you leave your motorcycle out for a long period of time during the summer season, then you are compromising the finish of your bike. UV rays will fade the paint.
With no cover in the rain, water can leave water spots on your motorcycle. And in the wind, small objects like stones or twigs can scratch the paint on your motorcycle.
Another benefit of using a cover is for security reasons. If you keep your motorcycle covered there is less probability that thieves will see your nice shiny motorcycle underneath the cover.
These reasons and benefits are very important to understand for the protection of your motorcycle. And I am sure if you are a real motorcycle enthusiast, then you will understand the importance of having a motorcycle cover.
Essential Factors to Consider
There are plenty of motorcycle covers and brands available in stores and online markets. So, if you are looking for a motorcycle cover for your motorcycle, then you need to prepare ahead of your purchase. There are a few things that you need to consider before choosing any motorcycle cover. These things are more like factors that require your consideration when you are choosing a motorcycle cover.
So, without wasting any more time, let’s take a look at these factors.
Choosing the Right Size
It is the first and most important thing to do decide before choosing any particular cover. You must figure out the size of the cover, depending on the type of motorcycle you have. Don’t decide on the basis of color or what someone else tells you. You must measure the cover size, either from its size range, which generally falls from XS to XL or from your individual measurements of the bike. It would be best to measure the length, width, and height. Do not estimate the size.
Level of Protection
Weather protection is expected from motorcycle covers just as crash protection is expected from a motorcycle helmet. As we discussed above, a motorcycle cover is required for both indoor and outdoor motorcycle parking.
So, are you going to keep the motorcycle indoors or outdoors?
Well, you have to know the answer to this question. Because, if you keep the motorcycle indoors that means, you park it in a garage where, if not covered, it will be open to insects and dust. So, the cover should be lightweight and more breathable.
But, if you park outside, then you need a cover that provides both weather protection and water-resistant. The summer season may expose your bike to harmful UV rays and the winter season to excess moisture. So, make sure the cover you use is suitable for the parking conditions and the weather conditions too. However, there are a few brands that make all-weather protection covers for motorcycles that you can use in every condition and are light enough to carry on trips.
Weight & Type of Material
As we talked about the weight of a motorcycle cover and how it will have an impact on the overall quality, you must consider the thickness, weight, and protection capability of the cover. Canvas and polyester are the two most common fabrics used in the making of motorcycle covers.
Canvas is a thick and heavy fabric used to design motorcycle covers for outdoors. These covers aren’t portable enough to carry along on the ride but can offer ultimate protection against wind and elements like small stones and dust particles, which can damage the finish of your motorcycle.
On the contrary, polyester is a very lightweight fabric that is frequently used to make waterproof motorcycle covers and is a very breathable material to use indoors. These covers give excellent ventilation and are very portable to take anywhere.
Types of Enclosures
There are different types of enclosures available on the market, such as drawstring and zipper. You may choose the enclosure that fits your needs.
Security & Theft Prevention
Security is another factor to consider while purchasing a motorcycle cover. It doesn’t matter how secure your bike is, to hide it from the prying eyes of thieves, you need a simple motorcycle cover that will protect the shiny, bright finish of your motorcycle and won’t attract unwanted attention.
Conclusion
Overall, I can say that every cover we mentioned above is a good value for the money. But, if you want me to choose one among them, then I would refuse to do it. Because these are not just popular motorcycle covers but also very unique in its own way. So, it doesn’t matter if you choose a bargain cover or an expensive one. If it suits your motorcycle type and parking method, then it is right for you. You should stick with it. All of the covers mentioned above have high-end features and durable construction. Whichever one you choose there will be no doubt that it will be an excellent choice for the best motorcycle cover in 2023.
The Nelson-Rigg Defender cover, is it or is it not 100% waterproof?
The Cons state,
Cons: Not 100% Waterproof
Yet in the paragraph yoy state
“which makes it 100 percent waterproof. Although no one does it intentionally, you can feel free to park your bike outside without any worry of rust because the cover will repel 100 percent of the water.”
I woukd just like to know which ine is it, os it 100% waterproof or not?
Hello and thanks for your reply.
The Nelson-Rigg Defender is being advertised as 100% waterproof. However, it is actually only water-resistant. It can repel water, but the humidity will still get under the cover if you leave your bike standing outside in foggy weather. This is probably the biggest downside of the cover.