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Whether you’re going on a road trip with your buddies, storing your bike long term, or simply hoping to keep your bike protected from the wrath of mother nature, a motorcycle cover is an essential piece of gear.
There are tons of motorcycle covers available to choose from. You could easily argue there are so many options available it's hard to choose, but we’ve tried to help by narrowing down the list to three of our favorites.
First up, the Dowco Guardian Weatherall Plus motorcycle cover is considered the most “premium” of the three options and rings in around $90. The price changes a bit, depending on which size you decide to go with, which is fairly common when it comes to motorcycle covers.
The Dowco cover is my personal favorite and it’s the most common choice among riders here at RevZilla’s headquarters.
The Dowco cover has a heavy-duty, 300 denier polyester construction with a special color-lok fabric treatment to prevent fading. You’ll find heat-sealed, taped seams and of course it’s waterproof to ensure excellent protection from the elements. Another nice feature found on the Dowco cover is the Moisture GuardVent System, which prevents moisture and condensation from building up inside the cover. For added security, the Dowco cover is equipped with a sewn-in pocket for riders to use the Guardian Alarm and a sewn-in hole for a wheel lock to be passed through.
It also comes with a storage bag, a lifetime warranty, and it’s available in a variety of sizes to fit a multitude of bikes.
Anyone looking to save a few bucks while still acquiring a quality waterproof cover should take a look at the Tour Master Elite motorcycle cover. Constructed from a high quality 300 denier carbolex, the Elite motorcycle cover is 100 percent waterproof with double stitched and taped seams. Carbolex is an extremely durable water-resistant synthetic fabric that is made from incredibly strong and lightweight polyester fibers.
Much like the Dowco cover previously discussed, the Elite motorcycle cover is also fully ventilated to prevent moisture and condensation from building up underneath. The heat panels will help protect the cover from the hottest parts of the bike and the front and tail sections have a protector fabric to prevent scratching bodywork.
The Nelson Rigg Deluxe All Season cover is the most economical of our three choices, but it’s a good option for light to mild outdoor weather conditions and for those looking for a compact cover that travels well.
The Nelson Rigg cover is constructed of a lightweight UV-treated Tri-Max polyester. Which is really just a fancy way to say the material won’t easily fade under the sun, it’s light, and it’s strong. You’ll also find heat-resistant lower panels to protect the cover from those hot spots on the bike, a soft windshield liner to protect against scratching and hazing, and an elastic bottom with one-inch grommets at the center and front wheel.
Just a quick note, if you live anywhere with harsh weather conditions and you plan to store your bike for any prolonged amount of time, I would recommend sticking with the Dowco or Tour Master covers. The Nelson Rigg cover is simply not as robust as the previous options and it’s technically not waterproof, it’s water resistant.
| Key features | Dowco | Tour Master | Nelson Rigg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waterproof | X | X | |
| Moisture protection | X | X | X |
| Wheel lock passthrough | X | X | |
| UV-treated | X | X | |
| Heat shields | X | X | X |
| Construction | 300 D Polyester | 300 D Carbolex® | Tri-Max polyester |
| Warranty | Lifetime | One year | Two years |
Packability is another factor to consider if you’re traveling and taking a cover along with you, since storage space is often very limited. The Nelson Rigg Deluxe cover comes with a compression bag and packs down incredibly small. The Dowco Guardian Weatherall Plus Motorcycle Cover also comes with a compression bag and it comes in second place for packability.
While the Tour Master cover comes in third place for packability, I want to note that I only had a 2XL on hand to measure so it’s not a completely fair comparison. Even with that, I think the compression style bags that come with the Dowco and Nelson Rigg covers are better for reducing the volume than the square bag the Tour Master fits into.
Motorcycle cover FAQs
Can I put my motorcycle cover on while my bike is hot?
While many covers are equipped with heat-resistant panels, it’s never a good idea to toss a cover on the bike before it has time to cool down.
Typically, about 30 minutes is long enough for a bike to cool off for a cover to be tossed on. Every bike is different and the outdoor temperature obviously has a big effect. So just use good judgment are be on the safe side and just wait 30 minutes.
What size motorcycle cover do I need?
I’ve never shopped for a motorcycle-specific cover that did not provide adequate details about what size you should purchase for your bike. More often than not, the sizing selection will simply state what model bike it’s designed for. If it doesn’t, make sure you check the product details for more information about the dimensions.
If you have an extra-tall windscreen or large panniers on your Africa Twin, make sure your cover can accommodate those accessories before you just select “Adventure Touring” and think you’re all set. Sometimes your model bike may be listed but you’ll need a bigger cover if you’ve installed additional accessories.
Cheap versus expensive construction: Is it worth it?
I remember being a poor college kid and I finally saved enough money to purchase a used Kawasaki ZRX1100 I had my eye on. At the time, I was living in the mountains of North Carolina where the winters are fairly harsh.
Not being equipped with a garage, I had to do something to keep the ZRX protected. I ran over to Walmart, picked up a pretty cheap cover, and I kid you not, I think the third time I tossed it over the bike it shredded apart.
We all know that old saying, “you get what you pay for.” I wouldn’t say that's always the case, but from my experience, it rings true for motorcycle covers.
A moto cover is a simple item that has a fairly simple task of protecting your bike. But, premium covers generally offer greater longevity, better execution of the finer details, a better fit, and greater waterproofing.
How long should a motorcycle cover last?
I’ve owned the Dowco Guardian Weatherall Plus Motorcycle Cover for about four years now and I’ve never had any issues. While my bikes have a nice cozy garage they sleep in now, my Dowco cover saw some serious snow and rain during it’s time on the mean streets of Philly.
It’s challenging to pinpoint how long your cover should last as that will dramatically change from one rider to the next. What climate is it exposed to? Does the rider wait for the bike to cool? Is the cover dry when it’s stored away?
In all of those years of abuse, I always made sure my cover was dry before I packed it up. Maybe a few times on the road I didn’t have that luxury but that was not very often and I always made sure to hang it out to dry at the earliest opportunity. That actually leads me to the next topic I wanted to discuss and that’s taking care of your motorcycle cover.
Caring for your motorcycle cover
If your cover is looking a bit grimy, here's my approach to cleaning. Personally, I recommend spot cleaning your cover instead of dowsing the whole thing with soap. I don’t use any harsh chemicals when cleaning your cover. Just let the detergent soak into the spots you are cleaning for a few minutes, then rinse thoroughly until the water runs clear. Then hang it to dry.
More often than not, I find that a simple hand wash is enough to remove stains but if you want to use a brush, make sure it is very soft or you can use terry cloth as an alternative, so you don't damage the cover's waterproofness.
This last bit is pretty important. Do not store your cover until it’s dry. If you’ve put away a wet tent without letting it dry, only to discover it a month later, you’re fully aware of the smelly mildew grossness that will develop. This can also happen to your motorcycle cover and it’s not fun.
Once you’re done cleaning your cover and you’ve given it time to dry, it certainly won’t hurt to add some waterproof spray to your cover. You can generally find waterproof sprays in most department stores and we have a few on the site.
Conclusion: Choosing the right motorcycle cover for you
Know your climate, where your bike is being stored, and how long will it be living in that location. If your bike is living outside for any prolonged amount of time, I’d recommend getting something a bit more premium for better protection and longevity. If you usually keep your bike in a garage and simply need something for occasional road trips, a more economical option that is low-profile and packs well makes sense.
There are many options, so just focus on your needs. For me, for example, I want 100 percent waterproofing, strong main construction, a nice snug fit, and a passthrough so I can add a lock. All of these features are very common with the options available on the market today. Other features for me personally, are simply nice-to-haves but not required. Follow your own priorities to find the right motorcycle cover for you.
