What's a good motorbike cover for outside use?

[markleo]

Hi all,

Any recommendations for a waterproof bike cover?

Thought I'd look at an oxford stormex...quite pricey but it needs to be hardy to stand up to Wgtn winds.

Anyone had any experience with one or are able to recommend a good cover for a big bike and top box?

[rustyrobot]

Hey, I haven't used the Oxford cover but I eyeing it up to replace my current one. The one I have now I bought from Repco and it cost around $100. I've had it for two years but it's pretty much shredded now (thanks to those self same Wellington winds). Half the time it is on the ground around the bike, and I'm always having to pull it back over - the straps at front and back aren't sufficient and the elastic barely lasted a year.

Probably worth going for a dedicated bike gear brand as they are likely to have more development done around their designs.

[Geeen]

Has anyone tried or have feedback on these

http://www.fastbikegear.co.nz/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=858&products_id=1779

http://www.fastbikegear.co.nz/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=858&products_id=5432

[Akzle]

garages work good.

[Hitcher]

The Oxford Stormexs are overpriced, although they may last a bit longer than the RJays models we had used previously. Covers for us last about a year, and the Oxfords are doing OK on that score.

They've faded to silver on the sunny side. The seam seal cover tape weathered away about three months ago.

Compared with the RJays they're fiddly things to get on and off -- the fit is baggy and there is a bunch of hooks that find something new and exciting to snag on each time.

When these wear out, which is dangerously close to any day soon, then we'll replace them with RJays. Some bike stores haven't got RJays on their systems, which is why I (foolishly) paid big money for the Oxfords. I should have shopped around for stores that stock Australia's finest.

[Hitcher]

garages work good.

So I've heard.

[Akzle]

So I've heard.

should probably build a fuken garage like a man then and stop fucking around with plastic shit.

[sgtp]

I have the Oxford Rainex, which is basically the stormex but with cheaper material on the lower, rear section of the cover as it sits on the bike...the rest is a heavy, rubberized fabric that is soft on the inside. Ive had it on the bike, outside, in wellington for the past 11 months or so, and its held up fine. The cheaper/thinner grey sections have a soft material on the inside that likes to get torn up on your pegs when removing the cover, if you are not careful. Its not as good as a garage, but I see the cover lasting several years. Don't waste your time on any cover that does not have some type of rubberized fabric. Water will eventually seep right through the material, the sun will weaken the material, and as soon as the wind has a go at it, it will be torn to shreds. With this cover, I now remove the ventura rack as it causes the suspended section of the cover between the bars and your rack/topbox to take more of a beating in the wind. Not doing this helped my last cheap cover meet an early end. Hope this helps.

[marine0089]

I just recently purchased an Oxford stormex ($129) after reading countless reviews about covers.

It essentially was the most heavy duty and highly rated one I could find and like you I wanted something that could stand up the Wellington weather.

Overall I'm very pleased with it as it feels like it is going to take a lot of punishment and is well made. The interior is very soft and with the heat resistance means you can just chuck it over a hot bike. My only concern is that there are venting holes at the back half of the cover which sit right on the tip of my bikes tail fairing. I assume this will let a bit of water in. Then again I might just be putting it on incorrectly :s

$129 isn't much to pay in the gist of things.

[markleo]

garages work good.

Sounds like an offer to build one for me :) yep a garage would be good but then i'd need an indoor cover

[markleo]

I have the Oxford Rainex, which is basically the stormex but with cheaper material on the lower, rear section of the cover as it sits on the bike...the rest is a heavy, rubberized fabric that is soft on the inside. Ive had it on the bike, outside, in wellington for the past 11 months or so, and its held up fine. The cheaper/thinner grey sections have a soft material on the inside that likes to get torn up on your pegs when removing the cover, if you are not careful. Its not as good as a garage, but I see the cover lasting several years. Don't waste your time on any cover that does not have some type of rubberized fabric. Water will eventually seep right through the material, the sun will weaken the material, and as soon as the wind has a go at it, it will be torn to shreds. With this cover, I now remove the ventura rack as it causes the suspended section of the cover between the bars and your rack/topbox to take more of a beating in the wind. Not doing this helped my last cheap cover meet an early end. Hope this helps.

Thanks thats exactly the sort of review i'm looking for. I've just ordered one... I'll glue some heavier vinyl round footpeg area. I'm not expecting a huge lifespan on it esp. with the sort of winds we had this last winter.
Anyway won't need it for too long, my new garage will be up soon with the help from Akzle :woohoo:

[Akzle]

plan, and Buy the materials and ill be down in the new year.

[ital916]

plan, and Buy the materials and ill be down in the new year.

And while you're at it, put a bed in the fucking corner, a kitchen bench on one side, a shitter outside with a rain shower and a workbench in another corner, with the essentials....including a lathe and CnC machine for when you've drunk a bottle of single malt and feel like making rear sets for your bike. Wake up, shit shower shave, hope on yer bike and ride out of your mo'fuckin house.


Oh and put up a poster saying, I will not be a fucktard and operate a lathe with the chuck still in. ;)




Otherwise the rjays covers for 89.00 are awesome, used it outside in welli for a couple years, get the lined one, won't scratch the bike.

[Akzle]

And while you're at it, put a bed in the fucking corner, a kitchen bench on one side, a shitter outside with a rain shower and a workbench in another corner, with the essentials....including a lathe and CnC machine for when you've drunk a bottle of single malt and feel like making rear sets for your bike. Wake up, shit shower shave, hope on yer bike and ride out of your mo'fuckin house.


Oh and put up a poster saying, I will not be a fucktard and operate a lathe with the chuck still in. ;)




Otherwise the rjays covers for 89.00 are awesome, used it outside in welli for a couple years, get the lined one, won't scratch the bike.

i think you mean key. Chuck key. A lathe without a chuck isnt much of a lathe.

You sound like youve thought this through! (or youve been reading my diary... :shifty:)

old school. I dont do cnc. Never learned. Probably never will.

[ital916]

i think you mean key. Chuck key. A lathe without a chuck isnt much of a lathe.

You sound like youve thought this through! (or youve been reading my diary... :shifty:)

old school. I dont do cnc. Never learned. Probably never will.

Fuck it, missed a word.

Comes in handy when precision is key, though there is nothing like doing something by hand (wood carving is my thing).

Can't see the point in big fucking houses, just need a place to sleep, place the bar and workshop (with requisite cellar underneath) and park the bikes. The rest can be spent on booze, broads, bikes and tobacco.

[Akzle]

Comes in handy when precision is key, though there is nothing like doing something by hand

i can lathe/mill <0.005. mm. without much thought. Never had to do anything more precise.
Thats given a good lathe, mind. Not some chinese fuckery.

[roadrash_69]

Hi all,

Any recommendations for a waterproof bike cover?

Thought I'd look at an oxford stormex...quite pricey but it needs to be hardy to stand up to Wgtn winds.

Anyone had any experience with one or are able to recommend a good cover for a big bike and top box?

not sure what the sanremo brand can do for you .. but i have used one for 3 different sized bikes. 1 with a pack rack on and was fine.
Someone posted this a while back...
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php/157852-SanRemo-motorcycle-cover-medium-size-GC

[Akzle]

so are you still wanting this workshop built?

[@ndy]

Oxford Rainex works pretty good.