Which rain cover?
Discussion
Hi chaps.
A change in circumstances now means the Bike will be stored outside, so I'm looking for a heavy duty rain cover to keep the worst of the British weather off. Most seem to be quite lightweight materials, which wouldn't last 5 minutes with the high winds we get here in winter. Are there any rain covers out there that will last long enough for my kids to inherit, or can I expect to be buying a new one each year?
A change in circumstances now means the Bike will be stored outside, so I'm looking for a heavy duty rain cover to keep the worst of the British weather off. Most seem to be quite lightweight materials, which wouldn't last 5 minutes with the high winds we get here in winter. Are there any rain covers out there that will last long enough for my kids to inherit, or can I expect to be buying a new one each year?
I know a lot of Oxford stuff is laughed at,but I’ve one of these and it’s been brilliant.Nothing has gotten through in a good few years of constant use.Is lined,so you can put it straight onto a warming exhaust and has holes in the bottom for a chain.
http://www.oxfordproducts.com/product/WlotQ1YzMzA=...
http://www.oxfordproducts.com/product/WlotQ1YzMzA=...
Personally I think the oxford covers are total crap, I had a aquatex and it lasted less than six months..... The only covers that are anywhere near heavy duty are gt Moto covers from Halfords of all places ( I know surprising right ) a medium cover is £45 and would be big enough for a 600 or 1000cc sports bike quid but really worth the extra money, and if you sign up their news letter they send you discount codes ( I paid £40 for mine ) my cover is now about 18 months old and has started fraying around the elasticated hem but that is only because of me being lazy and letting it billow and drag on the floor in the wind, if you use rope or bungees to take up any slack I'm sure this wouldn't have happened
Edited by orangefzr on Sunday 15th April 14:44
If it is exposed to direct sunlight I would probably expect only 2 years out of a cover, so wouldn't go crazy with the money for a claimed lifelong cover.
When my bike was outside before I had a garage it was the sun that wrecked all the covers, making them go brittle and then tear around the handlebar or tailpiece area.
When my bike was outside before I had a garage it was the sun that wrecked all the covers, making them go brittle and then tear around the handlebar or tailpiece area.
cmaguire said:
If it is exposed to direct sunlight I would probably expect only 2 years out of a cover, so wouldn't go crazy with the money for a claimed lifelong cover.
When my bike was outside before I had a garage it was the sun that wrecked all the covers, making them go brittle and then tear around the handlebar or tailpiece area.
Aye but an aquatex cover is @30 and a stormex cover @55 average, the aquatex cover isn't much better than a cheap aldi / lidl jobbie and the stormex pales in insignificance in comparison to the Halfords one .... I too live quite high up in a rural location and it's usually windy here, the cheap covers act like a giant parachute, the only other alternatives are either a truck curtain or a heavy waxed tarp which are both a ball ache to put on or take off When my bike was outside before I had a garage it was the sun that wrecked all the covers, making them go brittle and then tear around the handlebar or tailpiece area.
And prior to that I have shelled out on one of the fancy fleece lined ones with protective inner panels at the rear for the exhausts. Guess what, same problem, the sun turned it brittle and it disintegrated.
Had the same with a £200 custom-made car cover as well, made from some fancy named material I can't remember the name of. Replaced twice before they refunded. No wonder those sun worshippers look like they've had a 50-a-day habit all their life.
Had the same with a £200 custom-made car cover as well, made from some fancy named material I can't remember the name of. Replaced twice before they refunded. No wonder those sun worshippers look like they've had a 50-a-day habit all their life.
I live in south Cornwall, so sunshine is perhaps more of a problem than certain other parts of the UK (not a complaint).
It really does seem as if all bike covers are a bit carp when it comes to durability.
Perhaps I need a rethink. I really like the bike (SV650), but objectively it's nothing special. It's almost 20 year old now and quite battle scarred. It'll be used in all weathers anyway, so if using a cover proves to be a ball ache or a barrier to me using the bike, perhaps I should just do without one and enjoy not being so precious about it.
This is all new territory for me. Is the bike likely to dissolve overnight without a cover, or keep going for another 20 years regardless?
It really does seem as if all bike covers are a bit carp when it comes to durability.
Perhaps I need a rethink. I really like the bike (SV650), but objectively it's nothing special. It's almost 20 year old now and quite battle scarred. It'll be used in all weathers anyway, so if using a cover proves to be a ball ache or a barrier to me using the bike, perhaps I should just do without one and enjoy not being so precious about it.
This is all new territory for me. Is the bike likely to dissolve overnight without a cover, or keep going for another 20 years regardless?
orangefzr said:
Personally I think the oxford covers are total crap, I had a aquatex and it lasted less than six months..... The only covers that are anywhere near heavy duty are gt Moto covers from Halfords of all places ( I know surprising right ) a medium cover is £45 and would be big enough for a 600 or 1000cc sports bike quid but really worth the extra money, and if you sign up their news letter they send you discount codes ( I paid £40 for mine ) my cover is now about 18 months old and has started fraying around the elasticated hem but that is only because of me being lazy and letting it billow and drag on the floor in the wind, if you use rope or bungees to take up any slack I'm sure this wouldn't have happened
The straps came off my Oxford cover very quickly, I won't be buying another one.Edited by orangefzr on Sunday 15th April 14:44
I've had a couple of Oxford stormex. They do weather/get affected in sunlight over time i.e. turn from black to grey, the glued/taped seems come off, the belly strap fails/breaks.. this all happens over time. They are generally waterproof while they are newer and for a while over time. The cover will basically rip/break at some point but after a number of years hard use.
I'd expect any outdoor cover to do the same over time. What it does do is generally protect my bike from the worse of the weather and more importantly (living in east london) as I also lock it front and back to the bike means its not easy to see what the bike is underneath and its additional hassle to goto to find out.
The fact it looks tatty now actually works for me as far as I'm concerned as my bike has to live outside all year round in tea leaf central.
I'd expect any outdoor cover to do the same over time. What it does do is generally protect my bike from the worse of the weather and more importantly (living in east london) as I also lock it front and back to the bike means its not easy to see what the bike is underneath and its additional hassle to goto to find out.
The fact it looks tatty now actually works for me as far as I'm concerned as my bike has to live outside all year round in tea leaf central.
Something different here.
Tailored fit and really heavy duty - does come with a price tag though.
https://birotaruk.blogspot.co.uk/2017/02/cover-zon...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZZWj3kYAy8 (Video of the cover in 'action')
Tailored fit and really heavy duty - does come with a price tag though.
https://birotaruk.blogspot.co.uk/2017/02/cover-zon...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZZWj3kYAy8 (Video of the cover in 'action')
I agree that a bike cover provides enormous anti-theft benefits, but fortunately, I just don't need it for that.
A shed isn't a bad idea, but sadly I don't think I'll be able to make it work. However, it's not beyond the realm of possibility to fashion a kind of freestanding car port over the path that the bike is kept on. That might work to both keep the worst of the weather off, and reduce the amount of faff in using it, though without being able to fix it down it would need a bit of careful planning.
Underestimated the amount of anchorage a garden trampoline needed once, and during a mild storm returned home to find it in the conservatory
A shed isn't a bad idea, but sadly I don't think I'll be able to make it work. However, it's not beyond the realm of possibility to fashion a kind of freestanding car port over the path that the bike is kept on. That might work to both keep the worst of the weather off, and reduce the amount of faff in using it, though without being able to fix it down it would need a bit of careful planning.
Underestimated the amount of anchorage a garden trampoline needed once, and during a mild storm returned home to find it in the conservatory
CrankyCraig said:
I agree that a bike cover provides enormous anti-theft benefits, but fortunately, I just don't need it for that.
A shed isn't a bad idea, but sadly I don't think I'll be able to make it work. However, it's not beyond the realm of possibility to fashion a kind of freestanding car port over the path that the bike is kept on. That might work to both keep the worst of the weather off, and reduce the amount of faff in using it, though without being able to fix it down it would need a bit of careful planning.
Underestimated the amount of anchorage a garden trampoline needed once, and during a mild storm returned home to find it in the conservatory
my Oxford cover detached itself off my bike when I was out apart from the l/h handlebar and flipped the bike on its side and dragged it halfway across my garden practically upside down where it dumped nearly a full tank of super all over the grass ..... The biggest problem with covers is any loose material left to blow in the wind, either rope or a few bungees are essential to stop mishaps like above. The previously mentioned covers from Halfords are in a zipped bag so you can have a look at them off the shelf A shed isn't a bad idea, but sadly I don't think I'll be able to make it work. However, it's not beyond the realm of possibility to fashion a kind of freestanding car port over the path that the bike is kept on. That might work to both keep the worst of the weather off, and reduce the amount of faff in using it, though without being able to fix it down it would need a bit of careful planning.
Underestimated the amount of anchorage a garden trampoline needed once, and during a mild storm returned home to find it in the conservatory
orangefzr said:
my Oxford cover detached itself off my bike when I was out apart from the l/h handlebar and flipped the bike on its side and dragged it halfway across my garden practically upside down where it dumped nearly a full tank of super all over the grass ..... The biggest problem with covers is any loose material left to blow in the wind, either rope or a few bungees are essential to stop mishaps like above. The previously mentioned covers from Halfords are in a zipped bag so you can have a look at them off the shelf
Blimey. That's something I wouldn't have expected, but now that you mention it it's easy to see how it could possibly transform into a kite. Not a great sight to return home to, I'd imagine.I'll remember to take a look at those when I'm next near Halfords, but all evidence suggests a bike cover probably won't work or me, even if it is the most resilient. I'm far too lazy to put up with too much faffing.
Gassing Station | Biker Banter | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff