4 Ways to extend the life of your motorcycle cover
Jul
Tips and tricks on getting the most out of your cover to protect your bike year after year.
If you own a motorcycle it is more than likely that you own a motorcycle cover or have done it at one point or another. Their job is to be a shield for your bike stopping sun damage, cracking leathers, and brittle plastics.
Don’t be sad when your cover wears out, that means it has done its job. How long it lasts is partly up to you.
Cheap covers can last as little as a year or less with careless handling. A high quality cover can last up to 5 years if taken care of and maintained. There are a few tips and tricks to extending the life of your motorcycle shelter and cover.
1) Reduce Sun Damage – Apply UV Procatant
The sun causes oxidation which is when atoms or electrons lose electrons, essentially it is the material breaking down. On motorcycles this is particularly damaging to clear coat, plastics, and leathers.
A little UV protectant goes a long way in extending the life of your storage cover for your motorcycle. Use it on your motorcycle cover and other waterproofs a couple of times a year to help prevent ripping and extend its life by keeping the fabric playable and moisturized.
2) Reduce Mold & Mildew – Air Out
It might be common sense, but mold and mildew are a constant in any environment. To help reduce buildup, open your cover, or turn it inside out and let it dry after a heavy rain. Alternatively, you can place a small fan inside the bike shelter to keep humidity down and air circulating. Speedway motorcycle clamshell covers come with vents that should be left open except for when it is raining..
3) Prevent rips from spreading – Patch Up
To stop rips from growing by patching them you can use outdoor fabric patches. If you are in a pinch use some duct tape to stop the rip from spreading. One less cover out of the landfill goes a long way collectively. Also, be careful with your cover when you’re pulling it on and off the bike. A motorcycle cover without a shelter frame should not be placed on a bike when the pipes are hot.
4) Keeping it clean – Wash your cover
Give your cover a wash once a year, it has earned it. As a bonus treat it with UV protection either in the wash or afterwards. A year’s worth of grit and grime on a shelter will shorten your cover’s life and covers without a frame are more likely to scratch your bike when they have a bunch of dirt in them being dragged around.
5) Reduce Sun Damage – Shade your cover
It might sound a little silly, but keeping your bike stored under shade with a cover on it will dramatically help keep your cover for longer, keeping you bike clean, dry, and dust free when parked. Speedway Shelters has a double duty cover that is designed to add some extra shade over your shelter to extend its life a few years.
The best type of cover for storing motorcycles
Keeping your motorbike covered and out of the elements is the key to maintaining your bike how it looked the day you got it. Most of the time our motorcycles wind up not being covered because the cover rips and gets thrown away. Or you just get frustrated pulling it on and off the bike every time you ride it.
That is why we recommend getting a motorcycle shelter. These clamshell storage units act as a motorcycle shed. The clamshell frame allows you to easily cover your bike quickly and effortlessly. Without risking scratching your paint and protects the bike from falling branches, and discourages theft.
Bike shelters also allow you to quickly park your bike with hot pipes. These covers are made of a thicker material and can last up to 5 years before needing to be replaced. While the steel frames can last over 10 years. Making them the ideal choice of cover for long term storage.
