Re: Bike cover advice

["Steve Makohin" <wateredg@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hello all,

From: <gator@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>


>I always keep th bikes in the Garage except when on the road.
> wife thinks I need a cover when I go out. So I am asking the wisdom of the
> list, Anybody here use a bike cover or heard of a good one.

When you consider a bike cover, it is like considering a car cover: You need 
to ask yourself *why* you think you need one:
 o To visually obscure a vehicle, possibly to deter crime
 o To provide cover from settling dust (i.e., indoor storage)
 o To provide protection from sun
 o To provide protection from water

Each of these requirements will dictate a different type of cover. There are 
covers that are made that are very light and soft, with a very fine weave 
that do an excellent job at "inside garage dust protection" that would do a 
terrible job as a rain barrier.

When I got a bike cover against rain and sun for outside storage, to protect 
my bike against the ravages of weather, I ended up damaging my paint while 
the wind rubbed the cover against paint and scuffed it. Sure, it buffed out 
eventually, but you will probably want to avoid abrasives such as frequent 
buffing, and bike covers in wind.

- -Steve Makohin
 '01 R1100S/ABS
 Oakville, Ontario, Canada 

------------------------------