SuzukiSavage.com - Print Page

SuzukiSavage.com
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl
General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> Dowco Weatherall Plus Covers (or other covers)
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1255725426

Message started by xlyzx on 10/16/09 at 13:37:06

Title: Dowco Weatherall Plus Covers (or other covers)
Post by xlyzx on 10/16/09 at 13:37:06

Hey, forum (and motorcycle) newbie here, just bought my first S40 in August and am completely in love! Unfortunately, I have to store my bike on my back porch/yard due to lack of fancy things like a garage, shed, or street where things don't get stolen every day.

Thus, as the weather turns more and more gross, I am realizing that I need to shed the tarp and invest in a really good outdoor cover for the bike. Research and my pocketbook would dictate that the Dowco Weatherall Plus is a good choice.

Their sizing chart says M/SP for the S40 but I have seen in other places around the net that getting a size up on a cover is never a bad idea.

At the moment I don't have any bags or any other mods so she's completely clean, but if I do get some bags, I still want to be able to put the cover on, which was my other thought for going the size up (but I don't want the larger size to fit funny and not work right).

Thoughts? Or is there another cover within that general price range that you like better?

Title: Re: Dowco Weatherall Plus Covers (or other covers)
Post by FreeSpirit on 10/16/09 at 18:36:57

My cover fits really well and I have saddle bags,etc.
I'll check and see what kind it is and what size.

I did get a size bigger to cover everything well.The fit is very nice.

I've been using it a year now and it works very well.
I'll get back to you on this.Right now all I can tell you is its black,with vents and waterproof.

Seems some dont mention being water proof.So i'd make sure on that.
Being a newbie at the time,I think I paid $65 for it.Could have been on sale though,not sure :-/

I'm very pleased with mine!

Edit-Mine is a Nelson-Rigg, Defender- Large ( 100% waterproof)

Title: Re: Dowco Weatherall Plus Covers (or other covers)
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 10/17/09 at 08:02:26

Really? You dont suppose an old sleeping bag over the bike & a tarp doubled over that would be good enough? I bet you could wrap that thing up nice & toasty in no time for nearly nothing..

Title: Re: Dowco Weatherall Plus Covers (or other covers)
Post by FreeSpirit on 10/18/09 at 09:12:21

This is like mine,but I didnt actually buy it from here,and mine is the large:

http://www.newenoughhp.com/accessories/covers/nelson_rigg/falcon_defender_2000_motorcycle_cover.html

Title: Re: Dowco Weatherall Plus Covers (or other covers)
Post by serenity3743 on 10/19/09 at 06:37:44

I think mine is a NelsonRigg. I used it a lot when parking in the sunshine at work. After now probably 5 or 6 years of that, it has deteriorated significantly, easily rips, feels almost dry-rotted. Also, from the beginning, the "heat resistant panel" around the bottom melts if it touches the hot exhaust. Guess I can't complain though. I think I paid $50 + or -. Oh yeah, I also used it as a rain tarp for my luggage when on road trips, so that could account for alot of the wear and tear.

Title: Re: Dowco Weatherall Plus Covers (or other covers)
Post by FreeSpirit on 10/19/09 at 07:14:06

I'm pretty sure the instructions say to let the muffler cool before putting the cover on the bike.

And also, maybe its just common sense ;)

Title: Re: Dowco Weatherall Plus Covers (or other covers)
Post by Boule’tard on 10/19/09 at 07:39:17

Have any of you guys tried that "Bike Barn" thing? It seems like a good idea.. to copy. A simple gable or bent-over semicircle design could be done with PVC pipe (http://www.pvcplans.com/) and covered with something opaque instead of greenhouse plastic.

Title: Re: Dowco Weatherall Plus Covers (or other covers)
Post by FreeSpirit on 10/19/09 at 07:50:21

I would like to build something pretty simple but....
how does it keep from just blowing over?

What's holding it up besides PVC? :-/

Ok I see now it says to secure it to the ground,I guess with some type stakes,but mine would have to sit on top of concrete.

I am open to any other suggestions! :)

Title: Re: Dowco Weatherall Plus Covers (or other covers)
Post by FreeSpirit on 10/19/09 at 08:27:53

I found this pic on the internet.I guess its a heavier PVC pipe than what I imagined.
Not a bad idea! Now that I think more about it.
Although this kit to buy is around $200+. :-?
Yep,your idea is better Boule'tard/Looks better.
Maybe you could buy the materials cheaper! and DIY. :-/

http://www.caresecrets.com/images/cycleshield/harley_bottom_base_frame_kit_med.jpg

Title: Re: Dowco Weatherall Plus Covers (or other covers)
Post by Boule’tard on 10/19/09 at 08:57:44

$200 for that thing is absolutely ridiculous, and your bike would still be visible!

PVC pipe, plastic sheeting and dissicant (damp-rid) is cheap. For windy areas, the pipes can be cemented together and filled with wet sand. The hardest part would be picking a cover.. tarp, tent-like cloth, or try to put your bike in a gigantic baggie to control moisture? ;D I don't know.

Title: Re: Dowco Weatherall Plus Covers (or other covers)
Post by FreeSpirit on 10/19/09 at 09:09:53

Well I think that was advertised for a Harley.
You know it would cost more ;)

Your ideas are good though. :)
If we could just figure out what to cover it with.

What about plexiglass? Or is it expensive?

Title: Re: Dowco Weatherall Plus Covers (or other covers)
Post by Boule’tard on 10/19/09 at 09:40:49

I think any kind of rigid panels would yield a better final product, but the cost of materials and time/effort of cutting and mounting each panel may not be worth it for a temporary bike shelter. I am in the middle of a sunroom project and considering maybe something from polygal (http://polygal.com/HTMLs/Home.aspx) for the roof. It would be expensive though, so I may just go with that corrogated greenroom stuff.

But for the bike shelter I'd go the easy route and hang either a tarp or canvas on it, attached with heavy staples. Then maybe paint it, depending on how bad I wanted everything dry, and how long it needs to last..

Title: Re: Dowco Weatherall Plus Covers (or other covers)
Post by serenity3743 on 10/19/09 at 10:36:26

4571666650736A716A77030 wrote:

I'm pretty sure the instructions say to let the muffler cool before putting the cover on the bike.

And also, maybe its just common sense ;)

Title: Re: Dowco Weatherall Plus Covers (or other covers)
Post by RidgeRunner13 on 10/19/09 at 10:44:40

One of the questions my insurance agent asked was whether the bike is kept in a locked structure when not in use. Might need to consider that in your choice of storage options.

Title: Re: Dowco Weatherall Plus Covers (or other covers)
Post by xlyzx on 10/19/09 at 11:40:03

Thanks for all the responses!

I have been using a tarp and am getting frustrated with how annoying it is to handle and the problem of forgetting to put it on and then watching my bike get soaked, not being able to do anything because putting the tarp over it while wet is like instant-rust.

We had originally bought some PVC piping with the intent of constructing some sort of structure that the tarp would lay over, but it just didn't work out with the space we have.

I'm nervous now though about people saying that you have to wait to put the cover on- that would be my normal thought, but I was specifically looking for covers that have 'heat shields' so you can use them right after riding (it says so in the description). Is the general consensus that those don't actually work?

(re: locked structure, I just don't have any other option. Also, technically, the backyard is locked. I would also probably spring for the lock on the cover as more added protection.

Title: Re: Dowco Weatherall Plus Covers (or other covers)
Post by PhilM on 10/19/09 at 11:55:41

Just looked online and the Dowco Weatherall cover has - "Aluminized heat shields that allow immediate use after riding"
http://s1.b3ta.com/host/creative/23179/1255978745/ddowco.jpg
Anyone got a cover with these shields on and do they work? In the pic it looks to me like the cover is neatly against a heat shield, with the pipe fully exposed. Maybe that's how you have to use it.

I have a cover with silver panels at the bottom which look very similiar to the Dowco panels, but I have always put it on after the bike has cooled.

I feel an experiment coming on :-/

Title: Re: Dowco Weatherall Plus Covers (or other covers)
Post by Pabst 2006 on 10/19/09 at 16:42:10

7E464742632E0 wrote:

Just looked online and the Dowco Weatherall cover has - "Aluminized heat shields that allow immediate use after riding"

...

Anyone got a cover with these shields on and do they work? In the pic it looks to me like the cover is neatly against a heat shield, with the pipe fully exposed. Maybe that's how you have to use it.

...

I have a Dowco Weatherall Plus, or however they call their most expensive model of cover. I try my best to commute 8 months of the year where I live, and that means a cover that can do the job during the nasty months of the year. It ran about $85 at motorcyclesuperstore.com and includes the aluminized portion at the bottom.

Dowco's literature and wording is inconsistent on the usage of the aluminized portion of the cover. Just now I pulled the product box off the shelf in the closet, and it says the words "Aluminized heat-resistant panels safely cover hot exhaust pipes" on the front and back sides of the product box. Although I threw away the product manual a couple weeks ago, I remember reading several times that it said the aluminized heat shield can be used on warm exhaust pipes, and also something like "Wait 5-10 minutes after riding before putting the aluminized portion on the exhaust. It will extend product life...." (or something similar)

...
I gave up trying to remember and just found a link to their .PDF product manual.
http://www.dowcopowersports.com/data/resources_pdfs/GuardianWeatherAllPlusMotorcycleCover.pdf

The cover is working great after 1 year. I've stored the bike for the winter in a self-storage facility using the cover, no problems. I'm getting my money's worth.

-Pabst

P.S. if it's real rainy when I get done with a ride/commute, and I don't have an opportunity to return to the bike to cover it after 10ish minutes, it's been OK covering it immediately. I pop out the passenger pegs to keep the cover from hugging the hot pipes too tightly. Seems to work fine after several times of doing this.

Title: Re: Dowco Weatherall Plus Covers (or other covers)
Post by kk lewi on 10/19/09 at 16:42:18

467D70737146617A7A71662527140 wrote:

One of the questions my insurance agent asked was whether the bike is kept in a locked structure when not in use. Might need to consider that in your choice of storage options.

My insurance guy also asked me that. As I thought about it, he said it didn't matter as it would only change my premium if I had a crazy expensive custom type bike.

Title: Re: Dowco Weatherall Plus Covers (or other covers)
Post by xlyzx on 10/19/09 at 19:02:06

Thanks Pabst!

What size is your cover? (and how much added stuff do you have to the width/height of the bike?)

Title: Re: Dowco Weatherall Plus Covers (or other covers)
Post by FreeSpirit on 10/19/09 at 19:20:42

2C3A2D3A31362B266C686B6C5F0 wrote:

[quote author=4571666650736A716A77030 link=1255725426/0#5 date=1255961646]I'm pretty sure the instructions say to let the muffler cool before putting the cover on the bike.

And also, maybe its just common sense ;)

FreeSpirit, I do know to let the muffler cool, both from the directions and from my common sense. But arriving at work and not having a chance later to come back to the bike and cover it, I would generally just try to drape it over the upper part of the bike. The burns happened to the new cover when I'd be trying to drape one part and another part was falling on the hot pipe. It seems that new stuff is really attracted to the hot header and muffler: my new Goretex insulated pants, my new NelsonRigg rainsuit, and my new FroggToggs rain gear. They've all got holes burned in them. :'(

[/quote]

I'm sorry,I was just endearingly picking on you.
Sometimes my dry sense of humor dosent come off as intended.
I just really liked your whole description of your MC cover ;D ;)

Title: Re: Dowco Weatherall Plus Covers (or other covers)
Post by serenity3743 on 10/20/09 at 08:50:26

6B5F48487E5D445F44592D0 wrote:

[quote author=2C3A2D3A31362B266C686B6C5F0 link=1255725426/0#12 date=1255973786][quote author=4571666650736A716A77030 link=1255725426/0#5 date=1255961646]I'm pretty sure the instructions say to let the muffler cool before putting the cover on the bike.

And also, maybe its just common sense ;)

Title: Re: Dowco Weatherall Plus Covers (or other covers)
Post by Pabst 2006 on 10/20/09 at 17:42:57

56425754562E0 wrote:

Thanks Pabst!

What size is your cover? (and how much added stuff do you have to the width/height of the bike?)

I have a Memphis Shades Demon windshield attached to the bike most of the time, so I went one size up and ordered a Large size. It's a nice fit. On a few windy days as long as I cinch up the nylon strap/D-ring on the bottom it doesn't balloon out with the wind a whole lot, and the bike's not in danger of tipping over.

-Pabst

Title: Re: Dowco Weatherall Plus Covers (or other covers)
Post by FreeSpirit on 10/20/09 at 18:18:49

Hey I liked Sally Fields comment...I think it was real and genuine...a rarity. ;)

Now that I've had my MC cover for awhile...I think its best to go ahead and build some type of shed.A cover is good temporarily,but the bike needs a shed...and a place for all those tools.Build a shelf or two in the shed :)

(I just need the right building plans)

Title: Re: Dowco Weatherall Plus Covers (or other covers)
Post by serenity3743 on 10/21/09 at 05:09:38

[quote author=5266717147647D667D60140 link=1255725426/15#22 date=1256087929]Hey I liked Sally Fields comment...I think it was real and genuine...a rarity. ;)quote]

I believe the ORIGINAL quote was by Liza Minnelli when she received an Oscar in the 60s or 70s. However, it has been repeated and parodied many times by many people. It is often cited as an example of the insecurities of celebrities. :)

Title: Re: Dowco Weatherall Plus Covers (or other covers)
Post by serenity3743 on 10/22/09 at 11:03:19

Okay, FreeSpirit, I must acknowledge that you are right and I am wrong. Sally Field was the original, although she is frequently misquoted and my quote above is another misquote. I looked it up on Google.

Title: Re: Dowco Weatherall Plus Covers (or other covers)
Post by ohsixs40 on 11/16/09 at 19:26:27

I had a Dowco but I can't remember the name of what model it was. It was around $65-$70 on motorcyclesuperstore.com. I was loving it until we got a pretty bad storm in the area. The winds were blowing so hard that it pulled the cover tight enough against the bike that the mirrors and handlebars ripped right through!