On my first Monster I had an all weather cover because I didn't have a garage. Now I have a garage and was wondering how many of you cover your bike even though its in a garage?
I don't now, but I have used a cover in the garage. It keeps the dust off. My covers rotted away and I didn't replace them.
When outside if the cover is left on for long periods in damp environments it traps moisture. On good days one should take the cover off to let the bike breath and dry well.
And of course, if you cover the bike inside the garage, you will be deprived of seeing it as you pass though the garage.
LA
I cover mine in the barn sometimes if the bats are sleeping overhead.
It saves cleanup.
I keep mine covered in the garage because of the dust. This year is worse than usual, since we are re-doing the basement (=much more dust) and the garage leads directly into the basement. I do uncover from time to time to check the trickle charge connections and , well, just look at it.
i don't cover mine in the garage. it doesn't sit long enough to get dust.
I don't cover mine because dust is a crucial component of the protective filth layer.
Quote from: justinrhenry on February 21, 2010, 06:26:04 AM
i don't cover mine in the garage. it doesn't sit long enough to get dust.
+1
The garage *is* a bike cover.
It'll be fine.
I'll cover it if I plan on not using it for a period. If I'm riding it everyday I don't put it on.
Usually got a cover on in the garage.
if you got a garage like ducapinter with bats n shit. id cover that up. but my garage only has dust and i could care less about dust.
Quote from: He Man on February 21, 2010, 10:43:39 AM
if you got a garage like ducapinter with bats n shit. id cover that up. but my garage only has dust and i could care less about dust.
And you've got some bigger issues than dust right now, isn't that right? ;)
If your garage has windows or glass panes you may want to cover your bike from the eyes of those with no need to know...
I keep my bike under the cone of silence.
Mine has a terrycloth blanky !!!....but only for the winter when it sits
in summer if am not riding the Duc for a while i will cover it even in the garage ...the Gixxer and RD have there blankys on all the time in the garage
Monday through Saturday morning it's covered. But over the weekend....
I cover mine through winter so they don't get too cold. I tuck them in and read bedtime stories too.*
*actual results may vary
A garage offers great protection, a cover just a little more. As mentioned, security from prying eyes is nice. If your garage is not leaking, then a cover keeps dust off and maybe small scuffs from anything that accidentally gets dropped on it. A nice soft, breathable cotton cover is all that's needed, not the waterproof hard core ones used outdoors. Some even have soft fleece insides. An old sheet works niecly in a pinch.
I agree with the previous comment that often times outdoor covers just become steam rooms, trapping moisture inside and causing minor rust. it happened to me in San Diego when I lived there. Still, it's a balance. Does that keep the worst of the rain and scum off? Help with security? Also, wind on a cover tends to rub the pain off in spots over time and can make a nice sail that will blow over a bike that would have stood a strong wind without the cover. All a matter of choice.
If my bike sits for any length of time in the garage over the winter I cover it with a sheet and put it up on stands. It's been out every few weeks this year so I haven't even given it a good end of season wash yet :P
Scott
What about this?
http://www.store.commoto.com/ducati-monster-6961100-bike-cover-p-1044.html (http://www.store.commoto.com/ducati-monster-6961100-bike-cover-p-1044.html)
I have old sheets over my bikes.....even the motocross bikes. It's very dusty here in the valley of the sun. So wipes down pre-ride are lessened [beer]
Mahalo
Bill
Quote from: lethe on February 21, 2010, 06:27:14 AM
I don't cover mine because dust is a crucial component of the protective filth layer.
I've seen his bike. It is very well protected.
I keep one of my scooters at my farm in the barn (as if I have time to ride it when I'm there... too much farm work to do! [bang]) and I keep it covered with a lightweight Dowco cover and have a Battery Tender hooked up. I also have it surrounded by a moat of rat/mice/vol poison. I have at least 4 different versions of rat death on the floor in a ring around the bike. Little f#@kers still occasionally manage to get past the "death smorgasbord" and try to make a rodent condo somewhere under the bodywork. Thankfully they haven't chewed up any wires or rubber tubing yet. Don't know how long that luck will hold out.
I keep my red 696 perfectly clean, waxed, and covered with a fitted cal king sheet, my garage is small and I don't want to have any accidents like something falling on, or bumping into my bike. My wife parks next to my bike in the garage and has already tapped it getting out of her car (she will never do that again >:( ) I found a 100% cotton single sheet in red at Target for about $10.
You know....
It's just a bike. ;)
Yea... and a Ferrari is just a car, and Angelina Jolie is just a woman... Psshaw!!! [cheeky]
Mine get's covered when not in use,if i do want to stare at it i just pull the cover off.It's an option for not dusting it off when i'm ready to ride.
After shopping for covers, i threw a fitted sheet over it.
I have a good sized garage, but like to tuck the bike out of the way for the winter. My concern is less dust, but more residue from other projects (paint splatter, metal shavings, enriched plutonium dust, etc.)
Quote from: Adamm3406 on February 22, 2010, 09:05:50 PM
Yea... and a Ferrari is just a car, and Angelina Jolie is just a woman... Psshaw!!! [cheeky]
Idk-my wife (then gf) threw my duc on the ground-all I asked was if she was okay :P
i have been using a fitted bed sheet. It doesn't work all that well, since it doesn't fit great, but i have a table saw in my garage, and it helps keep most of the dust off of it, while letting it breath.
Quote from: Adamm3406 on February 22, 2010, 12:01:33 PM
What about this?
http://www.store.commoto.com/ducati-monster-6961100-bike-cover-p-1044.html (http://www.store.commoto.com/ducati-monster-6961100-bike-cover-p-1044.html)
Those covers usually come in a bag worthy of at least a SuperBike. To justify the ridiculous price, you can make the bag a birthday present to someone who knows about bags and like Ducati ;)
Quote from: Adamm3406 on February 22, 2010, 09:05:50 PM
Yea... and a Ferrari is just a car, and Angelina Jolie is just a woman... Psshaw!!! [cheeky]
We have a friend with a Ferrari gathering dust under a cover in his garage and it just gets used as a workbench for all his moto parts. [laugh]
I don't have a garage, but my parents do so I get winter storage privileges at their place. I use the cover in their garage for 2 reasons: 1) it's an old garage with a LOT of dust, and 2) it's a little extra protection in case of things like falling coils of rope (there's a lot of old boating stuff in there). I hate putting my bike away at all, but I'd rather spend a couple of months missing her than risk having her end up buried under a snowbank
I have one of these for garage use:
(http://store.ducatiusa.com/dimg/thm/t400_8719b7f24f5386f8459f8dd82aedbfdf.jpg)
It's not an all-weather cover - it's much like a fitted bed sheet that breathes yet helps keep the dust off the bike. I only use it for winter storage, and since I live in MN, this is a duration of about 6 months. (~Nov~April)