If you leave your bike outdoors or keep it stored indoors for extended periods, you may be worried about it getting damaged. Investing in a motorcycle cover will give you that peace of mind while you’re away from your bike. But with all the brands and products available, it can be hard to determine the best motorcycle covers. That’s why we’ve done the research for you.
5 Best Motorcycle Covers
- Best Weather Protection: Seal Skin Supreme Motorcycle Cover
- Premier Pick: CarCovers.com Platinum Shield Motorcycle Cover
- Budget Pick: XYZCTEM All-Season Motorcycle Cover
- Best Heat Protection: Dowco Guardian WeatherAll Plus Motorcycle Cover
- Best Half Cover: Nelson-Rigg Defender All-Weather Half Cover
Best Motorcycle Cover: Buyers Guide
When buying a high-quality motorcycle cover, it’s best to consider a few key factors. We’ve outlined why size, materials, and added features should be carefully weighed out below.
Size
Before purchasing a cover, make sure you correctly check the cover dimensions against your bike’s dimensions. Often, motorcycle covers come in several sizes, so it’s best to read the manufacturer’s sizing guide to ensure you’re buying a cover suited for a touring bike rather than a sportbike, or whatever your situation.
Finding the right size and fit also means taking your bike’s added features into consideration, like your windshield, saddlebags, and passenger backrest. Some covers are not designed to accommodate these features, which could make a cover too tight or too loose.
Materials
Finding a cover made from the right materials is key to protecting your bike. See what to look for below.
- Water-resistant materials: If you plan on leaving your bike outside, you need to invest in a highly water-resistant motorcycle cover. Look for fabrics with a polyurethane coating or that are made from heavy-duty polyester. The best motorcycle covers have reinforced or double-stitched seams to make sure no water leaks through.
- Heat-resistant materials: If you plan on putting on your motorcycle cover immediately after a ride, ensure it’s equipped with heat-resistant material or a heat shield. This fabric is usually at the bottom of a motorcycle cover, and it prevents your hot exhaust pipes from melting the cover.
- Soft inner lining: To protect your bike’s paint and chrome, find a cover with either a cotton or fleece inner lining.
- Anti-UV materials: The best motorcycle covers will protect your bike from all elements, not just rain or wind. Look for a cover either chemically treated for UV protection or with an aluminum outer layer.
Added Features
Materials and sizing make up the foundation of the best motorcycle covers, but additional design features can make one stand out against competitors. Look for the following:
- Breathable materials or vents: Trapped moisture can cause your bike to mold or mildew, so make sure to find a cover with breathable layers or a venting system to keep things dry.
- Elastic hem: Full bike covers should be equipped with an elastic hem or at least front and rear elastic to ensure a snug fit.
- Grommets: In lieu of an elastic hem, reinforced grommets can help secure the cover against high winds and theft.
- Belly straps: These straps wrap underneath the bike and buckle to keep your cover in place.
- Lock holes: This added feature deters theft by allowing the rider to lock the cover to the bike’s front and/or rear wheels.
- Reflective accents: This design feature makes your bike visible in low-light situations.
Our Review Standards
To select the motorcycle covers featured in this buyers guide, our team combed through dozens of resources such as DIY mechanic and auto enthusiast forums, manufacturer and motorcycle-specific websites, instruction manuals from manufacturers, and reviews from online retailers. We pay particularly close attention to quality reviews and recommendations that highlight the quality of warranties, customer service support, build quality, materials, and overall reliability.
We also factored in the quantity and quality of online retailer reviews from websites such as Amazon, RealTruck, Advance Auto Parts, and more. We looked at factors such as notable customer reviews, prices, meaningful superlatives, and discount shipping eligibility. We did the research so you don’t have to.
Why You Can Trust Us
Since 2020, we have published over 250 auto product reviews in an effort to make shopping for auto products easier. Our team of writers, editors, researchers, and product experts collaborates to thoroughly vet top products. We try to perform in-house testing on real vehicles whenever possible before making our recommendations.
When testing is not feasible, however, our aim is to make your life easier by doing all the online research for you and presenting that research in the form of easy-to-read product comparisons and buyers guides, rather than outright recommendations. For more information on our testing methodology and how we evaluate every product, check out our methodology page here.
#1 Best Weather Protection: Seal Skin Supreme Motorcycle Cover
With ultrasonically welded seams and a built-in elastic hem, you won’t need to worry about the Seal Skin Supreme™ Motorcycle Cover blowing away in the wind. This motorcycle cover protects against rain, sun, sleet, and hail thanks to the Seal-Tec™ technology featured in this cover. Seal-Tec allows airflow to circulate within the cover but keeps out any inclement weather.
All Supreme covers from Seal Skin, including this motorcycle cover, cover rips, tears, and waterproof or breathability issues under a lifetime warranty. This motorcycle cover also comes with free shipping.
Key Features
- Cost: Around $110
- Weight: 4.0 pounds
- Warranty: Lifetime
What Customers Are Saying
Reviewers mention how easy it is to navigate Seal Skin’s website to find a motorcycle cover that will fit their bike. One customer with negative feedback claims they never received the free lock and cable kit that’s supposed to be included in the box.
#2 Premier Pick: CarCovers.com Platinum Shield Motorcycle Cover
Designed similarly to the highly-rated Platinum Shield car, truck, and recreational vehicle covers, the CarCovers.com Platinum Shield Motorcycle Cover offers multi-layered protection against Mother Nature’s harshest conditions. The built-in vents and premier synthetic materials resist mold and mildew, while the cover’s reinforced grommets and partially elastic hem make sure it’s protected against theft and high winds.
The cover’s reflective outer layer makes your bike visible in low lighting, which can be beneficial when parking at night. We also like the cover’s built-in heat shields so you don’t have to wait until your motorcycle cools to put the cover on. An antenna patch kit is also included.
Key Features
- Cost: Around $125
- Weight: 4.0 pounds
- Warranty: Lifetime warranty
What Customers Are Saying
Scores for this cover’s features and functions indicate extensive customer satisfaction, including perfect 5-star scores in the following categories:
- Water-resistance
- Snow-resistance
- UV-protection
- Fit
- Durability
#3 Budget Pick: XYZCTEM All-Season Motorcycle Cover
An affordable, year-round model, the XYZCTEM All-Season Motorcycle Cover provides protection against water, heat, dirt, and debris while also releasing trapped moisture. The cover does not feature any vents, but its nylon 210D Oxford fabric is durable, waterproof, and breathable, making it a good outdoor motorcycle cover.
To protect against high winds and theft, the XYZCTEM cover comes with two lock holes and two adjustable straps. The elastic hem in the front and back ensures a snug fit without affecting the cover’s ease of use.
The XYZCTEM All-Season Motorcycle Cover has a universal fit and is compatible with bikes up to 108.0 inches. Based on customer reviews, the cover has no trouble fitting motorcycles with windshields, passenger backrests, or saddlebags. Our only concern with the cover is its heat resistance, as no heat shield is mentioned to protect the cover against a bike’s hot pipes or other parts.
Key Features
- Cost: Around $20
- Weight: 1.0 pound
- Warranty: One year
What Customers Are Saying
Amazon Review Score: 4.5 out of 5 based on over 18,000 ratings
Breaking this cover down feature by feature, it receives 4.3 stars for water resistance, 4.2 stars for weatherproofing, and 4.2 stars for durability.
Looking at verified buyer reviews, happy customers note how easily this cover fits a variety of modifications and bikes. Many also like its affordability and durability. Negative reviews note that this product may not be the best for riders who are looking to put on their cover right after taking their bike out, as the heat resistance is questionable.
#4 Best Heat Protection: Dowco Guardian WeatherAll Plus Motorcycle Cover
A well-established brand in the motorcycle industry, Dowco manufactures its high-quality Guardian model to provide both indoor and outdoor protection. The full motorcycle cover guards against rain, mildew, UV rays, wind, and cosmetic damages. It features a vent system to make sure your bike remains cool and dry as well.
If you tend to cover your bike immediately after a ride, you’ll be happy to note the cover’s built-in heat shield. The cotton-based fabric covers the bike’s exhaust pipes to ensure the rest of the cover’s material and waterproof polyurethane (PE) coating doesn’t melt.
This cover is available in 12 different sizes, guaranteeing that you will find the right cover for your bike. It also comes in two colors.
Key Features
- Cost: Around $110
- Weight: 4.0 pounds
- Warranty: Lifetime warranty
What Customers Are Saying
Amazon Review Score: 4.6 out of 5 based on over 3,800 ratings
With nearly 3,800 Amazon customer reviews, the Dowco Guardian WeatherAll Plus cover holds a 4.7 out of 5-star rating. Ninety-three percent of ratings give the product 4 or more stars.
Many customers mention the cover’s durability and heavy-duty material. However, this is a double-edged sword for some buyers. The cover may be hard to put on for one person – its material is built to last, meaning it’s also heavy.
#5 Best Half Cover: Nelson-Rigg Defender All-Weather
If you’re looking for a half cover rather than a full bike cover, we recommend the Nelson-Rigg Defender model. The cover is waterproof, weatherproof, protects against UV rays, and can be easily thrown on and off when you’re in a hurry. Made from nylon, the cover includes heat-sealed seams to prevent water leaks during inclement weather.
For ease of use, the Nelson-Rigg Defender Half Cover has an elastic hem and elastic bungees. Both features allow the cover to conform to many types of bikes, giving it a universal fit. It also ships with a storage cover.
Key Features
- Cost: Around $35
- Weight: 1.0 pound
- Warranty: One year
What Customers Are Saying
Amazon Review Score: 4.5 out of 5 based on over 1,300 ratings
Nelson-Rigg is a well-regarded manufacturer across the motorsports industry. Breaking this cover down feature by feature, it receives 4.8 stars for its lightweight material, 4.7 stars for value, 4.3 stars for durability, and 4.5 stars for water resistance.
Positive customer reviews point to the cover’s snug fit and easy installation. However, some buyers note that the model’s material is particularly thin, which may wear down with long-term daily use.
Is A Motorcycle Cover Worth It?
A motorcycle cover is a worthy investment if you intend to leave your bike outside or inside for an extended period of time. Covers not only protect the bike from environmental elements like rain, wind, UV rays, dirt, and debris but also from theft and cosmetic damages. Buying the right motorcycle cover can help you keep your bike in pristine condition while preventing you from footing the bill for costly cosmetic repairs.
Some people might think a motorcycle cover is necessary to protect sensitive accessories like saddlebags or motorcycle audio equipment. We asked Tint World operations manager Luke Fidler if a cover would be the best protection solution for these products and his answer surprised us. He said,
“A properly built motorcycle speaker uses materials that are resistant to the elements. Plastic and rubber are common, whereas in cars compressed paper and foam are often used. Care should still be taken when washing to not direct high-pressure water at any audio components.”
When shopping for a high-quality motorcycle cover, look for waterproof and heat-resistant materials as well as a soft inner lining. These three factors ensure the cover can protect your bike’s paint, chrome, and other exposed parts against harsh weather conditions.
Motorcycle Covers: Bottom Line
The best motorcycle covers not only help protect your bike from the elements but also can be donned and doffed easily. Options that work for both outdoor and indoor storage are a plus, especially in keeping threats like mildew off the bike.
Additionally, features that help avoid scratching the paint job are something to look for if your bike stays covered for long spans between rides.
Motorcycle Covers At A Glance
Approximate Cost | Weight | Warranty | |
---|---|---|---|
Seal Skin Supreme Motorcycle Cover | $110 | 4.0 lbs. | Lifetime |
CarCovers.com Platinum Shield Motorcycle Cover | $125 | 4.0 lbs. | Lifetime |
XYZCTEM All-Season Motorcycle Cover | $20 | 1.0 lb. | 1 year |
Dowco Guardin WeatherAll Plus Motorcycle Cover | $110 | 4.0 lbs. | Lifetime |
Nelson-Rigg Defender All-Weather | $35 | 1.0 lb. | 1 year |
Motorcycle Covers: FAQ
*Data accurate at time of publication.