Best Motorcycle Covers
Motor1 Reviews Team Take:
- The best motorcycle covers in 2024 are the CarCovers.com Platinum Shield, Dowco Guardian WeatherAll, CarCovers.com Indoor Black Satin Cover, Favoto Full Motorcycle Cover, and X Autohaux Half Cover based on hands-on testing.
- Most of the top motorcycle covers come with lifetime warranties and fall in the $100 – $200 price range. However, we’ve included cheaper alternatives that might suit a lower budget.
- We tested each cover and half-cover to determine their fitment, weather protection, and overall durability.
If you leave your bike outdoors or keep it stored indoors for extended periods, you may be worried about damage from rain, wind, or harsh UV rays. Investing in a motorcycle cover will give you peace of mind while you’re away from your bike. After all, what’s the point of having a favorite ride if you’re not going to ensure that it’s protected year-round?
But with all the different brands and options available, it can be hard to determine the best motorcycle cover for you. That’s why we’ve tested several of the top options: to handle the research for you.
Motorcycle Cover Reviews
For this review, our team thoroughly tested and evaluated each motorcycle cover based on its fitment, water resistance, and durability. The scores in each category are compiled into a single overall rating that ranges from 1.0 to 5.0 stars.
What Are The Best Motorcycle Covers?
We named the CarCovers.com Platinum Shield Motorcycle Cover, Dowco Guardian WeatherAll Plus Ratchet Cover, CarCovers.com Indoor Black Satin Shield Cover, Favoto Full Motorcycle Cover, and X Autohaux Half Cover as the best-rated motorcycle covers on the market in 2024.
Brand/Model | Cost | Overall Rating | Award |
---|---|---|---|
CarCovers.com Platinum Shield Cover |
$125 |
5.0 |
Best Outdoor Cover |
Dowco Guardian WeatherAll Plus Ratchet Cover |
$160 |
4.8 |
Best for |
CarCovers.com Indoor Black Satin Shield Cover |
$115 |
4.5 |
Best Indoor Cover |
Favoto Full Motorcycle Cover |
$30 |
4.2 |
Best Budget Cover |
X Autohaux Half Cover |
$15 |
4.0 |
Best Half Cover |
*Because cost data fluctuates, the prices in the table above are approximate values that our team regularly updates.
Motorcycle Cover Ratings: Our Testing Process
The motorcycle covers in this article went through two rounds of reviews. We started by searching retailers like Amazon, RevZilla, and Cycle Gear for top products, looking at factors such as durability, fitment, customer ratings, and prices.
Learn more about how we tested motorcycle covers here.
1. CarCovers.com Platinum Shield: Best Outdoor Cover
2. Dowco Guardian WeatherAll Plus Ratchet Cover: Best For Long-Term Storage
3. CarCovers.com Indoor Black Satin Shield Cover: Best Indoor Cover
4. Favoto Full Motorcycle Cover: Best Budget Cover
5. X Autohaux Half Cover: Best Half Cover
Motorcycle Cover Buying Guide
A motorcycle cover is integral to ensuring your bike’s longevity, especially in areas with snowy winter months. Many insurance companies recommend purchasing a motorcycle cover to protect your ride while parked outside. 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.
Compare Motorcycle Covers
Brand/Model | Indoor/Outdoor | Fit | Warranty |
---|---|---|---|
CarCovers.com Platinum Shield Cover |
Outdoor |
Semi-Custom |
Lifetime |
Dowco Guardian WeatherAll Plus |
Outdoor |
Universal |
Limited Lifetime |
CarCovers.com Indoor Black Satin Shield Cover |
Indoor |
Semi-Custom |
10 years |
Favoto Full Motorcycle Cover |
Outdoor |
Universal |
N/A |
X Autohaux Half Cover |
Outdoor |
Universal |
N/A |
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 bike you have.
Finding the right size and fit also means taking your bike’s added features into consideration, like your windshield, side mirrors, 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.
- Waterproof materials: If you plan to leave your bike outside, invest in a highly water-resistant or waterproof motorcycle cover. Look for fabrics with a polyurethane coating or that are made from heavy-duty polyester. When thinking about water resistance, it doesn’t stop at the base material. 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 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.
Best 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, so you have peace of mind that everything from UV light to mildew won’t harm your motorcycle.
Additionally, features that help avoid scratching your paint, protect the cover from hot components, or allow for added security features help make the best motorcycle covers.
Below are our picks for the best motorcycle covers on the market in 2024:
- Best Outdoor Cover: CarCovers.com Platinum Shield
- Best for Long-Term Storage: Dowco Guardian WeatherAll Plus Ratchet Cover
- Best Indoor Cover: CarCovers.com Indoor Black Satin Shield Cover
- Best Budget Cover: Favoto Full Motorcycle Cover
- Best Half Cover: X Autohaux Half Cover
Motorcycle Covers: FAQ
Below are some common frequently asked questions about motorcycle covers:
What is the best material to cover a motorcycle?
For weatherproofing and durability purposes, the best motorcycle covers are made out of polyester. The thickness of the material has several different ratings with 600 deniers being commonly used for rugged environments.
What size motorcycle cover is best?
The best-sized covers are made custom for a specific make and model. However, some of the best motorcycle covers offer sizes based on motorcycle style or dimensions. These products can fit great as long as you follow the manufacturer’s sizing guide when measuring your motorcycle.
Should you cover your motorcycle?
Yes, you should cover your motorcycle. If your bike is stored outdoors, a durable cover will protect it from the elements and potentially make it less enticing to thieves. If it’s garage-kept, a soft-lined cover will still keep your motorcycle finish free of swirl marks, door dings, and other damage.
Can I cover my motorcycle while the exhaust is hot?
While some covers include heat-resistant material, for this reason, you should always wait for your bike to cool before donning a cover. Some materials won’t hold up to intense heat and could melt to your pristine chrome.
Do motorcycle covers cause rust?
The best motorcycle covers will not cause rust. If the motorcycle cover’s fabric is breathable or if the cover is designed with vents, moisture will escape the cover and not cause rust.
Full Motorcycle Cover Testing Methodology
The motorcycle covers in this article went through two rounds of reviews. We started by searching retailers like Amazon, RevZilla, and Cycle Gear for top products, looking at factors such as durability, fitment, customer ratings, and prices.
Our product testing team ordered motorcycle covers that best met these standards. We tested each product on a BMW R Nine T, noting how well the cover fit over the bike and resisted water. Durability scores are based on our research of each cover’s construction. We rated each cover out of 5.0 stars based on these criteria.
Fitment
When you buy a motorcycle cover, it’s important that it fits snugly. A loose cover may pummel your paint or blow off in the wind, damaging your machine or leaving it exposed to the elements. A tight cover will be frustrating to install, possibly making its user give up entirely. To test cover fitment, we asked the following questions:
- How easy is it to understand the manufacturer’s sizing chart and pick the right size?
- Are there versions for different motorcycle styles (i.e., sportbike vs. cruiser), or is sizing based only on a simple nose-to-tail measurement?
- How well did it fit our test bike?
Water Resistance
If you store your motorcycle outside, it’s important for it to stay dry when it rains or snows. Water resistance won’t make or break an indoor cover, but it’s still nice knowing that your bike is safe from spills. We tested each cover by installing it on our test bike and pouring water over it. We visually assessed the amount of water that seeped through to the motorcycle, if any.
Durability
In addition to water resistance, the best motorcycle covers are constructed from durable materials that resist abrasions, heat, UV rays, and more without scratching your bike’s finish. To measure each cover’s construction, we considered whether the materials provide heat resistance or fade resistance, and its construction methods, such as reinforced stitching or paneling to protect delicate finishes or guard against hot pipes.
How We Score Products
Every motorcycle cover we test is given a score between 1.0 and 5.0 stars in each category. Here’s what those star ratings mean in the context of our testing:
- 5.0 Stars: A 5.0-star rating means a motorcycle cover is among the best in a category. For example, 5.0-star construction may offer double-stitched seams, thicker material than competitors, a fully elastic hem, and a felt liner to protect your bike’s paint.
- 4.0 Stars: A 4.0-star rating means a motorcycle cover performs above average in a category. Fitment is easy to interpret and model-specific, the cover is easy to install, and it’s completely waterproof.
- 3.0 Stars: A 3.0-star rating indicates what is average or typical for a motorcycle cover based on our testing experience. The cover should exhibit solid construction, an appropriate fit, and weather-proofing if intended for outdoor use.
- 2.0 Stars: A 2.0-star rating indicates the motorcycle cover performed adequately in a category, but not quite average. This could represent a universal fit with some bagginess after following size chart recommendations.
- 1.0 Star: A 1.0-star rating indicates that the motorcycle cover performs well below expectations in a category. For instance, it may rip, tear, or have no water resistance whatsoever.
Why Trust Motor1.com
Each year, we test over 350 auto products on vehicles and in our testing lab. Our team of product testers thoroughly researches top products, unboxes and puts our hands on each component, and tests the items on real vehicles before making recommendations to readers.
We publish hundreds of product and service reviews to bring car enthusiasts detailed guides on automotive tools, detailing kits, car seats, pet products, and much more. For more information on our testing methodology and how we evaluate every product, check out our methodology page here.
*Data accurate at time of publication. Products subject to availability