Bike cover, bring it or leave it?
 

Howdie,

I though it might be a good idea to bring a bike-cover. Not only it keeps the bike and bags dry and clean during the night, but it also offers a bit of protection. Not from really bad persons, but mostly from currious little boys that toutch all the buttons and maybe acidently break of something, or the passing snitch that would love to see what's in the bag.

So, I got a lightweight cover from Lois, but... It is quit big when folded and thus takes a lot of presious room.

Question... should I bring it.. or just leave it at home?

Maarten

Maarten,

I brought mine along with me for the very reasons you mention. In Patra Greece presently having come down from Frankfurt and as yet haven't had cause to use it as staying in organised campgrounds and it doesn't rain in Southern Europe so it seems! But I hear they can be useful in places like on the Karakoram (spelling?) highway in Pakistan if it's nice and black - hides those shiny bits. Mine is strapped on externally so of both space bother as such.

A cover is considered to be a good idea by many people, but it is bulky as you say. Strap it on outside the boxes, and if you do it right, the two straps will squeeze it down a lot. If it gets stolen, which is unlikely, not a great loss.

The biggest problem touchy-feely area is Pakistan / India, followed by the rest of South-East Asia, then South America. Africa is not a big problem.

------------------
Grant Johnson

Share the Dream!
at: www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

If I read correctly you said it was a black motorcycle cover. Robert Fulton wrote of changing film in a camera under a black cloth and people were suspicious. He switched to a lighter colored cloth and he was not noticed.
In some places black is magic, evil or secret and will draw more attention than a plain earth color.
Just a thought.

We travelled a lot of Asia, India and Pakistan with 3 bikes. 2 of the bikes had cover and one was left open. The 2 with covers never had people playing with them.
Strongly recomend the use of covers.

A company in the United States has started to make a very lightweight, very compact cover for motorcycles under the brand name Geza Gear.

These covers are made of a synthetic material that includes some Lycra, therefore they stretch. The covers come in 4 different sizes. When not in use, they can be compressed into a stuff bag that is not much bigger than a bag of potato chips (potato crisps, for UK readers).

I had a look at one of these covers at a motorcycle show last month, and thought it was pretty good. Much smaller and lighter than anything I have seen before. It only covers the top 2/3 of the motorcycle, including the panniers - the wheels and exhaust pipes are left exposed. It would do the job well if your main objective is to prevent people from sitting on your bike or fingering over the motorcycle.