Bike covers

markus56

markus56

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I'd like to get some opinions and input from the members who have invested in a nice bike cover. I'm interested in getting one for each of my Eliminators and looking for the best fit, quality, and looks for our bikes. Price is not important..........I want the best pull over cover I can get. Would also like for it to be lined inside and vented. All opinions and input welcomed. Thanks in advance.......Mark
 
That's a good lookin' cover Jared but it looks like it swallows the bike. The Dowco chart I saw this morning called for a Medium size but you're saying X-Large. Anybody ever try a Large size and how was the fit?
 
markus56 said:
That's a good lookin' cover Jared but it looks like it swallows the bike. The Dowco chart I saw this morning called for a Medium size but you're saying X-Large. Anybody ever try a Large size and how was the fit?
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The Dowco I got several years ago was a "G-50" - I think it was labelled "Sport/Custom". Not sure whether it's s/m/l/xl. Fits great - nice and tight.
 
It's actually an Ultra Bagman, not a Dowco.

If you get a good one, you will see that they are made of heavy material, especially if you get one with the heat panels for the exhaust and are a pain to get on and off, so I got one just a hair big to make it easier to put on and off. If you've got two people then it's not so bad, but trying to get one on by yourself and not screw up the parts that stick out like mirrors or scratch anything or keep the parts that don't have heat panels off the exhaust, or knock the bike over is a real pain. The elastic at the bottom is really strong so it pulls up around the bike good. I only use mine for winter storage and I like the idea that it goes to the floor and wraps around the wheels so well. If I had some storage capacity I wouldn't mind having one of those bikini covers to take places with me and to throw on when I know I won't be riding for a few days. If you are going to be taking it on and off - that might be an option. Later.
 
If you go to Dowco's site and input ZL1000, it shows you MEDIUM covers. Also says "without windshield". I think if you have a small shield not much taller than the mirrors it would still fit. If you have a barn-door-sized shield . . . well . . . probably not.
 
I have a Dowco cover; Model #G50 Guardian (Manufacturing date of 2003; just checked the label for the specifics). The cover has held up well thus far in southern California. I have low bars and stock exhaust; everything is covered all the way to the lowest part of the wheel rims.

Hope that helps you.
 
SO CAL ZL said:
I have a Dowco cover; Model #G50 Guardian (Manufacturing date of 2003; just checked the label for the specifics). The cover has held up well thus far in southern California. I have low bars and stock exhaust; everything is covered all the way to the lowest part of the wheel rims.

Hope that helps you.
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Hey So Cal...........what size did you buy?
 
Markus...

In the third pic here
http://www.zl-oa.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10925

You can see my 900 sitting under the dowco cover..it is an XL cover...

I can tell you that they are kind of a pain in the arse to take on and off, but they will cover everything all the way to the ground...My 1000 got caught last year with early snowfall..and it sat out there with a foot of snow all around it, but the bike was covered..This was the only means for covering the bikes that I had untill I built my shed recently...I would prefer to cover my bikes inside the shed with something totally different, like a couple of black king size bed sheets (used one of these to cover my drumset when it sat overnight set up for two-nighters)...Like Jarney said for winter or long time storage it would be good (the dowco) but for daily on and off it sucks...Mine has the heat panels and I can tell you if the bike is hot and you cover it, you have to be very careful because the regular part of the cover touches the head pipes and you got melted cover and crap on the pipe (I did that)...Even the XL is a trick to get all the parts past the elastic and if the bike is hot, you gotta be careful...

Willy
 
Let me check when I get home to make sure I don't have large and not X large....not sure now that I have been thinking bout it..
 
markus56 said:
Hey So Cal...........what size did you buy?
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Markus...hang loose, I'll check for a size identification by Friday evening at the latest;....after work on Thursday if possible. I thought I had it nailed for size when I saw the "G" designation. I'll get what I can for you.
 
markus56 said:
Thanks, I appreciate it!!
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Markus,

Here's all of the pertinent wording appearing on my "Dowco" label (However, no cover sizing indicated). I suspect G-50 might correspond to specific dimensioning. The trick is to get access to Dowco's sizing chart, etc. (Try giving these guys a call/See below):

G-50 Guardian
Item #500002-02
Job #F03/2003
Date 4/2003
PO #2003-01-04
Dowco
1-800-558-7755
4230 Clipper Drive
Manitowoc, WI 54220

This G-50 cover is on my 900, w/clubman bars tilted downward, stock exhaust. The cover encapsulates the bike all the way to the bottom of the rims (Strong elastic surrounding the cover's bottom perimeter).

Other than telling you the best sequence to quickly install the cover (I've tried it all kinds of different ways) this is the best I can do for you on the sizing question Markus. Good luck with the search bro.
 
Thanks for all the info and input guys(Jarney, Kawboy, So Cal ZL, and WilyD). Ya'll have given me alot to consider and I appreciate your time and efforts. I'm leaning towards the cloth cover for storage inside the garage and getting a different one for outside to protect the "rider of the day" from the sun. Again, thanks for all the input guys!! :thumbsup: Mark
 
Just an update..........I wound up going with the Dowco Guardian Weatherall Plus cover in a Large size. The website's chart says the ZL1000 takes a Medium size but I'm glad I did'nt go with that!! Turns out that the Large size fits the ZL1000 real tight (too tight in my book), so I tried it on my ZL900 and the lower bars allows it to fit much better and covers the whole wheel on both ends. I'll use the large one on the ZL900 and have ordered an X-Large for the ZL1000. The quality is pretty good on the Dowco for the $$$$$$ so I'd recomend them to the members. Mark
 
Another quick update..........I ordered an X-Large cover for the ZL1000 and it fits great!! I can't speak for the sizes of other covers or how they vary from one to the other but the Dowco's run Large for the ZL900 and X-Large for the ZL1000. Very good covers for the $$$$
 
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