Cover or not ?

[Glesgatrucker]

A question for some of you more experienced bikers on here ? The weather as you all know has been a bit miserable this week. As I've been away working in my truck Monday to Friday the bike was locked up in our factory all nice and dry. But I had to ride home across Glasgow tonight in the rain (about 20 minutes) now being a bit of a newbie I was just wondering what others would do when you got home ? I don't have a shed or garage for storage and the bike usually lives on my driveway at home.
Would you cover the bike up when it's wet or just leave it outside in the rain as it's already soaked ? ?

[mr self destruct]

Personally I'd leave it, but dry it off and cover it as soon as the rain stops.


Long term though I'd book it in with these guys and stick it under a cover from then on:
http://allyearbiker.co.uk/


I'm going to book mine in with my local agent as soon as the weather improves.

[red98]

leave the cover off untill the bikes dry....putting the cover on when its wet is just locking all that moisture in.....not good for your bike.......................roll on spring   

[Glesgatrucker]

Thanks for the replies, I did throw the cover over it last night, but I've been out this morning and gave it a quick dry off with some towels then covered it up again ?

[stevierst]

Give it a quick wipe down, and chuck the cover on. It'll do the bike no harm covering it wet unless you have a sealed environment for it, which I presume you don't.
 Back when I was covering 500 mile weekends commuting in the winter, I used to get home, hose the bike down with cold water, a quick wipe with a towel, WD40 all the engine/downpipes/frame, and chuck the cover on it. I did 30,000 miles on that bike in about 18 months, and it looked like new when I sold it!!! I wouldn't worry yourself too much about stowing it wet, it's a lump of metal at the end of the day, it's not going to dissolve over a week or two!!!

[Grahamm]

Would you cover the bike up when it's wet or just leave it outside in the rain as it's already soaked ? ?

Wait till it's dry, then, when you put the cover on, make sure it's done up tight and, preferably, the bike is pointing into the wind, otherwise the cover will act like a sail and it could get blown over.

[mr self destruct]

 it's a lump of metal at the end of the day, it's not going to dissolve over a week or two!!!

Now there's a guy who's obviously never owned a Chinese bike! 

[stevierst]

 it's a lump of metal at the end of the day, it's not going to dissolve over a week or two!!!

Now there's a guy who's obviously never owned a Chinese bike! 

Nope, but I had an Italian car once....... Got up one morning, and all that was left was 4 wheels and an engine block. Yep, it rained overnight!

[Fuzzy]

Should also consider removing the cover when there are high winds, many a bike has been blown over by covers catching the wind.

I've kept the cover off mine for the last couple of weeks...

[mr self destruct]

 it's a lump of metal at the end of the day, it's not going to dissolve over a week or two!!!

Now there's a guy who's obviously never owned a Chinese bike! 

Nope, but I had an Italian car once....... Got up one morning, and all that was left was 4 wheels and an engine block. Yep, it rained overnight!

Speaking as an ex classic VW enthusiast I'm with you brother!

[RobG UK]

 I wouldn't worry yourself too much about stowing it wet, it's a lump of metal at the end of the day, it's not going to dissolve over a week or two!!!

 
Obviously never left a Fazer out overnight.  Pity the Hooners aren't around anymore, they would have lived off that for a week LOL

[stevierst]

Obviously never left a Fazer out overnight.  Pity the Hooners aren't around anymore, they would have lived off that for a week LOL
[/quote]
I've had three boxeyes over the past ten years bud, done over 100,000 miles on them, in all weathers, and they always get put away wet.

As my signature says
"Stop polishing it and ride the bloody thing!"