What do you use to cover your 1200 GS when touring?

[MonkeyBoy]

Looking for a quality cover that would store small so I can bring it on the road w/ me. any suggestions?

[FredRydr]

What do you use to cover your 1200 GS when touring?Mud?

Fred

[RTRandy]

This one's easy, no pun intended. Try EZ Touring http://eztouring.com/products.htm

Great product, super nice people, and they'll have what you need. Easy to put on or take off in seconds and compresses into a small light weight bag. They have various size choices depending on the size of your bike and how much of your bike you want covered.

I use mine anytime the bike is out overnight. Even in clear weather, you can have morning dew on everything if you don't use a cover. It also keeps prying eyes from looking at what's available to remove off your bike.

Good luck.

[mumster]

nelson rigg uv 2000 $39.00

[kbasa]

Nuthin'.

It's a GS. It's supposed to be filthy.

[Rasbutan]

If its going to sit for more than a few days, a fitted mattress sheet(with the elastic) from Goodwill......$1.99.

[Troutluck]

I though you GS'rs just laid them over in the mud. But if I were traveling and worried about it, I would definitely look for the least conspicuous item. I like the mattress cover idea, especially if its the unnatural fiber variety. Probably dries fast.

[screwtop]

Covers while touring take up too much precious space. I don't bother with them. If the bike gets really filthy, I'll grab the hotel (if I'm staying in one) ice bucket and a couple of their towels (I always return the towels:brow )and give her a quick bath to get the top layer of crud/bugs off. I use their complimantary shampoo for soap, but usually skip the conditioning step.

[Hotspice]

Looking for a quality cover that would store small so I can bring it on the road w/ me. any suggestions?


I've used the EZ touring for my last GS. Packs nice and small and does a good job of keeping everything out of sight.

[MonkeyBoy]

Mud?

Fred

Funny.

[MonkeyBoy]

Thanks all;
I just hate to watch rain pour down all night on my beautiful bike. + I think a cover makes a conspicuous bike look a little less conspicuous when parked in a downtown location, like in front of my apt. building.

[dronning]

+1 on nothing. All my gadgets, panniers etc.. are quick disconnect and I take 'em in with me. If it rains great now I don't have to feel guilty about not washing it.:D

Just one other note during a storm last year 6 bikes with covers and mine, I got tons of grief about all the hail damage I was going to get that night. Guess who's bike was the only one still on the centerstand the next morning - yep all the other bikes had "got winded" and decide to lay down and take a nap. :D :D :D

Dave

[schistosity]

Thanks all;
I think a cover makes a conspicuous bike look a little less conspicuous when parked in a downtown location, like in front of my apt. building.

Why not buy an 8x10 green or blue plastic tarp from your local hardware store or Walmart for $8.00? No one will look twice at a crappy tarp, and it will keep the rain off.

[shoeman]

Air

[BradfordBenn]

Covers while touring take up too much precious space. I don't bother with them. If the bike gets really filthy, I'll grab the hotel (if I'm staying in one) ice bucket and a couple of their towels (I always return the towels:brow )and give her a quick bath to get the top layer of crud/bugs off. I use their complimantary shampoo for soap, but usually skip the conditioning step.

When I travel by bike I usually just ask for a few rags or cleaning things from the hotel rather then get their customer towels dirty. Most are more then accommodating. They would much rather give you a rag or towel then have a good towel ruined by a "biker" I have found that most are very understanding.

[2BikeMike]

Covers while touring take up too much precious space. I don't bother with them. If the bike gets really filthy, I'll grab the hotel (if I'm staying in one) ice bucket and a couple of their towels (I always return the towels:brow )and give her a quick bath to get the top layer of crud/bugs off. I use their complimantary shampoo for soap, but usually skip the conditioning step.

Dude, you shouldn't use the hotel towels to clean your bike. I have been specifically asked not to do that at some motels. The owners really get pissed!

[RTRandy]

Yea who are we kidding when we think we can get black greese all over their clean white towels and simply leave them on the bathroom floor. That's just wrong in my book and then we wonder why a motel isn't motorcycle friendly.

[wanderer]

MORE HIJACK: Not to rant on this subject, BUT I think some/ many of us are simply unaware that motels will provide "rags" to clean bikes (or shoes or whatever.) I'm sure I've done this at least 50 times.

I ask at the front desk if they have any rags to clean/dry my scoot. I can honestly say I have never been denied. I can't even remember ever getting a disapproving look. I would say the most common reaction is they are apprieciative that I'm not ruining their good linens. The rate at which most motels go through linen, they all have a box in back and often they appear from under the counter. I remember a time in Cody, Wy. that a small independent motel I was at had a box outside the office door full of towels with "bike rags" on the box.

I guess I'm just saying, as Red Green does, we're all in this together.

I started reading this thread to scope out covers. The EZ touring cover does look interesting. :bikes

[screwtop]

Dude, you shouldn't use the hotel towels to clean your bike. I have been specifically asked not to do that at some motels. The owners really get pissed!

I would appear that I have some behavior to correct :cry You guys aren't going to ground me are you?

[2BikeMike]

I would appear that I have some behavior to correct :cry You guys aren't going to ground me are you?

How about weekend laundry duty?:laugh

[username]

Thanks all;
I just hate to watch rain pour down all night on my beautiful bike. + I think a cover makes a conspicuous bike look a little less conspicuous when parked in a downtown location, like in front of my apt. building.

errrr, so you tour on your GS to downtown locations?

the BMW gods are going to take your bike away from you!

[PETDOC]

On the pricey side, but excellant cover for trips. Packs quickly and light. Despite not being hot pipe proof I put it on shortly after stopping and because system cases keep it away from pipes I've not had a problem with melting a hole in it.

[PETDOC]

On the pricey side, but excellant cover for trips. Packs quickly and light. Despite not being hot pipe proof I put it on shortly after stopping and because system cases keep it away from pipes I've not had a problem with melting a hole in it.

Let's try it with the attachment

http://www.aerostich.com/catalog/US/Aerostich-Ultralight-Bike-Cover-p-17131.html

[dlearl476]

Mud?

Fred

+ Bugs.

If you want something cheap, and consequently theft proof, stop in a motorcycle store and see if you can get one of the covers that motos and ATVs ship with. They're cheezy paper/cloth covers with an elastic edge. I get them from my son and they work great in the garage to keep dust off. Might need some bungies to hold them on out of doors. ( When I put one of my bikes outside in the sun, I fasten them with a couple of pony clips.)

http://www.tapestockonline.com/ponygripclip1.html

[dlearl476]

Yea who are we kidding when we think we can get black greese all over their clean white towels and simply leave them on the bathroom floor. That's just wrong in my book and then we wonder why a motel isn't motorcycle friendly.

If you have black grease all over your bike, you should clean it at home BEFORE you tour! :nono

All I ever clean off my bike with hotel towels are bugs. Same as my visor. :D

(But it's nice to know they have rags at the desk,. I'll ask from now on.)

And fwiw, everybody needs these:
http://www.simplygoodstuff.com/super_shammies.htm

I bought a set (buy one get one free) at the motorcycle auction 3 years ago and I still have one of each size left. Fantastic, and made in Germany to match our bikes. :D
The smaller, thinner, blue ones are perfect for tank bag or pocket, and are good for mulitple uses, from cleaning visors to service station "sponge baths." (don't let the "bonus kitchen shammie" fool you, these are actually the "bonus BMW blue" shammies.

[ridewv]

+ I think a cover makes a conspicuous bike look a little less conspicuous when parked in a downtown location, like in front of my apt. building.

Just get a generic J.C. Whitney cover and mark " Suzuki Savage " in big letters all over the cover. Your GS will be invisable to thieves.

[JimVonBaden1]

Just get a generic J.C. Whitney cover and mark " Suzuki Savage " in big letters all over the cover. Your GS will be invisable to thieves.

It already is, it is a BMW and they very rarely ever get stolen.

If you are worried about the bike getting stolen get insurance. If you are worried about accessories or kids climbing on it, then get a cover. Out of sight, out of mind.

I use a Traveler Half cover, and it works with my Jesse bags and top case on it, and only covers the top half of the bike, and is very small when packed.

Jim :brow

[BradfordBenn]

I would appear that I have some behavior to correct :cry You guys aren't going to ground me are you?

Nope now you know, and knowing is half the battle.

BTW nice Blues Brothers quote!

[screwtop]

Nope now you know, and knowing is half the battle.

BTW nice Blues Brothers quote!

Thanks, Brad. Now, I hope the penguin lets me off the hook.

[bdiver]

Hey! No towel for you! ---------- towel natzie :laugh

When I'm on any LD ride and I get 3" thick of bugs all over the bike I just swing by the local $1 car wash and do a quick blast to get the first few layers off. I leave home with a (fairly) clean and waxed bike and do a major clean once back at the ranch.

I typically take all the stuff off the bike and into the room or tent when I'm out on safari. You can always ask about keeping the bike in view of the office too and most will oblige.

[wanderlost]

The sky....

[Wallowa]

Obviously to each their own...one note...I cover my bikes overnight to keep the electronics covered [I know, I know they are 'waterproof'...but they are not] and more importantly from past experiences to stop sand/dirt storms from packing grinding compound [sand/dirt] into every nook and cranny...plus, to slow down the 'sand blasting' of my painted parts and windscreen..just my .02 cents

QUESTION: Does E-Z pack down into a small package?

Thanks ...Phil::
'07 GSA