will a cover "hold" condensation? [used indoors with fluctuating temp and humidi

[Vermonter]

A question from those of you who have a lot more experience than I do about covers and bikes, I have never had anything other than a sheet or tarp... and usually skip any cover.

My 99 Valkyrie lives in my garage/ barn, which is mostly closed to the elements but unheated, and I also have an issue where a back rolling door that's on the north eaves side of the barn tends to pick up wind-driven rain and let large quantities of water under the door and across the floor (yes, that needs solving but that is a bigger/ longer-term project for which I lack funds or time at the moment)(there is a center floor drain but that still leaves a lot of wet surface area on the concrete). The Valk is in the opposite corner of the 28x38 floorspace, but it's all one open space, so the moisture is pervasive.

So, being in VT, the temperature can cycle dramatically from day to night or from day to day- so - when the temperature rises suddenly, and especially if it's "taken on" the rain before a temperature upswing, the Valkyrie and every other metal item that 'hold the cold' in the barn get a very heavy coat of condensation.

My girlfriend very sweetly researched and bought me a Dowco WeatherAll Plus premium cover. I'm incredibly grateful for her thoughtfulness but I am sort of concerned that it might end up retaining the moisture against the bike to a greater degree than if the bike is in the open air, where, at least when the conditions promote evaporation, the condensation can evaporate away. The cover has "moisture guard" vents but I am concerned that even those may not allow as much drying-off as open air movement.

But since I have no experience with quality covers, I don't really know whether my concern about it holding in the condensation are a valid concern or not? Thoughts and suggestions from those of you with more experience with covers? Thanks in advance.

[Jess from VA]

Dowco Weather All Plus premium cover

The writeup on them says they are breathable.  So probably OK.  You could do periodic checks, and even run a small fan up underneath on occasion.

When I had five bikes, one had to stay outside in winter, so I wrapped it up in multiple layers with a non breathable cover.  Holy crap did that result in tremendous corrosion on all the metal surfaces.  I did too good a job.  And it was a multiple weekend job cleaning it up.

I just keep thin dust covers on my two valks in the shed (old king size waterbed sheets, with top and bottom sheets sewn together on one end).  I do get condensation from temp changes but no damage or corrosion. 

[Malkozaine]

What size cover works with the Interstate?

[Jess from VA]

What size cover works with the Interstate?

A big one.

Generally, the same cover as for a Goldwing.

Most sellers have fitment charts.  (Though Valks are dropping off them these days)

Covers, intended for outdoors, need to be snug, but my lifetime experience with them is they are a big PITA to get on and off, with the elastic bottom catching on every exhaust, fender, peg, rack, signal, handlebar, mirror and so on.  They have to be struggled on and off.  So bigger is better than smaller/tighter.

I believe you can get big (X)XXL covers for Interstate that have (partial) zippers in back to make them easier on/off, but I've always wondered if a zipper is a scratch hazard, and/or fully waterproof.

I had high winds take my full-covered CB750 with big Vetter fairing and sissy bar right off the center stand to it's side (leaking gas and oil), but that was out in an exposed parking lot next to base BOQ on the flight line.  Happened several times; the cover turned it into a sailboat.

But I've never heard of a Valk blowing over; the fat bastard.  

Now this company is in my county, and they sell (expensive) unique, tight stretchy ones, but I've never seen one or read any opinions.  But they look interesting.  http://www.gezagear.com/



More like a condom than a cover (but without the lube). 

[Valker]

Inside storage I use a garage sale king size sheet.

[sandy]

Might a light bulb placed under the cover provide some warmth and drying?

[Jess from VA]

Might a light bulb placed under the cover provide some warmth and drying?

The mice would love it and move right in if they can.  

When I kept my ground level deck jacuzzi running in winter, they lived happily under the deck (under the tub) probably for years.   Unplugged now for 10 years (and free to a good home); I think they got pissed and later chewed through my basement foundation, also under the deck.  

But a breathing cover should not need heat (even low).  

If I want to run/ride my bike in cold weather (after sitting) I do stick a small ceramic heater under the motor for an hour or two, and when you hit the starter if fires right up with warm oil.  

[Hook#3287]

I'd keep the girlfriend. 

My concern would be putting the bike away covered while warm/hot.  The difference in temps could cause condensation and the cover may hold it in.

I bought a bike from a guy that told me he would ride around and cover his bike when he got home, outside.

As I'm looking at his garage full of crap. ???

To make it worse, he lived close to the ocean.

I bought the bike right and spent the winter polishing & replacing the parts I couldn't polish.

But she came out nice and made it to the annual calendar one year.

[jbrooks]

If you have power available put a fan on that will blow towards the bike. It will help keep moisture off the cover and bike

[Gregory Scott 16248]

I got the latest UltraGard Cover and they are made fairly thin compared to the last one I had. They keep the moisture out by the vents in the cover that let air circulate. I would not use it to store a bike outside, but inside it would work good.

[h13man]

I use this style https://dowcopowersports.com/dowco-guardian-premium-half-cover/ when on the road but in the garage a old sheet is my primary cover for winter. Mine is an older style Dowco that is silver reflective finish.

[Grandpot]

To prevent condensation, run a small fan 24-7 near the bike.  As long as air is moving, condensation will not occur.  I've done this for 50 years.  An oscillating desktop fan works fine.  Get a good one because it will be running all the time.

[RonW]

Water puddles or a thin layer of water under the bike is no good. My bike developed rust spots that way.