Wolf Motorcycle Cover from Wal-Mart, $20, Very Nice

[TheTwins]

About $20 from Wal-Mart in the Automotive Section. Size XL.

No instructions given, but it's kinda self explanatory.

Installation time was about 30 seconds taking my time. You first drape the cover over the front end / windscreen area, then over the rear luggage rack / luggage area, then secure the two lower straps to prevent it from getting blow off. You could also stick a small cable lock in there too.

Crappy looking packaging and labeling. Not that I care, but it led me to believe this was going to be a crappy product that I would buy, take home, try out, hate, and return. Not so. But the packaging is a bit weak. No big deal though it's in a landfill by now. Comes with a nice stuff sack to store the cover when not in use - when in the stuff sack, its about the size of a Franklin Classic Planner. Nice.

Overall installation looks really good. This looks and feels like a $100 cover. There are soft areas inside the cover to protect your body work, and heat resistant areas down low in case you are covering a hot bike. I originally tried the size L, and it was too small, so I am using the XL which fits the V Strom perfectly. I have Givi luggage and a 21.5" Cee windscreen also - and it fits right over very nicely. I am very pleased with the presentation and installation.

Overall fit and finish is excellent. Again this looks like a $100 cover. It fits far down enough to cover even the lower portions of your wheels.

Performance is very good. I decided to do some welding, cutting, and grinding in the garage, so I first covered the bike. Hacked away and almost caught myself on fire. Took the cover off (rather dusty by now) and the bike was nice and clean underneath. I can't tell you how many times I've worked in the garage and like an idiot didn't cover the bike. Dust gets everywhere and it's cold enough where washing it outside does not sound good. OK so I am happy so far. Then I walked my dog two nights ago in the pouring rain, when I got back I took off my raincoat and pants and draped it over the covered motorcycle. Let it sit / drip / soak for an hour or so, then checked the bike. It was dry underneath yet the outside of the cover was wet. My next test will be to stick the bike outside when it's raining to see if it will withstand the weather. I think it will based on my prior "raincoat" test.

Overall - very satisfied with this product and my purchase. I think it would be wise to treat it like a tent - pack it only when clean and dry, and if you must pack it wet or dirty, open it up when you get home. I am super happy with this cover and I would highly recommend it as a smart alternative to several things - the $100 cover, a dirty / dusty bike, and waking up to a wet bike after camping.

[redstrom]

Thanks for letting me know about this. You saved me about $40! I have been using my cover that I have for my '04 ST1300 and this one from Wal-Mart is as good if not better than the more pricier one.

[becman58]

i picked up the same cover at menards for 16$ plus tax. early season sale i guess, jeff

[water warrior]

I almost had a stroke when I found out how much my SO paid for my cover/xmas gift at a dealership. But it is a good cover so I can't complain.

[mikevstrom]

Thanks for the tip. It's a very good cover for $20 and folds into a small package for travel. Much better cover than I expected.

[sciroccojim]

Great find! Thanks.

[ChrisW123]

I don't like it that everything at Wal-Mart is made in China but hey you can't beat the prices. A little ironic I guess, huh?

I was there this weekend because I was bored and it was raining, and looked in the electronics section for some ear-buds to possibly setup some music while I'm riding, and saw a set of ear-buds for .99 cents! I would never buy them but common, .99 cents?

How can anyone else but Wal-Mart do this? I'll tell you how: The most sophisticated international distribution system of any other retailer on Earth. That's how. Wal-Mart's system of goods delivery from international suppliers (like China) to their thousands of US stores is so effecient and sophisticated that this allows them to bring you the lowest possible prices beyond anything you will ever find at anything other then a flee market or garage sale! Amazing isn't it?!

Enjoy your $20 bike cover! I hate Wal-Mart but at the same time love their sophisticated capitalism at its best. :) I bought a full set of allen's head sockets for $10!!

[water warrior]

Years ago I read the Walmart story and have nothing but praise for it's founder. Sam Walton( I believe) was a simple man with common sense and created an organization far beyond his original goals. Free enterprise is a good thing.

[STROMETTE]

Hey, The Twins, surely after 5 months of use you have an update as to how this holds up to rain. Care to share? Anyone?

[MIstrom]

Looking for more info as well. How does it hold up in the rain?

[MIstrom]

Anyone know if this is rain proof? I have been keeping my bike in shipping bay at work on days it rains when I ride it. I was just told know more! People are going to see me doing it all the time then everyone else will want to as well. The funny thing is there are only two people in my company with bikes. Oh well must follow the rules I guess. Sure would like to know how this cover is for rain protection, can't beat the price if it works. Even though I hate going to Walmart that price tag will get me all the time.

[sciroccojim]

I just bought mine, so I can't comment on rain protection, but I can tell you that you must get the XL for the Strom. Local Mart at Wal only had L and I had to return it and find an XL; the L didn't fit.

[Night_Wolf]

What is the big deal about the bike getting wet??? Am I missing something???

[MIstrom]

What is the big deal about the bike getting wet??? Am I missing something???

Well for me I don't want to get it wet IF I don't have to. Wet seat for the ride home and then eventually rain will get to things that don't like it. Gauges, ignition and any other wires.

[Night_Wolf]

Dry the seat off and water won't hurt the bike :P My bike is my primary transport May 15th to October 15th and it sees it's fair share of rain when parked outside work. No issues in 20,000+ miles so far



Well for me I don't want to get it wet IF I don't have to. Wet seat for the ride home and then eventually rain will get to things that don't like it. Gauges, ignition and any other wires.

[Paper]

What is the big deal about the bike getting wet??? Am I missing something???

Hell, that's how my bike gets washed... :lol:
I'd throw soap in front of me while riding in the rain, if it'd do any good.. :D

[MIstrom]

OK since no one was willing to let us know how this cover is in the rain. I contacted the manufacturer. According to them it is water resistant not water proof. Some water "may" get through. I will be testing this product and reporting. I am picking one up at a local wally world, $19.99. Can't handle seeing my bike in the rain any longer at work and we are expected to have rain through next week.

I will let you know.

[zed88]

I'd like to know how it does too. Is it a generic car cover, or bike cover or what. Do we just go off knowing its $20? Whats the title of the product :)

[greywolf]

It's called a Wolf motorcycle cover just like it says in the thread title. Use the XL size for both Stroms.

[zed88]

I always miss the thread titles. I'm used to them being in a slightly different spot. Thanks

[MIstrom]

Well I got the cover tonight, haven't put it on yet. Road home from work today and the bike is still wet from all the rain here in good ole MI. The cover seems pretty nice and is padded in some areas as to not scratch anything and has heat sheilds on the bottom for the exhaust. Once my bike dries off I will set it outside in the rain with the cover on and see how it works. we are supposed to be getting rain all week-end and all next week as well.

I'll let you know how it works in the wet weather asap :D

[MIstrom]

Report for the Wolf Motorcycle cover:

Had it out in the rain all day yesterday, winds and periods of real heavy rain. So finally time to check it and see if it is water proof or not. So me being the thinker I am decide to wheel it in the garage and THEN take the cover off. It was still raining and I figured if I took the cover off in the rain I would not be able to tell if the cover leaked or not.

Didn't work out to well at all, the dam cover got stuck in the sprocket :o . So I had to back it up until the cover became untangled and then took it off. Well I can say the cover is NOT water proof, a little water did get through and honestly I was expecting it. Its a nylon material like a tent. I am not dissapointed at all in this cover and will use it for sure. I am going to get a can of "Camp Dry" and spray it down when the cover dries off. Seemed like it only leaked in the areas that touched the bike. Around the mirrors, wind screen and tail bag.

Over all I give it a thumbs up for cost, appearance and function. Bottom line is you get what you pay for. I think this will work out pretty well for me and am very happy with it. However if I had more coins to drop I think I would have invested in a top of the line cover that is 100% water proof.

I am sure a can of camp dry once in awhile will help.

[Action]

Definitely not rain proof.

[L*F*A]

Years ago I read the Walmart story and have nothing but praise for it's founder. Sam Walton( I believe) was a simple man with common sense and created an organization far beyond his original goals. Free enterprise is a good thing.

:roll:

Sorry, but I can't let this comment fade without rebuttal.

Wal-Mart ships jobs overseas while paying poverty wages at home. Billions of dollars from taxpayers subsidize the construction of its stores and operational costs, including workers' wages. More Wal-Mart employees than any other U.S. employer are on Medicaid, aka "at taxpayers' expense." Wal-Mart is anti-union. Wal-Mart destroys local businesses. Wal-Mart blatantly discriminates against women.

Respect?

http://thinkprogress.org/2005/04/06/wal-mart/
http://www.walmartmovie.com/
http://www.inthesetimes.com/site/main/article/the_wal_mart_effect/
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/walmart/interviews/tonelson.html

Actual bike content: One thing I love about riding is that it momentarily clears my mind of all the corruption and inequities taking place.

But I don't forget.

[water warrior]

L*F*A

I won't argue or disagree with you. My original comment concerned the founder of Walmart. Your points are valid but you can not fight progress and profit oriented big business. The global economy is just that. GLOBAL. My car came from Chicago, my bike from Japan, my sneakers from the USA. My table from Canada. I try to keep the North American economy going from start to finish but sometimes it isn't possible. My TV and VCR, who knows where they came from, but Canadians and Americans were employed to get them to my front door.

[L*F*A]

...you can not fight progress and profit oriented big business...

I understand your perspective, but the statement I referenced is part of the problem... people *can* and *should* fight profit-oriented big business whose actions only increase the divide between the haves and have-nots.

But as you eluded, a global economy is where we're heading, with the issues and solutions only getting more complicated with time.

(Sorry, folks, for the political interlude. I'll now stray back to the proper forum. :wink: )

[water warrior]

Me 2.

[coonass]

Back to the original post I just went by Wally World and picked up an XL cover. Water doesn't bother me but the Strom shares space in the wood shop and dust is a pain...

[coonass]

Back to the original post I just went by Wally World and picked up an XL cover. Water doesn't bother me but the Strom shares space in the wood shop and dust is a pain...

[greywolf]

that's why i got mine. spray poly protection too. if i only had a bike :(

[TheTwins]

Wow, sorry to leave you guys in the dark there with no comments on rain protection. I bought the cover for two reasons - one when it is in the shop I don't want all that fine dust all over it, and two when I keep it up north for camping, etc. I don't want road dust all over it all the time. Water does not bother me, and this cover is indeed "water resistant" at best. Works fine for me - the seat is dry after a rain, and the controls are dry also.

[MIstrom]

Thats OK, I went out a bought one to check it out. Not water proof for sure. I picked up a can of "Camp Dry" and sprayed it down pretty good and that seen to help a whole lot. But for $20 you can't expect a whole lot out of it. It works fine me me as well.

[Vordak]

Cheap, fits and looks pretty much waterproof. Never seen better for $34.99CAN! Thanks Wally!

V.