Maintenance and Care

When you have a bike cover, your bike is not simply protected forever – it still requires maintenance and attention to its condition. A bike garage does not mean that your bike cannot rust or that moisture cannot form underneath the cover itself. A bike garage protects, but does not prevent these issues from occurring – the more attention you give your bike and bike garage, the longer they will last.

We have gathered some useful tips for using and maintaining your bike cover / bike garage.

Dry and clean

When parking your bike, it is generally best if it is dry and clean – this helps prevent excessive moisture and condensation from forming underneath the bike cover.

Remember to check your bike garage / bike cover

Although the cover material is designed for outdoor use and is waterproof, moisture can end up underneath a cover in various ways. For example, due to rising moisture from a damp surface, condensation caused by temperature differences between the inside and outside of the cover, or when the bike is not completely dry underneath the cover.

When using a bike cover outdoors and leaving it on for an extended period, we recommend regularly checking the condition underneath the cover (weekly). Remember to check regularly that your bike garage is drying out – especially if it is positioned in the shade.

Pools of rainwater

Try to prevent pools of rainwater from forming on your bike garage as much as possible. After heavy rainfall, always check for pools of rainwater and remove them if necessary. Continuous standing water on the cover may cause water to slowly seep through the bike cover.

Make sure to ventilate

Ideally, use an outdoor cover for no more than a couple of days at a time. If you use a bike cover for a longer period, we recommend removing it from the bike for a few hours once every week or every other week to ventilate it, especially during a rainy period – naturally, remove the bike garage when it is not raining.

Despite ventilation options, moisture can get or build up underneath the cover in many ways. Remember to ensure that your bike is dry before placing the bike garage over your bike again.

Avoid algae growth

Prevent algae growth by avoiding leaving your covered vehicle under a tree or next to a bush for extended periods.

Be mindful of where you park!

Always park your bike on a dry surface – or at least not on top of a puddle, as moisture from a puddle can quickly evaporate, rise up and end up underneath your bike garage. We recommend turning your bike regularly, so you avoid too much discolouration on one side of your bike garage.

Watch out for the wind

When you put a bike garage over your bike, you create a sail – so make sure your bike garage is securely fastened so it does not blow away. If you have the option to park your bike in a sheltered spot, that is clearly best, so it does not topple over as easily in strong winds.

For motorcycles/scooters, we recommend using a stable surface, preferably as sheltered from the wind as possible.

Cleaning your bike garage / bike cover:

Brush off loose dirt with a soft-bristled brush.

• Only rinse the cover with clean water.
• Do not use soap: it damages the waterproof coating.
• Remove stains:
  • Bird droppings: Rinse off as much as possible with water and brush away the rest with a soft-bristled brush once it is dry.
  • Resin drops: Carefully scrape them off with a spoon. Dry the remainder and then gently crumble it between your fingers.

Repair tears / holes in your bike cover

It is not uncommon, nor entirely avoidable, for something to catch on your cover when putting it on your bike – this could be the brake lever, mudguard stay or something else – and it can often cause a tear or hole.

Tears and holes can also easily occur if there is moisture / water on your bike garage when frost sets in, making the garage stiff and able to “crack” due to the ice/frost. We recommend repairing them as they occur – if you use a bike cover made from ripstop / tent fabric, you can advantageously use a tent repair kit.

Storing your bike garage

To keep your bike cover in good condition, it is necessary to store it clean and dry, for example in the supplied storage bag (if included) when you are not using your bike garage / bike cover.

Using a bike cover during transport

We recommend using bike garages / bike covers suitable for transport if you need to carry your bike on the back of your car / caravan. If you nevertheless decide to use a traditional bike garage, we recommend securing it further with tie-down straps or bungee cords to prevent rapid wear from flapping in the wind. Check the condition of the cover thoroughly after a few kilometres and then at every stop.

If you have a motorcycle, scooter or moped, you should also be aware of the following.

Cooling down

This is probably most relevant for traditional motor vehicles with combustion engines, such as motorcycles, mopeds and scooters. Make sure that your vehicle has cooled down sufficiently before putting the cover on it. An exhaust can become very hot, so your cover may melt onto the exhaust. Condensation can also form if the vehicle has not cooled down completely. You can prevent this by allowing the vehicle to cool down first.

Vehicle paint / wax / coating

Has your car/motorcycle/scooter recently been painted or treated with, for example, a glass coating or wax? Make sure that the paint/(wax) coating has fully cured before using an outdoor cover. Sunlight can cause the temperature underneath the cover to rise significantly, which may cause blistering if the paint has not fully cured.