Ok motorcycle lovers, here is the scene: You are hanging around Weir’s Beach during the annual Laconia, NH Bike Week held each June, and it starts to rain (which is not an unusual thing in June in New Hampshire).
Mud is splashing on everyone else’s bike — but not yours! Your bike (with your custom paint job) is neatly covered by a nice lightweight, transportable shelter that you brought with you on the back of your motorcycle.
So, YOU may now be outside in the rain getting soaked and cold, but at least your prized bike is nice and dry. And people are offering you money for your shelter. Well, ok, maybe that’s going too far in this dream scene! But, people ARE probably asking you about that nifty tent!
The “tent” they are referring to is called the CycleShelter, which is the brand name for a specially designed, collapsible motorcycle cover that weighs about 30 pounds, which makes it easy to bring with you while you’re touring. The standard, single sized shelter fits most motorcycles: it measures approximately 10 1/2 feet long by 4 feet wide. The height at the top of the “dome” measures approximately 70 inches high.
At first glance, one might wonder, “Why not just buy a tarp or inexpensive bike cover rather than carry around a 30-pound tent?”
Well, a tarp or regular bike cover might do the trick in a pinch, but a lot of motorcycle lovers have put a lot of time, effort, and funds into their bikes — whether they have worked on restoring or painting it, or even if it just represents a hefty financial outlay that they want to protect on a regular basis.
Made of a strong rip-stop polyethylene material, the vented CycleShelter does not touch the bike, so that in itself is a major vote in the shelter’s favor. It is ideal for keeping bugs, bird droppings, rain, snow, and pollen off the bike. For people who live near the coast, it helps keep sea salt and sand from settling on the bike as well. They have been sent to US Military personnel serving overseas who are using it to keep their bikes from getting “sand blasted.”
There are also other creative uses for the shelter. People use them to store other “toys” in them, such as kids’ bicycles. It can be used indoors or outdoors — inside a garage, it’s a great way to cover and protect your motorcycle through the off season.
I’ve seen one photo where a motorcycle repair project was underway, and the bike and the different parts were on top of the floor panel. When the owner is done working on the project for the time being, all he or she needs to do is pull the cover up and over the bike and parts where it will be waiting for the next work session.
The manufacturer offers a larger model as well, which is approximately 7 1/2 feet wide. This model can be used for two bikes, a trike, or a bike that has a sidecar. This larger model is a bit heavier, and at nearly 60 pounds you would not be able to pack it on the back of the bike. But, if you are pulling a trailer, you might be able to fit it in there.
So, the bottom line is that this portable motorcycle shelter offers a practical solution to common storage issues facing most bike lovers, whether you need it to cover your bike in the driveway or while touring.
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