A motorcycle cover serves many purposes, most of all being a theft deterrent - but is the Oxford Rainex cover worth a purchase?
If your place of residence isn’t blessed with a garage, and you’re forced to expose your motorcycle to the elements, the best thing you can do is secure yourself a decent motorcycle cover. We have tested the Oxford Rainex outdoor cover to see if it’s worth a purchase - or if you’re just as well off grabbing that spare tatty tarpaulin (unlikely).
You’d think a cover is a fairly rudimentary bit of kit, but I was quite surprised at what’s provided here - it is a ‘deluxe rain & dust cover’, after all. Featuring externally bonded seams, handlebar vents, heat resistant panels & soft inner lining, plus a range of sizes to perfectly fit your bike nice and snug.
I tend to personally keep my motorcycle, currently the Kawasaki Versys 1000 SE Grand Tourer, ready and waiting outside and chained up to an immovable object. Nearby is a side road that kicks up an endless amount of dust & sand, and ultimately I much prefer keeping the bike somewhat out of ‘plain sight’ for passers-by. Not that people don’t spot the behemoth that is a Versys thou.
Oxford Rainex Cover price
Depending on the size you go for, the Oxford Rainex Cover can be purchased from £59.99 for the Small size, to £89.99 for the Extra Large. Naturally, a Versys 1000 with top box & panniers falls into the Extra Large category, the cover easily doing a full cover job even with Verity in full dress.
There are certainly cheaper covers out there, even from Oxford themselves with the lightweight ‘Rain Cover’ at £33.99 in XL, but I’d not have faith in its ability to protect the bike in inclement weather - this Rainex cover is more similar to the Oxford ‘Heavy Duty’ cover (around £59) in style & function.
Worth noting the ‘Heavy Duty’ cover doesn’t have the Solariser window. So, if looking to keep your motorcycle covered outdoors for an extended period, the Rainex Cover serves as a kind of ‘Heavy Duty Extra’.
Oxford Rainex Cover Features
As mentioned, the Rainex cover has plenty of features. The externally bonded seams keep unwanted rain from seeping in (even in the worst of UK weather), with an elasticated bottom edging keeping the cover tight around the wheels. Both shape & stitching accounts for handlebars & mirrors on full steering lock, and air vents are located on the handlebar portions to ensure any condensation can be dispersed. Taking off the cover after a night of heavy rain will genuinely reveal a bone-dry motorcycle waiting for you.
An adjustable under-belly strap secures the cover with a clip, and there are two holes at the front and rear to loop through a chain to either wheel - plus a pouch to keep the padlock off the ground.
The inner lining is soft, so as not to risk scratching up the paintwork, and the reflective portions of the cover also feature a heat-resistant lining - and whilst I’ll certainly let the bike cool down for a bit before chucking the cover on, it’s good to know it won’t melt on a warm exhaust.
Last up, if you opt for an Oxford Solariser to maintain a 12V battery, there is a pocketed window to house it at the front.
Plenty of features, but ultimately (and most importantly) the cover fits perfectly - even as a generic XL size rather than model specific.
Have faith that in any weather, this cover will stand up to the test. It goes without saying, also, that potential thieves may look past a bike that's covered - if they can't see what's behind 'prize door number 1' they may just not bother trying to find out.
Good points
- Once you get to grips with chucking the cover on and stretching it in the right places to fit, it can all be done within a minute - both taking on and off the bike.
- Vents, security holes & pouches, it’s all well thought out, securing its place as a premium product.
- Superb materials used result in an extremely weather resistant, and I’ve yet to notice any ‘external influences’ reaching the Versys underneath.
Bad points
- Perhaps a moot point as it’s a heavyweight cover, but it is a tad cumbersome. Whilst certainly can be placed in the carry-pouch it comes in and strapped onto the bike, you could take up quite a lot of storage space if you’re seeking to take this everywhere with you. I see it more as a ‘long term cover’ rather than one you take with you.
- The elasticated bottom is quite tough, and will absolutely grab onto anything sticking out - pegs, sliders, edges of fairings.
- You could argue the price is right at the top of the market, though the caveat here is that you get what you pay for.
Verdict
Is it any better than a tarpaulin? Well yes, absolutely. But that's the bare minimum competition, this Oxford Rainex Cover is a deluxe item, and I certainly have the peace of mind that this’ll do the job to protect your bike in any weather - protection in storms of any kind, countering frost on chilly mornings, or just to stop pesky dust.
I have no doubt in my mind that this cover will stand the test of time. Sure, the seams may wear slightly over time, though upon checking mine closely that doesn’t seem to be of any concern after a good few months of daily usage in all weather.
Other customer reviews online are all positive, with a general agreement that the Rainex cover is deluxe, well-made, and will protect any bike.
If you’re after a top-spec cover, particularly for an adventure/touring machine, the Oxford Rainex cover has the seal of approval from Visordown.
