Parallel Lines wrote:
OK, this must be a newbie question, but here goes. How come nobody is selling a fiberglass box with a solid bottom that would sit on the lift and completely cover a motorcycle?
First of all,
"Hydralift", the company that made the OPs lift, DOES sell what's called a "No Touch" cover. It comes with an aluminum floor and, all the aluminum bows that span from one section/side of the bike/floor, over the bike, to the other side. It is designed to work like an accordion. The bike is loaded, tide down and, the cover is installed and, basically is snapped to the perimeter of the floor.
And, that same cover is also designed to be totally removed and applied to a couple of boards, to cover the bike, like a "Garage", when it's sitting in your camp site. All in all, it's actually a pretty good design. But, I had one for the 2008 Honda GL1800 Goldwing on the back of our coach and, well, if any of you know that model bike, it's a seriously WIDE AND LONG, bike. Our bike was just too big for that cover and, Hydralifts claim that it's a "NO TOUCH" cover. It's supposed to NOT TOUCH the bike, anywhere, while the bike is in transport, on the back of the coach.
It's a great idea, it just didn't work for us. The OP might look in to it though for his. As for a good quality transport cover, I wouldn't' even think of shrink wrap. Talk about a pain in the a$$.
There are good transport covers. We have one called the "Ultragard" cover. It's about as thick as a very high quality sleeping bag, even thicker. It's got about a dozen cinch buckles and straps, facing in all directions possible so that every angle is tightened and, that cover DOES NOT MOVE in the wind, AT ALL. I value our bike immensely and, there is absolutely NO SCUFFING on that paint, using that cover, in many thousands of miles.
Scott
Here is one pic of the cover on ours. It's not as tight as we keep it for transport 'cause we weren't ready to roll down the road at the time the pic was taken.
Scott
P.S. 2,
If no cover is chosen, yes, the bike will get dirty. It's not the end of the world. A little careful wipe down in prep for riding is all that's needed. We did it that way for quite some time. It never slowed down any.